Top Ten Indians Outfields

In the past, we have covered the greatest players in Indians history at each position (left field, center field and right field can been seen with the appropriate links) and written more detailed profiles for hundreds of the greatest Indians ever. Now, it is time to recognize when these stars aligned and created something really special. The first edition showed the top ten batteries in Indians history and now we bring you the top ten outfields in Indians history.

10. CF Grady Sizemore, LF Coco Crisp & RF Casey Blake – 2005

The most recent trio on the list comes in at number ten as Sizemore, Crisp and converted third baseman Casey Blake combined for 111 doubles, 61 home runs and 41 steals. The center fielder, Sizemore, was the top contributor, although it was his first full MLB season. Crisp had been the starting center fielder the season prior and by moving him to left, the Indians had their best defensive outfield in about 20 years as well as a solid hitting group. The set wouldn’t stay together long as Crisp was traded at the end of the year and replaced by Jason Michaels.

9. Vic Davalillo, Leon Wagner, Rocky Colavito – 1965

While the Rock wasn’t quite the player he was in his first run with the Tribe, by 1965, Colavito still had enough left in the tank to carry this outfield into the top ten. He knocked in 108 by himself while the trio had 227 RBI as a group. Leon Wagner, the left fielder, was one of the Tribe’s top two hitters each year from 1964 through 1967 and Vic Davalillo provided speed and great defense during that same span. While the pair were great, it took the addition of Colavito to really take the group to the top. The same group would repeat again in 1966, but Colavito would be traded a second time to break up the outfield.

8. Brett Butler, Mel Hall & Joe Carter – 1986

While Joe Carter played many positions for the Tribe, the year he was the primary right fielder provided one of the greatest offensive outfields in Indians history. Along with Carter’s 121 RBI and 29 steals, Hall and Brett Butler combined for 249 RBI, 67 steals and a .292 average. In addition, Butler was a tremendous defender in center, a common theme through most of this list.

7. Tris Speaker, Charlie Jamieson & Elmer Smith – 1920

It’s not surprising to see the Indians first World Series winning team listed here, lead by the Hall of Famer Tris Speaker, who batted .388 with an (at the time) team record 50 doubles. This was also the first of eleven straight seasons as the starting left fielder for Charlie Jamieson while Elmer Smith knocked in 103 with a .316 average in right. The trio would stick together just one more season, although Speaker and Jamieson would continue to lead the offense through 1926.

6. Tito Francona, Minnie Minoso & Rocky Colavito – 1959

This is Colavito’s second appearance on the top ten, but this time it was a completely different supporting cast. Colavito was still in his first stint with the team and was the top power hitter in the AL with 42 home runs and 111 RBI, while Minoso in his second stint with the Tribe was a multiple All-Star with 53 extra base hits of his own. This was the only season this group had together as Minoso and Colavito were traded and Tito Francona moved to the infield a few years later.

5. Earl Averill, Jeff Heath & Bruce Campbell – 1938

Earl Averill was arguably the greatest hitter in Indians history and while this was not his best season, it was one of the best groups he was part of. All three outfielders had at least 27 doubles, 12 triples and 12 home runs, combining for 277 RBI and a .320 average. While both Averill and Jeff Heath were long tenured, this was the only season all three played together as starters. In 1937, Moose Solters replaced Heath as Averill and Bruce Campbell played together, while Averill leaving the team before 1939 allowed Heath and Campbell to play beside each other without the Hall of Famer for one more season.

4. Tris Speaker, Charlie Jamieson & Homer Summa – 1923

While Speaker and Jamieson have already been featured once, Summa made a big enough difference this season to deserve a second entry. Jamieson and Speaker had career years while all three batters hit above .325 (Speaker .380, Jamieson .345 and Summa .328) and reached safely at least 195 times. Both Speaker and Jamieson scored 130 runs (Speaker also knocked in 130), both in the top ten in Indians history.

3. Kenny Lofton, David Justice & Manny Ramirez – 1999

Unsurprisingly, the increase in offense in the 1990’s lead to a couple of the top outfields in Indians history. This particular season saw David Justice added into an already impressive group and they combined for 292 RBI, the second highest total ever produced by three Indians outfielders. While the defense was not as solid as some of the previous entries, they still had multiple Gold Glove winner Kenny Lofton in center and a younger, less Manny version of Ramirez.

2. Earl Averill, Joe Vosmik & Dick Porter – 1932

This is the second appearance by the Hall of Famer Averill, although this time he brought serious back-up. Averill and Dick Porter started together in 1930 with Joe Vosmik joining as a starter in 1931. The group would stay together until 1933, but 1932 was the best of the three seasons. All three outfielders hit above .300, scored over 100 runs, hit safely more than 190 times and hit at least 35 doubles. Their 118 doubles were the second most by a group of three Indians outfields while knocking in 281 total runs.

1. Kenny Lofton, Albert Belle & Manny Ramirez – 1996

In what turned out to be an incredible turn of luck/amazing drafting and trading by John Hart, the two greatest power hitting outfielders in Indians history along with the greatest speed outfielder in Indians history wound up playing on the same team. Not only this, but thanks to long term contracts signed by all three, they played together for three seasons (1994 through 1996) giving Indians fans something they had never seen before and will likely never see again. Mostly Albert Belle and Manny Ramirez were responsible for the outfield record of 95 home runs while Lofton’s team record 75 steals helped set the group record of 94. This set also had the most RBI (327), runs scored (350) and highest slugging percent (.546). The party would end after 1996 as Belle left through free agency and Lofton was traded to Atlanta, although he would come back just one year later.

Bonus:

Top Defensive Outfield – 1987

With Carter’s lack of mobility moved into the infield, the rifle armed Cory Snyder joined Brett Butler and Mel Hall’s great speed and glove work to create the ultimate defensive outfield.

Worst Outfield In Indians History – 1910

The dead ball era is no excuse for three starting outfielders who each batted under .236 with a combined three home runs and 87 RBI. This embarrassing group consisted of Jack Graney in left, Joe Birmingham in center and Harry Niles in right.