All-Time Indians: Joe Carter

Joe Carter was a five time All-Star (all after leaving the Tribe) that got his start in Cleveland. He played his first six full seasons for the Indians and quickly smashed more than 150 home runs, the 12th most in Indians history. This was done in fewer games than every other player in the top 16. Carter is especially famous for accumulating huge RBI totals on poor offensive teams, leading the league in 1986 with 121. He was also incredibly durable, playing 162 games four times in his career, setting two top ten highs in games played for the Tribe and grabbing the record for most at bats in a season in 1986.

Carter came to the Indians in a trade along with Mel Hall (and two others) for George Frazier, Rick Sutcliffe and Ron Hassey in 1984. After a few great seasons with the Tribe, he was then traded again, this time to the Padres for Carlos Baerga, Chris James and Sandy Alomar, Jr. This was one of the few times where both the team trading the player and the player getting traded had happy outcomes. Carter ended up with the Blue Jays, bringing the first (and second) World Series championships to Canada, while Baerga and Alomar helped the Indians get to the World series a few years later in 1995. Had he stayed in Cleveland the team would not have been ready for the Playoffs while he was in his prime and they would still have been missing their All-Star catcher and second baseman. Carter did stick around long enough to rank among the best Indians centerfielders.

Carter was considered for the MLB Hall of Fame, but didn't receive enough votes during his first year. He is, however, a proud member of the Canadian Baseball Hall Of Fame after winning the 1993 World Series with a walk off home run.