History of the Cleveland Guardians

Although the Cleveland Guardians have been a member of the American League since 1901, they have won only two World Series titles (1920, 1948). They had their best season in 1954, when they had 111 wins to 43 losses. They've had one of their strongest teams for the last three seasons, winning the AL Central title in 2016, 2017, and 2018. The last time they played that well was in the 1990s, when they went to the postseason five times.

1901-1909

The Cleveland Guardians were established in 1901 as the Cleveland Blues. A year later, they were renamed the Cleveland Bronchos, but that name also only lasted for a year. From 1903 through 1914, they were known as the Cleveland Naps. They played at League Park from 1901 through 1932.

The Blues had a poor start in 1901, finishing the season with 54 wins and 82 losses. They improved quickly, however, and they had winning seasons from 1902 through 1904, and again from 1906 through 1908. Their best season was in 1908, when they had 90 wins and 64 losses. None of their wins, however, led to postseason games.

In 1902, the Bronchos added three future Hall of Famers to their roster. Nap Lajoie, who also managed the team from 1905 through 1909, played with them through 1914. Both Elmer Flick and Addie Joss played with them from 1902 through 1910.

In addition to being managed by Lajoie, the Bronchos/Naps had four other managers in their first ten years. Their first manager in 1901 was Jimmy McAleer. He was followed by Bill Armour from 1902 to 1904. Bill Bradley and Deacon McGuire managed the team for part of the time in 1909.

1910-1919

The Cleveland Naps had a final name change in 1915, when they became the Cleveland Indians. Prior to the name change, the team had two winning seasons (1911 and 1913). It took two more years, for them to have their best season in 1917 with 88 wins and 66 losses. They followed that with two more winning seasons, but once again no postseason play.

From 1910 through 1919, the Naps/Indians had difficulty with manager stability. They had six managers in those ten years, starting with Deacon McGuire in 1910 and 1911. George Stovall took over in 1911, but he didn't last long. The following year, Harry Davis managed the team for just one season. Joe Birmingham, who took over the leadership in 1912, lasted until 1915, when Lee Fohl became manager. In 1919, future Hall of Famer Tris Speaker became the Indians' player-manager. He stayed in that position through 1926.

Speaker first joined the Indians in 1916. Another future Hall of Famer, Stan Coveleski, also joined the team that year. Both continued to play with the Indians through the first years of the 1920s.

1920-1929

Under Speaker's leadership, the Indians won their first pennant and their first World Series title in 1920. They finished the regular season with 98 wins and 56 losses. They then defeated the Brooklyn Robins/Dodgers in the postseason. Future Hall of Famer Joe Sewell joined the Indians that year and he stayed with them through 1930.

The Indians had winning seasons from 1920 through 1923, and in 1926, Speaker's last season with the team. The following year, Jack McCallister took over as manager but he lasted for just that season. In 1928, Roger Peckinpaugh became the manager and a year later, he led the team to another winning season.

1930-1939

In the next decade, the Indians fared better, often finishing in third or fourth place in the league. They had nine winning seasons (1930-1932, 1934-1939) but they didn't get to the World Series during those years. Their best seasons were 1932 with 87 wins and 65 losses and 1939 with again 87 wins and 67 losses.

The Indians played at Cleveland Stadium in 1932 and 1933. They moved back to League Park in 1934 and continued to play home games there through 1946.

Three future Hall of Famers helped the Indians have winning seasons in the 1930s. Earl Averill joined the team in 1929 and he played with them until the end of the decade. Pitcher Bob Feller came in 1936, and he had a strong impact on the team for two decades. The team added Lou Boudreau in 1938, and like Feller, he would continue to help the Indians through the 1940s.

In 1933, future Hall of Fame player Walter Johnson took over as manager of the Indians. Two years later, he was replaced by Steve O'Neill, who managed the team through 1937. Ossie Vitt then led the team to three winning seasons (1938-1940).

1940-1949

The Indians started the 1940s with a winning season and a second place finish in the AL division. The success was short-lived and the Indians were back in fourth place the next year. Their next winning seasons came in 1943 and 1945.

