Continuing down the line and breaking down the greatest groups in franchise history further, we’ll now take a look at the greatest infields in Tribe history. Already covered were the top ten batteries, outfields and bullpens, but this may be the most impressive group so far. For the case of this analysis, an infield will consist of only the most used first, second, third basemen and short stops and only offensive performance will be considered. The players will be listed in that order (1B, 2B, 3B, SS) in the headline for each group. In order to feature as many unique groups as possible, similar groups will be listed at the bottom of each description. For further information about an individual player, just click their link for their All-Time Indians biography.
10. Doc Johnston – Bill Wambsganss – Larry Gardner – Joe Sewell – 1921
The same squad returning from the 1920 World Series winning team was actually better in 1921. The Hall of Famer Sewell was stupendous in his second season, batting .318 with 101 runs scored and 93 RBI while Gardner was even better, knocking in 120 with the other numbers being similar down the line. Wambsganss provided solid defense while batting .285, stealing 13 bases and scoring 80 runs while Johnston, at the end of his career, batted .297 in 118 games.
9. Jim Thome – Tony Fernandez – Matt Williams – Omar Vizquel – 1997
In 1997, one of the greatest first basemen and short stops in Indians history were joined by the big slugging Williams and the results were a World Series appearance for this talented group. Thome and Williams each knocked in more than 100 with more than 30 home runs while Vizquel added 43 steals, a .280 average and a Gold Glove. The weakest part of the group, Fernandez, still batted .286 with 44 RBI in 120 games.
8. George Burns – Fred Spurgeon – Rube Lutzke – Joe Sewell – 1926
One of two MVP seasons in the top ten, Burns used his team record 64 doubles and 114 RBI to lead the team. Not quite Burns’ .358 average, Sewell batted .324 with 84 RBI while Spurgeon hit .295 with 101 runs scored. Lutzke was the weakest link on the team, but the third baseman still contributed 59 RBI and 28 doubles.
4. Hal Trosky – Odell Hale – Ken Keltner – Lyn Lary – 1938
A mid-point between two groups to be featured later on, Trosky and Keltner each knocked in 110 or better while Lary stole 23 bases and scored 94 runs. While none of these players would be enshrined in the Hall, Trosky and Keltner are about as close to the door as you can get and those two, along with Hale, are among the best at their position in Indians history.
7. Luke Easter – Joe Gordon – Al Rosen – Ray Boone – 1950
A preview of his 1953 MVP campaign, Rosen lead this group with 37 home runs, 100 runs and 116 RBI, but was closely matched by Easter, a former Negro League player in his first MLB season. Easter also knocked in 107, scored 96 and crushed 28 home runs. The Hall of Famer Gordon was at the end of his career and batted just .236 with 19 home runs and 57 RBI while Boone batted .301 with 58 RBI of his own.
6. Ed Morgan – Johnny Hodapp – Joe Sewell – Jonah Goldman -1930
The second appearance of Sewell was at the end of his career after he moved to third and both him and Goldman were less than impressive, but the top two hitters did more than enough to make this team noteworthy. Morgan had one of the best seasons in team history with a .349 average, 136 RBI and 122 runs scored with Hodapp not far behind, using 225 safeties to reach a .354 average, 111 runs and 121 RBI.
5. Julio Franco – Carlos Baerga – Jim Thome – Omar Vizquel – 1996
Despite having two similar players, the 1996 infield was significantly different than the 1997 version as Thome was still at third while Franco and Baerga were significantly better than their later counterparts. Again, Thome was the premier slugger with 116 RBI and 38 home runs while Vizquel stole 35 bases and Franco hit 14 home runs and knocked in 76 as a part time first baseman. Baerga, who was in the tail end of his career and his last full season in Cleveland batted just .267 with 55 RBI.
3. Jim Thome – Roberto Alomar – Travis Fryman – Omar Vizquel – 2000
Quite possibly the best defensive infield group ever for the Tribe (all but Thome won Gold Gloves), the 2000 squad was also very impressive at the plate. Thome and Fryman each knocked in 106 while Thome, Alomar and Vizquel all scored over 100. The Hall of Famer Alomar was particularly well rounded with 39 steals, 89 RBI and 40 doubles in his second year of what was possibly the greatest three year run in Cleveland history.
2. Hal Trosky – Ray Hughes – Odell Hale – Bill Knickerbocker – 1936
Unquestionably the greatest season by a power hitter in Indians history, Trosky hit safely 216 times with 45 doubles, 42 home runs, 162 RBI and a line of .343/.382/.644. In addition, Hale, Hughes and Knickerbocker all batted above .290 and knocked in at least 60. Hale was the best of those three with a .316 average, 50 doubles and 126 runs scored.
1. Eddie Robinson – Joe Gordon – Ken Keltner – Lou Boudreau – 1948
The only group featuring two Hall of Famers (a fact that could change once Vizquel and Thome reach eligibility), it shouldn’t be surprising to see the last World Champion Indians team at number one on this list. Boudreau, Gordon and Keltner were by far the top three offensive producers on the team and Robinson wasn’t too bad himself, batting .254 with 83 RBI and 16 home runs. Boudreau, Gordon and Keltner all had at least 106 RBI (Gordon lead the team with 125), 91 runs scored (Boudreau lead with 116) and a .280 average (Boudreau lead the team with a .355). In addition, Gordon and Keltner each hit more than 30 home runs, the only two hitters with more than 20 on the entire roster. Not only was this the greatest infield in team history, but the trio almost single handedly slugged the Indians to the World Series.
The Worst Infield Ever: 2010
While many of the above teams featured Hall of Famers or other simply Indians greats, this group of Matt LaPorta, Jason Donald, Jhonny Peralta and Asdrubal Cabrera was not so lucky. LaPorta, a below replacement level player for his career, was the best hitter of the group, batting .223 with 12 home runs and 41 RBI. While Peralta and Cabrera would eventually become coveted free agents, in 2010, none of these players got into more than 110 games or batted above .275.
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