In 1904 George Stovall joined the Cleveland Blues and became the teams first long-term first baseman. Unlike the majority first baggers to follow him, Stovall was a defense first player, recording a career .986 fielding percent at first base. He lead the league in fielding percent  in 1910 and 1911 and ranked at least third from 1907 on. He also ranked first in assists from first base every year from 1909 through 1911.

Offensively, Stovall was subpar compared to both the players of his age (like Napoleon Lajoie and Elmer Flick) and the first basemen of the future, but he still contributed to the team for a lengthy career. During his eight years in Cleveland his most impressive stat was his 110 stolen bases. While caught stealing numbers are unavailable from that time period, the total steals still rank among the top 20 in Indians history. Despite little power, he still had over 200 extra base hits and knocked in and scored more than 375 runs. To this day he remains ranked in the top ten Indians first basemen.

At the end of his playing career his leadership ability was recognized and he became player/manager before being traded to the St. Louis Browns in 1912 for Lefty George. He continued managing every team he played for during his last four seasons with the Browns and Kansas City Packers (Federal League). As a Cleveland manager he ranks tenth all time among managers with at least 100 games under their belt. Stovall retired in 1915 after 12 years of professional baseball. George Stovall died in 1951 at the age of 73.

The Cleveland Indians were Francona's third team after leaving the military in 1955. He came to the team in 1959 when he was traded for Larry Doby the second time (the first time was from the Orioles to the White Sox) this time coming from Detroit. While he played his first season in Cleveland in centerfield, he soon moved to left and then to first base. By the end of his career Tito played in more than 100 games at four different positions (LF, RF, CF and 1B). 

From 1959 through 1963 Francona was one of the top offensive performers on the Indians along with catcher Johnny Romano and first baseman Vic Power (in fact, Francona took over first in 1962 when Power left the team). He hit at least 10 home runs each of those seasons as a light hitting outfielder, topping out with 20 in 1959. He also batted .363 that season, his career high. In 1961 he had his most productive season, setting career highs in runs, RBI and triples.

After a subpar 1964 season, Francona was purchased by the St. Louis Cardinals, his first of five more teams before ending his career. In his entire career he hit 125 home runs, 85 of which were with the Indians. His offensive contributions were enough on their own to make him one of the greatest Indians left fielders in team history. His son Terry followed in his father's footsteps in 1988 by joining the Indians himself. The younger Francona came back in 2012 and is the current manager of the Indians.

Cuppy was one of the young stars on the early Cleveland Spiders team, starting in 1892 at the age of 22. He came on in a flurry, winning 28 of his 47 games pitched that year while keeping his lowest ERA of his career. Cuppy's rookie year was so impressive, he would never come close to reaching the stats gained that season in wins, innings or strike outs ever again. He was even good enough offensively that he was used in the field on multiple occasions, playing outfield and knocking in 24 RBI that season.

Nig continued to pitch successfully through 1896, throwing more than 300 innings and winning at least 24 games each season (except 1893). During this period, he was consistently the number two pitcher behind Cy Young, providing a considerable one-two punch for the 1890's Spiders.

In 1897 Jack Powell and Zeke Wilson moved up and bumped Cuppy out of the main rotation, but he still pitched over 100 innings in his last two seasons in Cleveland. Prior to the 1899 season, he was moved (along with the rest of the decent players on the team) to the St. Louis Perfectos as part of the destruction of the Cleveland Spiders. Cuppy played three seasons after leaving Cleveland, but was never able to reproduce those early results. In his career, he ranks third in almost every conceivable stat among pre-American League Cleveland pitchers behind Young and Jim McCormick. 

After retiring after the 1901 season, Cuppy moved back to his home state of Indiana where he lived until his death in 1922.

If there was ever such a thing as a flash in the pan in baseball, it was Super Joe Charboneau. The Indians acquired the outfielder prior to the 1979 season when he was just in single A. He played one season in the minors, hitting 21 home runs and batting .352 before making the jump straight from AA to the big leagues. 

