Cleveland Indians Dream Team

 

Every sport evolves with each passing generation -- from the

size and athleticism of players to game strategy. 

Baseball’s evolution, however, is both historic and unique given

the pre-integration and dead ball eras. For the former, full

segregation took place from 1887-1947. Full integration, which

was a gradual process, came in 1959. The Deadball Era was a

period in the early 20th century when baseball was characterized

by low scoring and emphasis on pitching. 

There was the Steroid Era, which has no definite start time though

it is generally assumed that the era ran from the late 1980s until the

late 2000s. This era was defined by shattered home run records

leading to exorbitant salaries. 

The Cleveland Indians came into Major League Baseball in 1901.

The franchise has two World Series titles (1920, 1948), six

American League pennants (1920, 1948, 1954, 1995, 1997, 2016).

They also have ten division titles and another playoff appearance

as a wild card team. The 1997 and 2016 teams lost the World

Series in seven games to the Florida Marlins and Chicago Cubs

respectively. 

Today, I formed an Indians Dream Team in a 26-man roster format.

For openers, to make this roster, four years as an Indian are

required. No exceptions. With the free agency era, I’m not going to

cheapen this roster with 1-3 year rentals. 

I’m forming a 12 man pitching staff, five starters, and seven relievers.

For the latter, I want at least one lefthander in the bullpen. For position

players, I am taking what I believe is the best of the best regardless

of era. For the bench players, it’s the best of the rest with versatility

being heavily considered. Merit achievements such as Hall of Fame,

All-Star appearances, and Gold Gloves are considered but not

guaranteed. General impactfulness on the franchise is also

considered.

Generational reminders

If you played on a playoff team, there is no guarantee of landing on

this roster. If you played during a bad season, that does not deter

you from being on this roster. Off-the-field baggage is not a deterrent

to landing on this team, nor is any Steroid Era affiliation. This is

baseball, not the Boys Scouts. We don’t do morality clauses. 

Starting pitchers

Bob Feller, Addie Joss, Bob Lemon, Corey Kluber, CC Sabathia

In this bunch, the Indians have three Hall of Famers with Feller,

Joss, and Lemon. They also have two accomplished and at times

dominant pictures in Kluber and Sabathia. Feller broke into the Major

Leagues at age 17 and was named to the All-Star team at age 19.

Though he gave up four years of his career to serve in World War II,

Feller has a decorated resume. He was an eight-time All-Star,

seven-time Major League strikeout leader, pitched three no-hitters,

led the American League in wins six times, Triple Crown winner in

1940 and helped deliver a World Series in 1948. Feller also pitched

three no-hitters. Joss’ career was cut short to tuberculosis meningitis

but he was incredibly dominant with a club-record 1.16 ERA in a

single season in 1908 and is the franchise’s all-time leader in career

ERA at 1.89, which is second-lowest in Major League history to go

along with his 45 shoutouts. Joss was the two-time Major League

ERA leader and Major League wins leader in 1907. Lemon broke

into the Major Leagues as a position player and turned into a Hall

of Fame pitcher. Lemon was a seven-time All-Star, three-time

American League wins leader and helped deliver the Indians World

Series title in 1948. 

Kluber and Sabathia, much to the dismay of Indians fans, eventually

became New York Yankees but what they delivered in Cleveland is

too much to ignore. Kluber is the only two-time Cy Young Award

winner in franchise history. He is also a three-time All-Star, two-time

American League wins leader and American League ERA leader in

2017. Kluber was a significant component in the Indians pennant-

winning team of 2016. Sabathia is one of four pitchers in team history

to win an American League Cy Young Award winner. He broke into

the Major Leagues at the age of 20. Three of Sabathia's six career

All-Star appearances came in an Indians uniform. He was also the

Cy Young Award winner in 2007. 

Bullpen

Closer -- Cody Allen

Doug Jones, Jose Mesa, Ray Narleski, Rafael Betancourt, Bob

Wickman, Vinnie Pestano

Allen never earned any All-Star recognition during his seven seasons

with the franchise but is the Indians all-time leader in saves with 149.

Allen was particularly strong between the seasons of 2014-2017. He

was a key component in the Indians 2016 pennant-winning team

and in that span compiled an era of 2.99. Most closers are

overpowering but Jones was the polar opposite as he befuddled

hitters with his changeup and off-speed pitches. Jones is third in

franchise history with 129 saves. Three of his five All-Star

appearances came in an Indians uniform. When most people think

of Mesa they think of the blown save in Game 7 of the 1997 World

Series but Mesa had a very strong seven seasons with the Indians.

He was an All-Star back-to-back seasons in 1995 and 1996 and led

the American League in saves in 1995. Narleski pitched before

saves were an official statistic but he was a two-time All-Star in his

five seasons with the Indians. 

Betancourt is sixth in franchise history in strikeouts among relievers

and during his time with the Indians he compiled a 3.25 ERA.

Wickman is No. 2 in franchise history with 139 saves. Both of his

All-Star appearances came in an Indians uniform. He led the

American League in saves in 2005. In his five seasons with the

Indians, Pestano compiled an ERA of 2.93. 

