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April 13, 2016Opening Day has come, been postponed, come again, and gone, but the great jersey ranking of 2016 marches on. The current players are striving to get onto this exclusive list but it takes years for them to state their case. Today, we are picking back up at number sixteen in the countdown.
No. 16: Clint Brown (1928-1935)
Right-handed hurler Clint Brown broke into the bigs with Cleveland in 1928. He only appeared in a handful of games in his first two seasons, but grew as a workhorse for the Tribe. From 1930-1933 he threw at least 185 innings each season going 48-52 with a 4.02 FIP and 1.393 WHIP. He did not shine on any playoff clubs or earn any individual hardware, but the pickings are quite slim for this digit. His 12.9 WAR was the highest of any player to wear number 16 as an Indian. Honorable mentions: Larry Brown, Felix Fermin (for both his ability to not strike out along with helping the Indians acquire Omar Vizquel).
No. 17: Shin-Soo Choo (2006-2012)
The most recent player to appear on this countdown, the Indians acquired outfielder Shin-Soo Choo from the Seattle Mariners midway through the 2006 season. Choo immediately played well for the Tribe, but did not ingrain himself as the everyday right fielder until 2008. Over seven total seasons Choo batted .292/.383/.469 with 83 homers and 372 RBI. His powerful throwing arm cut down many a runner at the plate; in 2010 he led the American League with fourteen assists. Surprisingly Choo never appeared in an All-Star Game as an Indian or receive any and-of-year awards. However, he did finish 14th in the 2010 AL MVP vote. In every element of the game Choo was consistent, and his last name was fun for the fans to chant when he did something well. The Tribe traded Choo to Cincinnati after the 2012 season as part of the three-team deal to acquire Trevor Bauer. In his Cleveland career Choo assembled a 21.7 WAR and settled a once turbulent position. Honorable mentions: Travis Fryman, Jim Bagby.
No. 18: Mel Harder (1928-1947)
The modern fan likely does not know much about Mel Harder besides the fact that his number eighteen is retired, and he once played catch with Charles Nagy on the spot where Jacobs Field would be built. Make no mistake: Mel Harder was The Man. The man they called “Chief” debuted with the Tribe in 1928 as an eighteen-year-old right handed pitcher. He proceeded to pitch for Cleveland until 1947. Over his two decades in baseball Harder appeared in four All-Star Games and thrice received AL MVP votes. In 1933 he led the league with a 2.95 ERA. The following season he won twenty games and led the league with six shutouts. In 1935 he allowed a scant 0.188 homers per nine innings pitched while winning 22 games. After retiring in 1947, Harder became the Indians pitching coach, a position he would retain until 1963. He still holds the franchise record for games pitched (582). Over his twenty years, Harder generated an outstanding 47.9 WAR. Honorable mention: Duane Kuiper.
No. 19: Bob Feller (1936-41, 1945-56)
Anyone with even a passing familiarity with the Cleveland Indians baseball club knows who Bob Feller is. He made his big league debut in 1936 as an eighteen-year-old fireballer from Van Meter, Iowa. After six years on the mound, Feller joined the US Navy during World War II. He served for three years and returned to Cleveland in 1945. Feller picked up where he left off and in 1948 helped the Tribe win the World Series (though strangely he went 0-2 with a 5.02 ERA in the Fall Classic). Feller’s accomplishments on the hill are the stuff of legend:
• Eight time All-Star (1938-41, 1946-48, 50)
• World Series Champion (1948)
• Pitching Triple Crown (1940)
• Led the league in strikeouts seven times
• Led the league in wins six times
• Six-time 20 game winner
• Three career no-hitters
• Hall of Famer (inducted 1962)
Feller passed away in 2010, but his likeness stands in bronze outside the center field gate, coiled like a snake ready to fire a strike. Feller’s numbers equate to an incredible 65.2 WAR. Some WFNY writers even believe the team should be re-named in his honor. Honorable mention: Oral Hildebrand.
No. 20:Ray Narleski (1954-1958)
I won’t lie, I really wanted this one to be Ronnie Belliard. The right-handed second baseman enjoyed a productive career with Cleveland, but he only played in the North Shore for two-and-a-half seasons. Instead, I’d like to bring Ray Narleski to your attention. Narleski broke in with the Indians in 1954 as a reliever. He sported a 2.22 ERA as a rookie as Cleveland won the AL Pennant. In 1955 Narleski led the league in both games pitched (60) and saves (19) while finishing sixth in the MVP vote. The Tribe front office traded Narleski to Detroit after the 1958 season. Over five seasons with Cleveland, Narleski finished with a 39-21 record, 3.22 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 12.4 WAR. Honorable mentions: Ronnie Belliard, Steve Karsay.
3 Comments
“In every element of the game Choo was consistent, and his last name was fun for the fans to chant when he did something well.”
I tried for 2 seconds to find a gif of the assistant coach from “Ladybugs” chanting “Chu! Chu! Chu!” before considering it a fruitless endeavor.
For No. 20, I thought you might go with Frank Robinson for the historical significance despite his relatively short tenure here.
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