In 1980 Joe Charboneau became Super Joe as he hit 23 home runs as a rookie, knocking in 87. He destroyed the competition that year, taking the AL Rookie of the Year award with 15 of the 28 first place votes, beating Boston's Dave Stapleton by 62 vote points. He became the Indians third Rookie of the Year (after Herb Score and Chris Chambliss) helping the Tribe to three such awards in 30 years. After Chambliss won in 1971 and Charboneau's in 1980, Sandy Alomar, Jr won his own Rookie of the Year as a catcher in 1990. The Indians almost continued this streak of one RoY each decade, but were stymied by a 27 year old Japanese MVP who beat out starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia in 2001.

In 1981 Charboneau missed most of the season with a back injury incurred in Spring Training, splitting time between AAA and the Indians when he did play. In his final season in professional baseball, Super Joe was demoted as far as AA, spending just 22 games in Cleveland. After spending all (11 games) of 1983 in the Indians new AA team, the Buffalo Bisons. This was enough for the Tribe who finally gave up on their potential super star in 1984. He would never return to the Major Leagues, ending what looked to be like one of the most promising young talents to come up with the Indians. Along with the stories of Score and Ray Fosse, Charboneau's ranks among the most disappointing tales in Indians history.

Charboneau can be seen around the Indians from time to time, including occasionally at Fantasy Camp and other Tribe events. Currently he works alongside with former Indian Kevin Rhomberg as an instructor at Super Joe's Baseball & Softball Academy in Painesville, Ohio.

Bob Wickman was an unlikely man to be considered the greatest closer in Indians history, but he is the man who holds the record for most saves in team history. He was never a dominant pitcher (he had a WHIP of 1.32 for his career), but he always got the job done. It seemed that every time entered a game he would allow at least one baserunner, but he ended his time with the Tribe with the second best save completion percent in team history. In 2005 he had one of the best closing seasons ever, saving 45 games in 50 chances, just one away from the single season record.

Wickman's career began a decade before he joined the Indians when he was drafted in 1990 by the White Sox. He didn't become a closer, however, until 1998 after he had joined the Brewers (the Yankees traded him away during the rookie season of a different closer, Mariano Rivera). He came to Cleveland in 2000 in a blockbuster trade that saw future All-Star Richie Sexson and Marco Scutaro going to Milwaukee for Wickman, Steve Woodard and Jason Bere. The Brewers got the better of the deal as Sexson changed from back-up first baseman to a 40 home run hitter with more than 100 RBI every year. Wickman did pull his part of the deal and at the time it looked like Jim Thome would be around forever, so the deal made sense.

Wickman stayed the closer for a longer period than any other Indians pitcher, but after just five seasons, the Indians tired of his rosy cheeks and carefree disposition. He was traded in a deadline deal to the Braves for a catcher named Maximiliano Ramirez (who was later dealt to Texas for Kenny Lofton). 

Despite pitching for 15 years (five of those with the Yankees), Wickman only made the postseason twice and never made it out of the first round. He was a part of the 2001 Central Division Champion Indians and was the only Indians representative to the 2005 All-Star team. The Indians didn't know how much they would miss him until they brought in the next group of closers who were far less effective than Wickman. He retired after just eight games with Arizona in 2007.

Dale Mitchell had one of the best timed careers of any Indian, joining the team in 1946, just in time to have the prime of his career line up with the Indians last World Series win in 1948. He then joined Larry Doby, Jim Hegan and Al Rosen as the only hitters to play in both the 1948 and 1954 Series.

During his prime (1948-1953), Mitchell was among the best in the league, making multiple All-Star teams and garnering MVP votes year after year. In 1949 he had an especially good year, leading the league in hits (his second straight year with 200 hits) and triples. His 23 triples that year remain among the top five seasons ever for an Indians hitter. In total, Mitchell played over a decade with the team and ranks among the Indians greatest left fielders of all time.

Mitchell was a call-back to former Indians short stop Joe Sewell, as he was almost impossible to strike out. In his worst season, Mitchell struck out 21 times in 1950 and never had more strike outs than doubles in any season. In his 11 year career, he struck out just 119 times a number that Indians strike out king Jim Thome broke in each of his last seven seasons in Cleveland. Overall, Mitchell ranks 15th all time in hits for the Indians, while ranking 183rd in total strike outs. In all of baseball history, he ranks 14th in AB/SO behind two other former Indians, Sewell and Homer Summa.

