Top Ten Indians Batteries

There are no players on the baseball field that touch the ball more often than the pitcher and the catcher as the battery is the center of the entire game. Every once in awhile, a superior pitcher matches up with an incredible catcher and the results are magical. Listed below are the best combinations of a catcher at the plate and a pitcher on the mound for the Cleveland Indians in team history. For more information about any individual player, click on their name to go to their All-Time Indian page.

10. Bob Lemon & Jim Hegan 1948 (Also played together from 1947-1956)

The Indians last World Series title team featured quite a few great pitchers, but the best of these was Lemon. Keeping his 20 wins and 2.82 ERA so far back in the top ten is the fact that Hegan was always more of a defensive minded catcher. This being said, even he was able to put together a bit of a year in 1948 with 61 RBI and 21 doubles.

9. Bob Feller & Rollie Hemsley 1940 (1939-1941)

While his long tenure made him one of the most popular Indian catchers ever, Jim Hegan simply didn’t put up great numbers, making the 1940 season, when he partnered with Hemsley behind the plate, Feller’s only appearance on this list. Hemsley put up decent numbers, knocking in 42 and batting .267 while Feller lit the record books on fire with 261 strike outs and 27 wins, at the time, the best season by an Indians pitcher in club history.

8. Addie Joss & Nig Clarke 1907 (1907-1908)

While much of his greatness has been forgotten over the ages, before Feller, it was Joss who held almost every single Indians pitching record, single season and career. While 1907 wasn’t his best season (that was 1908) it was Clarke’s meager offensive performance that made 1907 the selected year. While Clarke’s numbers may be among the worst on the list, they are buoyed by one of the greatest pitched seasons in Indians history.

7. Luis Tiant & Duke Sims 1968 (1965-1969)

Tiant went from being one of the Indians best pitchers in 1968 to one of their worst in 1969, but catching him all the while was Sims. Sims had a solid year behind the plate in 1968, knocking in 44 in 122 games and Tiant had a much better year throwing over it. Tiant set a team record with his .164 average allowed and had the lowest single season ERA in Cleveland since Joss in 1908.

6. Corey Kluber & Yan Gomes 2014 (Active)

While the game has baseball has changed much over the years, trending towards offense more in recent seasons, Kluber was a throw back, pitching like it was 1969. In 2014, both he and Gomes first season as regular starters, he posted numbers not seen in Cleveland since the days of Gaylord Perry and Sam McDowell. While Gomes wasn’t quite as good, he still put forth a strong effort with 74 RBI, 21 home runs and a .278 average, a combination bested only by one other catcher on this list.

5. Gaylord Perry & Ray Fosse 1972

In 1972 the only catcher to be featured twice in the top ten met up with the only pitcher who did the same and things went pretty well. Perry rode 24 wins, a sub 2.00 ERA, sub 1.00 WHIP and sub .200 average allowed to the Indians’ first Cy Young award and even though Fosse was never able to repeat his rookie numbers, he still knocked in 41 and hit 20 doubles with his one good arm.

4. Gaylord Perry & John Ellis 1974 (1973-1974)

While most focus on the Indians pitchers from the 1920’s, 1940’s and 1950’s as they were more successful years, the Tribe’s best pitching seasons came in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Perry was a big part of this, despite pitching just three seasons with the Tribe. In 1974, he had a new back stop and Ellis didn’t disappoint, batting .285 with 64 RBI and 58 runs scored.

3. Sam McDowell & Ray Fosse 1970 (1970-1971)

While his tenure was short, McDowell was one of the Indians most dominant strike out pitchers ever along with Feller and Herb Score. Like Tiant, his best season was in 1968, but he didn’t get a real catcher until Ray Fosse joined the team in 1970. Despite a separated shoulder for the second half of the season, the rookie catcher showed an impressive combination of defense and offense, batting .307 with 18 home runs. McDowell wasn’t too bad either, becoming the last pitcher to strike out at least 300 in a season.

2. Stan Coveleski & Steve O’Neill 1920 (1916-1923)

One of two World Series winning combinations on the list, this combination of a top five starter in Indians history with a top five catcher worked out very well in 1920. While a less than average hitter most of his career, O’Neill found his place in a deep lineup and batted .319 with 71 RBI while the ace Coveleski lead the Indians to their first championship.

1. C.C. Sabathia & Victor Martinez 2007 (2004-2008)

Unlike many in the top ten, 2007 was a rare year when both the ace and starting catcher had incredible seasons. Martinez, the greatest offensive catcher in team history was at his best with career highs in home runs and RBI while Sabathia did nothing less than win the AL Cy Young Award. Also unlike all but two other seasons listed above, the duo carried their team to the play-offs.

Borderline: Cliff Lee & Kelly Shoppach (2008), Sam McDowell & Duke Sims (1969), Bob Feller & Jim Hegan (1947), Fausto Carmona (now Roberto Hernandez) & Victor Martinez (2007) and Gene Bearden & Jim Hegan (1948)

Worst: Joe Shaute & Luke Sewell 1929