Cleveland Indians All-Time Teams

An enjoyable and on-going ritual of baseball is the periodic selection of various all-time teams. All-time rosters have been selected for individual teams, ethnic groups, sluggers, base stealers, and so on. A variety of all-time teams have been selected for the Cleveland Indians.

The following sample includes a mythical team chosen by fans voting in local Cleveland newspapers in 1951, the 50th anniversary of both the Indians and the American League, one from The Ronald Encyclopedia of Baseball edited by Joseph Reichler in 1962, one chosen by fans and media through polling by the Cleveland Press during professional baseball’s centennial season of 1969, and one from the authors of The All-Time All-Star Baseball Book (Bart and Nick Acocella and Donald Dewey).

 

Position	1951	Ronald	1969	All-Star Book
1B	Hal Trosky	George Stovall	Hal Trosky	Hal Trosky
2B	Nap Lajoie	Nap Lajoie	Nap Lajoie	Nap Lajoie
3B	Ken Keltner	Bill Bradley	Ken Keltner	Al Rosen
SS	Joe Sewell	Lou Boudreau	Lou Boudreau	Lou Boudreau
OF	Joe Jackson	Joe Jackson	Joe Jackson	Larry Doby
OF	Tris Speaker	Tris Speaker	Tris Speaker	Tris Speaker
OF	Earl Averill	Earl Averill	Charlie Jamieson	C. Jamieson
C	Steve O’Neill	Steve O’Neill	Steve O’Neill	Steve O’Neill
P	Cy Young	Joe Shaute (L)	Vean Gregg (L)	Bob Feller
P	Mel Harder	Bob Feller/ Addie Joss (R)	Bob Feller (R)
Mgr		Al Lopez		Al Lopez

(Note: Boudreau and Feller were not eligible for the 1951 selection because both were still active players.)

 

In 1989, the Indians ran a fan poll to choose an all-time 24-man squad. These choices included Feller, Harder, Joss, plus Bob Lemon, Early Wynn, Sam McDowell, Gaylord Perry, Mike Garcia, Stan Coveleski and Herb Score. Joining infielders Boudreau, Lajoie, Trosky and Keltner were Al Rosen, Andre Thornton and Joe Gordon. Leading the outfielders was modern fan favorite Rocky Colavito, followed by Speaker, Larry Doby, Averill, Joe Carter and Jackson. The catchers were O’Neill and Jim Hegan.

Disregarding the 1989 selections, the most striking feature of all these all-time teams is the old-time nature of the clubs. On the Ronald squad only Feller was an active player beyond 1952. Rapid Robert is again the most recent retiree (1956) on the squad chosen in 1969. The All-Time All-Star Baseball Book adds an element of youth by including Doby who retired in 1959. Even the 24 players chosen in 1989 feature just seven active since 1960 (Wynn, McDowell, Perry, Score, Thornton, Colavito and Carter).

Playing the all-time all-star team game can lead in many directions. A Cleveland team based on most home runs in one season would be comprised of catcher John Romano (25 home runs in 1962), first baseman Hal Trosky (42, 1936), second baseman Joe Gordon (32, 1948), shortstop Woody Held (29, 1959). third baseman Al Rosen (43, 1953), left fielder Leon Wagner (31, 1964) and right fielder Rocky Colavito (42, 1959). Two center fielders, Earl Averill and Larry Doby, each had a pair of 32-homer seasons. Andre Thornton’s 33 homers in 1982 are the most for a Tribesman playing designated hitter. Wes Ferrell’s nine home runs in 1931 is a record among pitchers for the Indians and all major league baseball.

How about Cleveland’s “A Squad”? You might have Joe Adcock at first base, Bobby Avila at second, Ken Aspromonte at shortstop, Max Alvis at third, Alan Ashby catching and Johnny Allen pitching. The could play a “B Squad” with Bruce Bochte at first, Jack Brohamer at second, Boudreau at short and Buddy Bell at third, Bobby Bonds, Walter Bond, and Brett Butler in the outfield, Moe Berg catching and Jim Bagby Sr. pitching.

An All-Time defensive team for the Tribe might consist of first baseman Vic Power, second baseman Lajoie, shortstop Boudreau, third baseman Graig Nettles, outfielders Speaker, Colavito and Jimmy Piersall, catcher Ray Fosse and pitcher Phil Niekro.

Perhaps the most fitting all-star team would be one based on selections to the All-Star Game. Cleveland’s team would include pitcher Feller (eight selections), shortstop Boudreau, outfielder Doby, and third baseman Keltner (seven each), outfielder Averill (six), catcher Hegan (five), second baseman Avila and outfielder Colavito (two each). At first base, we might shift Rosen across the diamond.

The possibilities are endless (unlike the pennant-less drought of 35-plus years in the Wigwam, I hope). Perhaps thoughts of the tallest Tribe team, the heaviest (with Garland Buckeye edging out Jumbo Brown as starting pitcher), the smartest (with Berg catching) and others will send you scrambling to the record books.