After two poor seasons in 1954 and 1955 and the start to another in 1956, the Indians sold the left fielder to the Brooklyn Dodgers. After spending his only 19 games played for another team, Mitchell retired. After retirement, he moved back to his home state of Oklahoma where he died in 1987 at the age of 65.

If there is one thing that defines the Cleveland Indians as a franchise over the past 110 years it is their tremendous starting pitching. By far more starting pitchers than any other position have made it into the Hall of Fame as Indians. Over the history of the franchise, the Indians have had three Cy Young award winners and Cy Young himself play for the team, but only two of those four pitchers will make this list of the top ten Indians aces.

Of the top ten aces in Indians history, five are already in the Hall of Fame and one is not eligible yet. These pitchers are strike out champions, World Series winners and the pitcher who leads all Major League baseball in WHIP (and is second in ERA). While some of the positions covered in these lists are relatively new (like the closer and DH), this particular positional history spans the entire history of the franchise. This will be the last top ten list for the 2012-13 offseason, so enjoy the top ten aces in Cleveland Indians history.

10. Wes Ferrell - Years as Ace - 1930-1932

Ferrell is a borderline pitcher on this list for two reasons. First, he only lead the rotation for three years, but this was a larger percentage of his time on the team than any of the players listed as a starter, but not an ace.  Secondly, he ranks last among those listed in both WHIP and BAA, while ranking second to last in ERA despite playing in the dead ball era.

9. C.C. Sabathia - 2002-2007

Sabathia culminated his time as Cleveland's ace with his most impressive feat, winning the 2007 Cy Young Award. That year he set career highs in wins (19) and ERA (3.21) and finally became the pitcher he was expected to be since his rookie year in 2001. During his time with the team, Sabathia struck out over 1,200 batters and won more than 100 games as well, both which rank among the best in Indians history.

8. Vean Gregg - 1911-1913

If there is one name on this list that Indians fans might not recognize it would be Gregg, but he deserves a little recognition for his time as the ace of the Cleveland Indians. While he did pitch less than 1,000 innings with Cleveland, he has a better winning percentage than any Indians pitcher with more than 580 innings pitched. He also ranks in the top five in ERA. Gregg took over the team after Joss died, providing a very smooth transition to when Coveleski took over.

7. Early Wynn - 1951-54, 1957

Wynn is the first Hall of Famer on the list, making it for his contributions to the White Sox as well as the Indians. Wynn struck out more than 1,200 batters and won more than 160 games as well during his time in Cleveland. He was part of an impressive string of aces, taking over for Feller and pitching around Score. Most impressively, Wynn was the ace in a rotation that included Feller, Bob Lemon and Mike Garcia, two Hall of Famers and another great young starter.

6. Herb Score - 1955-1956

Those who think that the best pitcher is the one with the most wins and strike outs won't like a couple of pitchers on this list and Score is one of them. However, there is more to pitching than accumulating stats by playing for decades. Score holds the record for greatest K/9 in Indians history. Score was the ace for just two seasons, including winning the Rookie  the Year in 1955. Score was hit in the face by a baseball that ruined his career. After two seasons of sub 2.85 ERAs, Score was never same after being struck.

5. Gaylord Perry -  1972-1974

Perry was a top ten pitcher for at least two teams, as he played 10 years for the Giants before coming to Cleveland. As soon as he joined the Indians, Perry won his first of two Cy Youngs. Perry only played four seasons for the Indians, but still accumulated some impressive stats, including leading all Indians ever in innings pitched per game and posting a sub-3.00 career ERA for one of the only times after the 1920's. While he made the Hall of Fame for much more than his time in Cleveland, Perry arguably pitched his three greatest seasons in an Indians uniform. 

4. Sam McDowell - 1968-1971

McDowell would be the Indians strike out king if it weren't for a certain Feller. He struck out just around 400 less batters than Rapid Robert, while pitching in almost 250 less games. He also struck out close to 900 more batters than the next best Indians pitcher. McDowell was also an efficient pitcher, throwing 22 shut outs in just 295 starts, a similar rate to the other great Indians starters, well below only the one ranked number one below.

