Cleveland Indians All-Time Roster Over the Last 30 Years

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In honor of my 30th birthday that took place during this baseball season, I wanted to compile the best Indians roster from my lifetime.

Here are the rules.

I chose the player who in my mind had the best career at his given position.  On that player's slide I will list the stats from his best season.

This is a full 25-man roster.

Positions are only available to guys who actually held that role.  For example, the bullpen will only have one closer.  It will not be full of closers acting as set-up men.

A player had to be with the Indians for more than one season to qualify.  One year does not make you a lifetime Indian.

To be eligible for a best season, the player had to remain with the Indians for an entire year.

At the end tell me if you loved this team (I am guessing you will) or if you think I made an omission.

One thing is for certain: I have loved the Indians for 30 years now and John Adams with his drum deserved to be pictured on the lead slide given that he and Chief Wahoo have been the only constants during my lifetime with the Tribe.

Batting Leadoff and Playing CF: 1994 Kenny Lofton

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105 R, 12 HR, 57 RBI, 60 SB, .349 BA, .412 OBP

Also had 32 doubles and won the Gold Glove.

Batting 2nd and Playing 2B: 1999 Roberto Alomar

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

138 R, 24 HR, 120 RBI, 37 SB, .323 BA, .422 OBP

Also had 40 doubles and won the Gold Glove.

Batting 3rd and Playing RF: 1999 Manny Ramirez

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131 R, 44 HR, 165 RBI, 2 SB, .333 BA, .442 OBP

Also had 34 doubles.

Batting Cleanup and Playing 1B: 2002 Jim Thome

David Maxwell/Getty Images

101 R, 52 HR, 118 RBI, 1 SB, .304 BA, .445 OBP

Also had 19 doubles.

Batting 5th and Playing LF: 1995 Albert Belle

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121 R, 50 HR, 126 RBI, 5 SB, .317 BA, .401 OBP

Also had 52 doubles.

Batting 6th and Playing DH: 2006 Travis Hafner

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100 R, 42 HR, 117 RBI, 0 SB, .308 BA, .439 OBP

Also had 31 doubles.

Batting 7th and Playing C: 2007 Victor Martinez

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78 R, 25 HR, 114 RBI, 0 SB, .301 BA, .374 OBP

Also had 40 doubles.

Batting 8th and Playing 3B: 2000 Travis Fryman

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93 R, 22 HR, 106 RBI, 1 SB, .321 BA, .392 OBP

Also had 38 doubles and won the Gold Glove.

Batting 9th and Playing SS: 1999 Omar Vizquel

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112 R, 5 HR, 66 RBI, 42 SB, .333 BA, .397 OBP

Also had 36 doubles and won the Gold Glove.

4th Outfielder: 2006 Grady Sizemore

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134 R, 28 HR, 76 RBI, 22 SB, .290 BA, .375 OBP

Also had 53 doubles, 11 triples and would win the Gold Glove the following year.

Backup 1B and DH: 1995 Eddie Murray

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

68 R, 21 HR, 82 RBI, 5 SB, .323 BA, .375 OBP

Also had 21 doubles.

Backup Infielder: 1993 Carlos Baerga

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

105 R, 21 HR, 114 RBI, 15 SB, .321 BA, .355 OBP

Also had 28 doubles.

Backup C: 1997 Sandy Alomar Jr.

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63 R, 21 HR, 83 RBI, 0 SB, .324 BA, .354 OBP

Also had 37 doubles.

Staff Ace: 2007 C.C. Sabathia

Matt Sullivan/Getty Images

19-7 W-L, 3.21 ERA, 4 CG, 1 SHO, 241.0 IP, 209 K, 1.141 WHIP

No. 2 Starter: 1999 Bartolo Colon

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

18-5 W-L, 3.95 ERA, 1 CG, 1 SHO, 205.0 IP, 161 K, 1.273 WHIP

No. 3 Starter: 2008 Cliff Lee

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

22-3 W-L, 2.54 ERA, 4 CG, 2 SHO, 223.1 IP, 170 K, 1.110 WHIP

No. 4 Starter: 1992 Charles Nagy

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17-10 W-L, 2.96 ERA, 10 CG, 3 SHO, 252.0 IP, 169 K, 1.198 WHIP

No. 5 Starter: 1984 Burt Blyleven

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

19-7 W-L, 2.87 ERA, 12 CG, 4 SHO, 245.0 IP, 170 K, 1.135 WHIP

Long Reliever, Spot Starter, and Extra Innings Marathon Man: 1999 Steve Karsay

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

10-2 W-L, 2.97 ERA, 1.284 WHIP, 7.8 K/9, 1 SV

Also started three games.

Right-Handed Reliever: 2003 David Riske

David Maxwell/Getty Images

2-2 W-L, 2.29 ERA, 0.964 WHIP, 9.9 K/9, 8 SV

Right-Handed Reliever: 2011 Joe Smith

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3-3 W-L, 2.01 ERA, 1.090 WHIP, 6.0 K/9, 0 SV

Right-Handed Reliever: 2007 Rafael Betancourt

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

5-1 W-L, 1.47 ERA, 0.756 WHIP, 9.1 K/9, 3 SV

Left-Handed Reliever: 1995 Paul Assenmacher

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

6-2 W-L, 2.82 ERA, 1.148 WHIP, 9.4 K/9, 0 SV

Left-Handed Reliever: 2007 Rafael Perez

David Maxwell/Getty Images

1-2 W-L, 1.78 ERA, 0.923 WHIP, 9.2 K/9, 1 SV

Closer: 1995 Jose Mesa

Harry How/Getty Images

3-0 W-L, 1.13 ERA, 1.031 WHIP, 8.2 K/9, 46 SV

Summary

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If you could use a time machine to transport all of these players to the same point in time to play together during their peak seasons, it would be a sight to behold.  They would probably go at least 140-22, if not better.

One thing is for certain.  Their bags would be packed for the postseason by the All-Star break.  What a birthday wish this could be.