All-Time Indians: Dale Mitchell

Dale Mitchell had one of the best timed careers of any Indian, joining the team in 1946, just in time to have the prime of his career line up with the Indians last World Series win in 1948. He then joined Larry Doby, Jim Hegan and Al Rosen as the only hitters to play in both the 1948 and 1954 Series.

During his prime (1948-1953), Mitchell was among the best in the league, making multiple All-Star teams and garnering MVP votes year after year. In 1949 he had an especially good year, leading the league in hits (his second straight year with 200 hits) and triples. His 23 triples that year remain among the top five seasons ever for an Indians hitter. In total, Mitchell played over a decade with the team and ranks among the Indians greatest left fielders of all time.

Mitchell was a call-back to former Indians short stop Joe Sewell, as he was almost impossible to strike out. In his worst season, Mitchell struck out 21 times in 1950 and never had more strike outs than doubles in any season. In his 11 year career, he struck out just 119 times a number that Indians strike out king Jim Thome broke in each of his last seven seasons in Cleveland. Overall, Mitchell ranks 15th all time in hits for the Indians, while ranking 183rd in total strike outs. In all of baseball history, he ranks 14th in AB/SO behind two other former Indians, Sewell and Homer Summa.

After two poor seasons in 1954 and 1955 and the start to another in 1956, the Indians sold the left fielder to the Brooklyn Dodgers. After spending his only 19 games played for another team, Mitchell retired. After retirement, he moved back to his home state of Oklahoma where he died in 1987 at the age of 65.