Cleveland Guardians: Players, Records, Performance and Achievements
Explore the dynamics of MLB’s Cleveland Guardians and take a closer look at their prominent players, season records, peak performance years and achievements.

With a historic Major League Baseball (MLB) history, the Cleveland Guardians were formerly known as the Indians. The Cleveland Guardians squad was established in 1901 and achieved remarkable triumphs by clinching the World Series in 1920 and 1948. The Cleveland Guardians have been completely transformed by legendary players like Jim Thome and Bob Feller. The squad changed their name to the Guardians in 2021 as part of a major rebranding effort to adopt a more culturally aware identity. The Guardians have successfully negotiated the difficulties of a competitive league in terms of their recent performance. Although numerous season-to-season variations have been witnessed over the past years, the Cleveland Guardians are nonetheless committed to developing a strong squad and competing in the American League. Like every other MLB club, Cleveland’s performance has been impacted by management choices, player acquisitions, and the unpredictability of the game. The Guardians are still evolving into a formidable force, keeping an eye on a bright and competitive Major League Baseball future while maintaining a sense of reverence for their legendary heritage.
MLB’s Cleveland Guardians: Prominent Players
Bill Bradley
In the early 20th century, Bill Bradley, a right-handed batter, spent ten years covering third base for Cleveland and became a reliable performer. Bradley had a slash line of.272/.317/.373 across 1,231 games, with 339 extra-base hits, 473 RBIs, and 157 stolen bases. Bradley was not much of a home run hitter, yet he was an extra-base maestro, recording 30 or more doubles four seasons and triples with ten or more three times. Notably, Bradley demonstrated a dedication to teamwork by leading the majors in sacrifice bunts in both the 1907 and 1908 seasons. Bradley’s stay in Cleveland had a lasting effect; his defensive presence at the hot corner and well-rounded offensive skills helped the team succeed in the early 20th century.
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Wes Ferrell

The Indians were home to right-hander Wes Ferrell for the first seven seasons of his career, during which he produced a great deal of work in a short amount of time. Ferrell made an astounding 195 appearances with the squad, 157 of which were starts. Over 1,321.1 innings, Ferrell pitched to a 3.67 ERA and achieved 102 triumphs. Ferrell’s notable seasons included leading the league in complete games in 1931 (27), being selected to the All-Star team in 1933, and regularly pitching more than 200 innings for the Indians from 1929 to 1933. However, Ferrell improved with the Red Sox, leading the American League in innings and complete games for three straight seasons, so Cleveland regretted sending him to Boston in 1934.
Terry Turner

For more than fifteen years, Terry Turner was a solid daily player with the Cleveland Indians, where he played for much of his 1,659-game career. Turner, who was born in Sandy Lake, Pennsylvania, made a big contribution to the Naps and then the Indians. With 289 extra-base hits, 521 RBIs, and 254 stolen bases during his time in Cleveland, Turner demonstrated his ability to get on base and use his legs. His slash line was 254/.310/.320. Despite his lack of power-hitting prowess, Turner’s ability to run the bases was highlighted by his critical role in setting the stage for other players to score runs. Turner also showed defensive flexibility, playing three infield positions with steady dependability and adeptness.
Early Wynn
When Early Wynn joined the Cleveland Indians in 1949, he had gone from being a solid starter with the Washington Senators to a baseball superstar. Over ten seasons, Wynn’s success with the Indians demonstrated his skill as he won 164 games and pitched to an excellent 3.24 ERA. Throughout eight separate seasons, Wynn threw in more than 200 frames and had 144 complete games, 24 shutouts and 1,277 strikeouts over 2,286.2 innings. Wynn, an American League ERA champion in 1950, was born in Hartford, AL. Wynn played for Cleveland in three All-Star Games, twice leading the league in innings pitched. Wynn’s legendary status as a member of the Cleveland Indians was cemented in 1972 when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame due to his extraordinary career.
Sam McDowell
Sam McDowell, a left-hander who spent his first 11 big league seasons as a Cleveland Indians regular, effortlessly became one of the best pitchers of the modern age. In 336 games (295 starts), McDowell recorded 122 wins and a stellar 2.99 ERA in 2,109.2 innings pitched. McDowell’s accomplishments included five times leading the majors in strikeouts, an ERA title (1965) with a stellar mark of 2.18, and six appearances in All-Star Games. Throughout his incredible time in Cleveland, McDowell left a lasting impression on the mound, demonstrating his skill and elevating him to a unique position in the Indians’ pitching history.
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MLB’s Cleveland Guardians: Season Records
Decade | Wins | Losses | Win % |
1900s | 697 | 632 | .524 |
1910s | 742 | 747 | .498 |
1920s | 786 | 749 | .512 |
1930s | 824 | 708 | .538 |
1940s | 800 | 731 | .523 |
1950s | 904 | 634 | .588 |
1960s | 783 | 826 | .487 |
1970s | 737 | 866 | .460 |
1980s | 710 | 849 | .455 |
1990s | 823 | 728 | .531 |
2000s | 816 | 804 | .504 |
2010s | 855 | 763 | .528 |
2020s | 283 | 263 | .518 |
All-time | 9,760 | 9,300 | .512 |
MLB’s Cleveland Guardians: Peak Performance Years
Throughout their existence, the MLB’s Cleveland Guardians have experienced a lot of seasons of outstanding play. An anecdote for some of the most noteworthy ones is provided below:
Year | Win-Loss Record | Playoff Success | MVPs |
1920 | 92-58 (.613) | World Series Champions | Nap Lajoie |
1948 | 97-60 (.616) | World Series Champions | Lou Boudreau |
1954 | 111-44 (.715) | World Series Champions | Early Wynn |
1995 | 100-42 (.709) | World Series Champions | Kenny Lofton |
1997 | 86-75 (.534) | World Series Champions | Kenny Lofton |
2007 | 96-64 (.600) | ALCS Appearance | Grady Sizemore |
2016 | 94-67 (.585) | World Series Appearance | Francisco Lindor |
2018 | 91-71 (.563) | ALDS Appearance | José Ramírez |
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MLB’s Cleveland Guardians: Recent Major Achievements
An anecdote of the MLB’s Cleveland Guardians’s latest achievements is provided below:
Category | Achievement |
Division Domination | AL Central Champions (3): 2022, 2018, 2017 |
Division Domination | Consecutive Division Titles (2): 2017-2018 |
Division Domination | Consistent Winning Seasons (.500+ in 8 of 10 years) |
Individual Brilliance | Cy Young Award Winner: Shane Bieber (2020) |
Individual Brilliance | Silver Slugger Awards (3): Jose Ramirez (3B, 2018), Carlos Santana (1B, 2019), Emmanuel Clase (RP, 2022) |
Individual Brilliance | All-Star Selections (14): Jose Ramirez (6), Shane Bieber (3), Emmanuel Clase (2), Triston McKenzie (1), Others (2) |
Postseason Success | ALDS Appearances (3): 2022, 2018, 2013 |
Organizational Accolades | Top-Ranked Farm System (3): 2022, 2020, 2019 |