Change came for the Indians in 1946, when they were purchased by a group led by Bill Veeck. Veeck made his first mark on the team in 1947, signing Larry Doby as the first African-American player in the American League. A year later, he signed Negro League star pitcher Satchel Paige.

With Paige's pitching and some strong hitters, the Indians won the American League pennant and their second World Series in 1948, defeating the Boston Braves. That year, they had 97 wins and 58 losses. They ended the decade with another winning season in 1949, but they finished in third place in the league.

The Indians moved to Cleveland Stadium in 1947. They continued to play home games there until 1994.

Roger Peckinpaugh returned to manage the Indians in 1941. He was replaced the next year by player-manager Lou Boudreau, who continued to provide leadership for the team through 1950.

In 1941, the Indians added another future Hall of Fame pitcher to their starting rotation. Bob Lemon joined the rotation in 1941 and he pitched with them for two years before serving in the armed services. He returned in 1946 and remained a significant part of the rotation through 1958.

1950-1959

Veeck sold the Indians in 1949, and this started a series of ownership changes for the team. In spite of the turmoil in management, the Indians played well in the 1950s, with nine winning seasons (every season except 1957). Despite the winning seasons, they were unable to overcome the dominance of the New York Yankees. The only exception was in 1954, when Cleveland ended the season winning 111 games to win the American League pennant. They lost the World Series that year to the New York Giants.

The Indians had three future Hall of Famers as managers in the 1950s. Lou Boudreau managed in 1950, followed by Al Lopez from 1951 through 1956. Lopez would eventually be inducted into the Hall of Fame as a manager. Joe Gordon managed from 1958 through 1960. Two other managers were Kerby Farrell in 1957 and Bobby Bragan, who managed the team for 67 games in 1958.

1960-1969

The 1960s started a long downslide for the Indians. They had only two winning seasons (1965 and 1968) and no postseason play. They ended the decade with a move to the newly formed American League East division.

The Indians kept changing managers from 1960 through 1969. They had seven managers, starting with Joe Gordon in 1960. He was followed by Jimmy Dykes (1960-1961), Mel McGaha (1962), Birdie Tebbetts (1963, 1964-1966), George Strickland (1964, 1966), Joe Adcock (1967), and Alvin Dark (1968-1971).

Two bright spots for the Indians in the 1960s came from two pitchers. Sam McDowell, who played with the Indians from 1961 through 1971, led the AL in ERA in 1965, and he led the league in strikeouts in 1965, 1966, and 1968 through 1970. Luis Tiant, who played with them from 1964 through 1969, led the AL in ERA in 1968.

1970-1979

The Indians struggled through the 1970s, having again just two winning seasons (1976 and 1979) and no postseason play. Their best season was 1976, when they had 81 wins and 78 losses. They had 81 wins also in 1979, but that year they had 80 losses.

The Indians continued to have a revolving door policy with managers in the 1970s. Their six managers were Alvin Dark (1970-1971), Johnny Lippon (1971 for 59 games), Ken Aspromonte (1972-1974), future Hall of Fame player Frank Robinson (1975-1977), Jeff Torborg (1977-1979), and Dave Garcia (1979-1982).

Two future Hall of Fame pitchers provided fans with some good moments in the 1970s. Gaylord Perry played with them from 1972 through 1975, and relief pitcher Dennis Eckersley joined the team in 1975 and pitched for them through 1977.

1980-1989

The 1980s were very similar seasons for the Indians to those of the previous twenty years. Again, there were just two winning seasons (1981, 1986) and no postseason games. As in the previous decades, they added a future Hall of Fame pitcher to their roster. Bert Blyleven pitched for them from 1981 through 1985.

The Indians had more consistency in leadership with just four managers from 1980 through 1989. Dave Garcia managed the team from 1980 through 1982. He was followed by Mike Ferraro in 1983, Pat Corrales from 1983 through 1987, and Doc Edwards from 1987 through 1989.

