Cleveland Busts From the Past

4. Jeff Garcia Garcia was a unique case in that he had success before his time in Cleveland AND rediscovered it after his departure. Like Steve Young before him, he was a successful QB in San Fransisco that initially started outside the NFL before he earned his chance. He was a three-time Pro Bowler while in San Fransisco and he led the 49ers to the playoffs including a memorable comeback victory against the New York Giants in 2003.

The best way to describe his time in Cleveland would be to just quote Wikipedia's entry for his season with the Browns: "Garcia signed a contract with the Cleveland Browns on March 9, 2004. Garcia was released by the Browns after the 2004 season, in which he struggled to find any consistency and battled with injuries."



5. Juan Gonzalez Juan Gone won AL MVP twice in Texas with the Rangers. He was an offensive superstar. His season batting average never dipped below .295 from 1995-1999. He was an RBI machine driving in more than 128 runs each season from 1996-1999. His HR numbers were consistently in the 40s with only a few seasons below.

He had two stints in Cleveland with the Indians in 2001 and finally ending his career in 2005. His season in 2001 was far from a disappointment. His offensive numbers were near his MVP numbers of the past. Unfortunately, the Indians only enjoyed one season of Gonzalez's dominance as he left as quickly as he came, going back to the Rangers in the 2002 season.

But the memory that sticks with many Cleveland fans is his first and only at bat in the 2005 season when he tore his hamstring so severely that it ended his career. His triumphant return was extremely anti-climatic.



6. Jack McDowell "Black Jack" McDowell came to Cleveland to pitch for the Indians in 1996 after winning a Cy Young Award in 1993 and made the All Star team three times from 1991-1993. He was supposed to be a right handed ace for the Tribe who was in the midst of their American League dominance in the mid 1990s.

In 1996 McDowell went 13-9 with a less than stellar 5.11 ERA. The following season he only started six games going 3-3 and had an ERA of 5.09 contributing very little to the success of the team that year, nowhere near the expectations he brought with him as a Cy Young winner, All Star and former AL wins leader.



7. Dave Winfield Winfield is best known for his years in Yankee pinstripes. Throughout his career he won numerous accolades including 12 All Star appearances, seven Gold Gloves and a Comeback Player of the Year in 1990 among other awards. He was acquired at the end of the 1994 strike shortened season and played with the Tribe in 1995. Once again, this star's performance in Cleveland was far less than the rest of his career as he only hit .191. He did not even make the postseason roster as the Tribe advanced to the World Series.



8. Dwight Gooden Dwight Gooden was also best known for his days in New York except his glory days were with the Mets. He was one of the most dominant pitchers of his time. He won Rookie of the Year in 1984 when he led the league in strikeouts. He followed that up with a Cy Young Award in 1985 when he led the National League in wins, earned run average, innings pitched, complete games and strikeouts. That same season he finished fourth in MVP voting. He made the All Star team four times.

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