3. Stan Coveleski - 1916-1924

Coveleski was the ace of the first Indians World Series team, pitching three complete games (winning all three) and allowing just two runs. Of course he couldn't play at that level through his entire career, but he was incredibly good during the regular season as well. He ended his career ranking fourth in wins and third in innings pitched as an Indian, all while keeping his ERA under 3.00.

2. Bob Feller - 1938-41, 1946-50

Feller is widely considered to be the greatest Indian, not just for his pitching, but also for his contributions to his country in WWII and to the team after his official retirement. Feller ranks first in all the important counting pitching stats, a combination of his ability and his durability. He ranks first in wins, complete games, innings and strike outs despite losing parts of four seasons in service to his country. Long after he retired, Feller was a mainstay around the Indians clubhouse until his death in 2010.

1. Addie Joss - 1902-1909

Far be it for this website to punish a man for dying. Joss continues to hold what looks to be unbreakable records in WHIP and BAA and ranks second in ERA. Most people consider Feller to be number one, but he never had a ten year string as good as Joss. Only tuberculous meningitis could stop Joss, killing him at the age of 31. Joss tossed the second perfect game in American League history in 1908 among his two no hitters. His 45 shut outs also remain an Indians record, despite playing in 300 less games than Feller. Joss remains completely underrated and remains the greatest Cleveland Indians pitcher of all time.

Borderline: Charles Nagy, Cliff Lee, Len Barker, Tom Candiotti, Greg Swindell

Guy Morton was incredibly consistent from 1915 through 1919, posting an ERA below 2.90 with at least 140 innings each season. During this peak he went 61-48, a considerable higher winning percentage (.560) than the rest of his career (.493). In just his second season he hit peaks in ERA, innings pitched, WHIP and BAA that he would never reach again.

In 1920, when the rest of the team was hitting it's peak, Morton fell off a cliff. His ERA skyrocketed to above four and he was replaced in the rotation by Duster Mails for the end of the regular season and the World Series. The move was a great one as Mails was the star of the series, throwing 15.2 innings in two games without allowing a single run and just six hits. It must have been a huge disappointment to Morton, however, who worked so long to get to the highest point, only to be replaced at the last minute.

Unlike many early Indians players who were traded to finish their career with another team, Morton played his entire career in Cleveland. He finished up in 1924, throwing just 12 innings as he obviously didn't have it anymore. After ten years of retirement, Morton died at the age of 41.

The center fielder is the general in the outfield. Directing traffic and making sure the outfield works as a unit. In Indians history, the center fielder has also generally been the lead off hitter, setting the standard for the rest of the lineup. The Indians have been lucky over the history of the team by having not just strong defensive center fielders, but great offensive ones as well. The top three players on this list are all in the Hall of Fame and have had their numbers retired (if they wore a number at all). This is the most Hall of Fame players at any single position for the Cleveland Indians. The next four also rank among the top Indians of all time. Because the Indians have had such great defenders in center, those who won such Gold Gloves (beginning in 1957) will be listed next to their years as a starter for the Indians. 

10. Vic Davalillo - Years Starting CF - 1963-1967 - Gold Glove 1964

The fact that the top of this list is so great forces the last few spots to be less than mediocre. The top seven players on the list represent 53 years of starting centerfielders, leaving 58 years for the many other center fielders to play for the Tribe. Davalillo grabs the tenth spot almost by default after playing in less than 700 games and knocking in 181 runs.

9. Joe Birmingham - 1907-1912

Birmingham is in the same boat as Davalillo as he probably doesn't deserve consideration with those above him. He was the Indians first long term centerfielder and does rank high among the others in RBI and steals. However, he brings up the bottom of the list as far as batting average goes and was just altogether not that impressive.

8. Brett Butler - 1984-1987

Butler has the shortest career of any player on this list, but still impressed, racking up a ton of steals and keeping a high average. He was part of a surprisingly good outfield for some very bad 1980's Indians team along side Carter and Cory Snyder.