Infield

Catcher -- Victor Martinez; First base -- Jim Thome; Second base

-- Nap Lajoie; Third base -- Al Rosen; Shortstop -- Omar Vizquel

Very tough call between Martinez and Alomar Jr but the former gets

a slight nod. Martinez is the only Indians catcher to reach the 100

home run plateau and has the highest batting average among

catchers with at least 500 at-bats. Three of Martinez's five All-Star

appearances came in an Indians uniform. No player in franchise

history has hit more home runs in an Indians uniform than Thome.

The left-handed slugger is eighth in Major League history 612 career

home runs on the way to a Hall of Fame career. Thome eclipsed the

40 home run mark six times in his career. He played a total of 13

seasons with the Indians and was an All-Star three times.  

Lajoie played 13 seasons of his 21-year career with the Indians and

was a five-time batting champion, three-time RBI leader, and the

American League home run leader in 1901 on the way to a Hall of

Fame career. Rosen remains the last Indians player to win

American League MVP award. Rosen played all 10 of his Major

League seasons with the franchise, helping them win their 1948

World Series. Rosen was a four-time All-Star and 1953 American

League MVP. He led the American League in home runs and RBIs

two times each. Lou Boudreau being chosen as manager frees up

Vizquel to be the starting shortstop on this team. Vizquel is one of

his generation’s best defensive shortstops having won nine of his

11 Gold Gloves as an Indian. Though Vizquel was not long on

power, he compiled a 272 career batting average and 2877 career

hits. All three of his All-Star appearances came in a Cleveland

uniform. 

Outfield

Leftfield -- Albert Belle; Centerfield -- Tristam Speaker; Rightfield

-- Manny Ramirez

Belle had a combustible personality but was a very consistent player

in his eight seasons with the Indians. Belle became the only player

in Major League history to hit 50 home runs and 50 doubles in a

single season. He is also one of six major league history players to

have 9 consecutive 100-rbi seasons. Belle was a key component

to that 1995 pennant-winning team with four of his five All-Star

appearances and Silver Slugger Awards coming in an Indians

uniform. Speaker is the only Major Leaguer to have three hitting

streaks of 20 or more games in a single season. Speaker spent 11

years in Cleveland after nine in Boston. Speaker help the Indians

to their 1920 World Series title and was the American League

batting champion in 1916. Ramirez spent his first eight seasons

with the Indians. in that span, he made five all-star teams and won

three Silver Slugger Awards. Ramirez was also the American

League RBI leader in 1999.

Bench

Sandy Alomar Jr., Hal Trosky, Joe Gordon, Ken Keltner, Michael

Brantley, Shoeless Joe Jackson

Alomar and Carlos Baerga were part of a trade that helped change

the direction of the Indians franchise. Alomar ranked second

all-time among Indian catchers in home runs and doubles and

became the first player to win the All-Star game MVP in his home

ballpark. Alomar spent 11 seasons with the Indians with all six of

his All-Star appearances coming with the franchise. He was the

American League Rookie of the Year in 1990. Trosky became the

first Indians player to hit 40 or home or more homeruns in a season.

Trosky’s best season was 1936 when he led the American League

with 162 RBIs, 96 extra-base hits, and 405 total bases. Even

though Gordon played only four seasons with the Indians, he is

one of three second baseman in franchise history to hit at least

100 career home runs. He was also an integral part of the Indians

1948 World Series championship team. Throughout his Hall of

Fame career, Gordon was a nine-time All-Star. 

Keltner is best known for his two backhanded defensive plays that

helped end Joe DiMaggio's 56 game hitting streak, which remains

a Major League record. Keltner played 12 of his 13 Major League

seasons with the Indians, was a seven-time All-Star, and also a

critical component to the 1948 World Series championship team.

Brantley spent 10 seasons with the Indians and became a reliable

leader in compiling a .295 batting average during his time with the

franchise. Brantley ranks second among left-fielders in doubles

and fourth in RBIs. Brantley was a four-time All-Star and Silver

Slugger Award winner in 2014. Jackson is remembered mostly As

the Chicago White Sox but his Four Seasons with Cleveland were

very impactful as he garnered MVP votes in that span.

Manager

Lou Boudreau

Close call between Speaker and volt Boudreau, who were both

player-managers. Boudreau is the franchise leader with 728

managerial wins Over the course of nine seasons. Boudreau

was the first manager to implement the defensive shift, which is

en vogue in today's game. Boudreau did this in particular in an

attempt to stymie Boston Red Sox legendary hitter Ted Williams.

No one has managed more games in franchise history than

Boudreau, who was the youngest player in franchise history to

manage a game at the age of 24.

Team

1948

This version of the Indians Remains the last one to win a World

Series. Cleveland featured a dangerous lineup with six Hall of

Fame players along with a rotation they could hammer through

most any team. The Indians had to 20 game-winners was Bob

Lemon and Gene Bearden along with Feller, who compiled 19

wins. Offensively, the Indians had three players hit .300 or

better and two hit 30 or more home runs.