Jim Thome and the 10 Best Cleveland Indians Power Hitters of All Time

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The Indians have been lucky enough to have some terrific power hitters throughout the years, and yesterday the team brought back one of the best in franchise history when they claimed Jim Thome off of waivers from the Minnesota Twins.

While Thome is no longer the dominant slugger he once was, he still has plenty left in the tank and he recently joined elite company when he launched his 600th career home run.

So here is a look at the 10 best power hitters in Cleveland Indians, as many of these players were teammates on some great Indians teams.

No. 10: Andre Thornton (1977-1979, 1981-1987)

Stats With Indians

.809 OPS, 214 HR, 749 RBI, 650 R

162 Game Average With Indians

.254 BA, 29 HR, 99 RBI, 86 R

Playing for some awful Indians, Thornton was far and away the team's best hitter during the late 1970s and on into the 1980s as he was a very underrated power hitter.

With three seasons of at least 30 home runs and a pair of 100 RBI seasons he made the most of his time in Cleveland as he also made a pair of All-Star teams and earned MVP consideration three times.

No. 9: Larry Doby (1947-1955, 1958)

Stats With Indians

.889 OPS, 215 HR, 776 RBI, 808 R

162 Game Average With Indians

.286 BA, 28 HR, 102 RBI, 106 R

The first African-American player in the American League, Doby was a steady force in the middle of the Indians lineup throughout the 1950.

While he only had two seasons of over 30 home runs, he did top the 20 mark in eight straight seasons and past the century mark in RBI five times.

No. 8: Earl Averill (1929-1939)

Stats With Indians

.940 OPS, 226 HR, 1,084 RBI, 1,154 R

162 Game Average With Indians

.322 BA, 24 HR, 113 RBI, 120 R

While he did not necessarily post prolific home run seasons, with just three seasons of over 30 home runs, Averill had double digit home runs in 11 straight seasons and over 100 RBI five times.

He also hit over .300 in all but one of his full seasons with the team, and his entire body of work during his 11-year career with the Indians is enough to land him on this list.

No. 7: Travis Hafner (2003-2011)

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Stats With Indians

.898 OPS, 186 HR, 646 RBI, 550 R

162 Game Average With Indians

.281 BA, 31 HR, 105 RBI, 90 R

His career has been riddled by injuries, but for a brief four-year stretch he was among the most dangerous sluggers in all of baseball.

From 2004-2007 Hafner averaged a line of .296 BA, 32 HR, 108 RBI as he had at least 100 RBI each season and while he no longer looks to be capable of posting those dominant numbers he can still be a dangerous hitter.

No. 6: Rocky Colavito (1955-1959, 1965-1967)

Stats With Indians

.856 OPS, 190 HR, 574 RBI, 464 R

162 Game Average With Indians

.267 BA, 34 HR, 103 RBI, 83 R

While he was more of a pure power hitter than the players to come on this list, hitting for a much lower average, Colavito was among the top power threats in the league in the 1950s.

After a 41 HR season in 1958 and an AL-best 42 HR in 1959 he was traded to the Tigers, but he would return in 1965 with an AL-high 108 RBI as he was still a dangerous hitter.

No. 5: Al Rosen (1947-1956)

Stats With Indians

.879 OPS, 192 HR, 717 RBI, 603 R

162 Game Average With Indians

.285 BA, 30 HR, 111 RBI, 94 R

After three seasons of limited action to open his career, Rosen broke out in 1950 when he joined the lineup full-time and hit .287 BA, 37 HR, 116 RBI to lead the AL in long balls.

He would continue to post stellar numbers over his brief 10-year career, with his best season coming in 1953 when he hit .336 BA, 43 HR, 145 RBI to lead the league in HR and RBI and take home the 1953 AL MVP.

No. 4: Hal Trosky (1933-1941)

Stats With Indians

.892 OPS, 216 HR, 911 RBI, 758 R

162 Game Average With Indians

.313 BA, 32 HR, 132 RBI, 110 R

The first real slugger in franchise history, Trosky topped 30 HR three times and tallied over 100 RBI in six different seasons.

He was far from just a slugger though, as he hit over .300 four times and while he had just seven full seasons with the Indians and a fairly short 11-year career, Trosky certainly has his place in Indians history.

No. 3: Jim Thome (1991-2002)

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Stats With Indians

.982 OPS, 334 HR, 927 RBI, 917 R

162 Game Average With Indians

.287 BA, 40 HR, 110 RBI, 109 R

Thome is back with the Indians where his phenomenal career began back in 1991, and he is already the franchise leader in home runs by 92 over Albert Belle and should only pad that lead in the season's final month.

From 1996 until he joined the Phillies in 2003 Thome had seven straight season with at least 30 home runs, topping the 40 mark three times and setting a career-high with 52 long balls in 2002.

No. 2: Manny Ramirez (1993-2000)

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Stats With Indians

.998 OPS, 236 HR, 804 RBI, 665 R

162 Game Average With Indians

.313 BA, 40 HR, 136 RBI, 112 R

Manny Ramirez broke into the league in 1993 at the age of 21, and by 23 he was one of the games best hitters with his first .300 BA, 30 HR, 100 RBI season.

He would have three more such seasons before leaving for Boston in 2001, and he drove in a ridiculous 165 runs in 1999 in what was perhaps the best season of his career.

No. 1: Albert Belle (1989-1996)

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Stats With Indians

.949 OPS, 242 HR, 751 RBI, 592 R

162 Game Average With Indians

.295 BA, 43 HR, 133 RBI, 105 R

His personality was not what you would call endearing, but there is no question that Albert Belle was among the most feared sluggers of the 1990s.

From 1992 until he left for Chicago in 1997, Belle hit at least 30 home runs and drove in at least 100 runs, with his best season coming in 1995 when he led the AL with 52 Doubles, 50 HR, 126 RBI, 121 R and a .690 SLG.