7. Rick Manning - 1975-76, 1978-82 - Gold Glove 1976

The greatest color commentator in Indians history was once a great defensive star. Manning ranks among the best Indians ever in steals (in fact 9 of the the 23 Indians with 100 or more career steals were center fielders) while playing in more than 1,000 games. An injury severly harmed Manning's career as he missed all of 1977 and was eventually traded to Milwaukee.

6. Grady Sizemore - 2005-2009 - Gold Glove 2007-2008

Sizemore was the most recent Indians center fielder and was something special before injuries derailed his career. His all-out level of play won him two Gold Gloves, and helped him steal 134 bases and leg out 43 triples, but eventually ended his time with the Indians after repeated injuries. Sizemore also had power not usually seen in center, hitting 139 home runs in less than 1,000 games, ranking fourth among Indians centerfielders and 13th overall.

5. Joe Carter - 1988-1989

Carter is an outliar on this list as he only started two seasons in center for the Tribe. He also played left field and first base for the Indians, but no position stands out as his main. However, he was so good he needs to be included on one of these lists. Carter ranks 12th all time in home runs among all Indians and third among center fielders. Carter played at a very high offensive level his whole time with the Tribe, leading the Indians offense from 1986 through 1989.

4. Kenny Lofton -1992-96, 1998-2001 - Gold Glove 1993-1996

The fact that Lofton is fourth on this list shows how deep this group really is. Lofton is among the greatest offensive Indians of all time and also won four straight Gold Gloves. He was unquestionably the best defensive centerfielder and offensive lead-off man in all of baseball for the entire decade of the 1990's. He keeps the record for most steals as an Indian, almost twice as many as the next best stealer. He also ranks among the top ten all time in hits and runs.

3. Larry Doby - 1948-55, 1958

Doby played just before the advent of the Gold Glove, but was famous for a great arm and good glove as well as his power. Doby was the most pure power hitter among those listed and lead the AL in home runs in 1952 and 1954. He probably should have won two MVPs for those seasons, but was beaten by the inherant racisim left in baseball. He ranks among the top four centerfielders in almost every production stat including runs, hits, home runs and RBI.

2. Tris Speaker - 1916-1926

Speaker was not just the starting centerfielder when he was on the team, but was also the manager when the Indians won their first World Series in 1920. Speaker holds the Major League record for doubles in a career and is second among Indians center fielders in steals and triples. His .354 average was the tops among Indians centerfielders and second among all Indians. Not only was he great offensively, but he was famous for playing a very short center because he had the speed to catch anything that was hit to deep center in addition to stealing some would be safeties up the middle.

1. Earl Averill - 1929-1938

Averill should be considered not just the greatest Indians centerfielder, but the greatest Indians hitter of all time. He ranks first among all Indians in runs, doubles, RBI and total bases and held the home run title from 1938 through the mid 1990's when Albert Belle broke it. During his twelve years with the Tribe Averill made six All-Star teams and received MVP votes seven times. He also played all but eight games in his career with Cleveland, unlike almost every other player on this list who spent time elsewhere. The most disappointing part of Averill's career was that he never made the playoffs despite being such a great player on a pretty good team. Many of his teammates were around for either the 1920 championship or the 1948, but Averill himself was just incredibly unlucky in his timing. 

Borderline: Roy Weatherly, George Hendrick, Coco Crisp, Harry Bay, Jim Piersall (GG 1961)

Homer Summa was the starting right fielder in a very strong outfield during the 1920's, playing next to Earl Averill in center and Charlie Jamieson in left. In his career he was a mid-level player offensively, ranking among the best Indians right fielders, but low when compared to all offensive players. Defensively, Summa lead the league in outfield assists in 1926 and had a total of 73 in his career ranking behind just Bruce Campbell, Rocky Colavito and Cory Snyder in Indians history. His arm was not just strong, but wild as he lead the league in errors (RF) in 1924 and 1926 through 1928.

In 1929, the Indians sold Homer Summa to the Philadelphia Athletics where he finished his career. After averaging over 50 runs scored per season while with Cleveland, he only scored 22 more times after leaving Cleveland across two seasons and 62 games. Homer Summa died in 1966 at the age of 67.