1990-1999

Two changes occurred for the Indians in 1991 that would eventually affect the second half of the decade. Future Hall of Famer Jim Thome joined the team and he would play an important part in their efforts for the next twelve years. Also, in 1991, they finally hired a manager who stayed with the team for a considerable length of time. Mike Hargrove led the Indians from 1991 through 1999.

The Indians finally began to improve by the mid-1990s. After only losing seasons from 1990 through 1993, things started to turn around for the team. In 1994, two changes occurred to the team's status. First, they were moved to the new AL Central division. Second, they had a new ballpark, Progressive Field. Both of these changes seemed to help the team. They were within one game of the AL Central division leader, the Chicago White Sox, in 1994, when the season was ended early by a baseball strike.

The Indians had only winning seasons from 1995 through 1999, and they went to the postseason each year. Their best season was 1995, when they had 100 wins and 44 losses. That year, they defeated the Boston Red Sox in the ALDS and the Seattle Mariners in the ALCS to win the AL pennant. They lost the World Series, however, to the Atlanta Braves.

In 1996, the Indians had 99 wins and 62 losses. They then faced the Baltimore Orioles in the ALDS and lost the series. The next year, they defeated the New York Yankees in the ALDS and the Orioles in the ALCS, to win another AL pennant. Once again, they lost the World Series, this time to the Miami Marlins.

The Indians again won their division title in 1998. They won the ALDS over the Red Sox, but lost the ALCS to the Yankees. In 1999, they again went to the postseason and lost the ALDS to the Red Sox.

2000-2009

The Indians' success declined in the first decade of the new century. They had just three winning seasons (2001, 2005, and 2007) and they went to the postseason just twice (2001 and 2007). Their best season was 2007, when they had 96 wins and 66 losses.

In 2001, under the leadership of new manager Charlie Manuel, the Indians had 91 wins and 71 losses. They won the AL Central division title but lost the ALDS to the Mariners. In 2002, Joel Skinner took over the managerial position, but after another losing season, he was replaced in 2003 by Eric Wedge.

Wedge and the Indians struggled until 2007, when they again won the division title and went to the postseason. Wedge was named the AL Manager of the Year for turning around the team. They faced the Yankees in the ALDS and they won the series, but they lost the ALCS to the Red Sox.

A key pitcher for the Indians in their 2007 wins was C.C. Sabathia. He won the AL Cy Young award that year.

2010-2018

The Indians started 2010 with a new manager, Manny Acta. Unfortunately for the team, he couldn't lead them to winning seasons from 2010 through 2012. After a poor year in 2012, with 68 wins to 94 losses and a fourth place finish in the AL Central division, he was fired.

Terry Francona, who had led the Red Sox to two World Series titles, was hired to manage the Indians for the 2013 season. He brought leadership and success to the team, managing them to winning seasons from 2013 through 2018. He won two AL Manager of the Year awards, one in 2013 and a second one in 2016.

In 2013, the Indians finished with 92 wins and 70 losses, and a second place finish in the AL Central division. They won a Wild Card spot but they lost the Wild Card game to the Tampa Bay Rays with a score of 4-0. They finished both the 2014 and 2015 seasons in third place in the division.

The Indians finished the 2016 season with 94 wins and 67 losses and the AL Central division title. They defeated the Red Sox in the ALDS and the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALCS. They faced the Chicago Cubs in the World Series and lost a well-played series in seven games.

The Indians had 102 wins and 60 losses in 2017, and they again won the AL Central division title. They then played the Yankees in the ALDS and lost the series. In 2018, they once again won the division title, with 91 wins and 71 losses. They lost the ALDS to the Houston Astros in three games.

In 2011, the Indians added Corey Kluber to their starting rotation and he was a key player in their wins. He won two Cy Young awards, one in 2014 and a second one in 2017. Two of the rookies the Indians added to their roster have also been key players for them. Jose Ramirez was added in 2013, and Francisco Lindor joined them in 2015.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Cleveland Indians
Baseball Reference - Cleveland Indians