Professional baseball isn’t like the amateur ranks, where players generally stay where they are. The current Indians 40 man roster contains the same amount of players from Taiwan as from Ohio (one each in C.C. Lee and Nick Swisher). Despite 39 players on the current roster that hail from lands outside the Buckeye state, there have been plenty of Indians greats who were born locally. While it may seem an inordinate amount of these players played a long time ago, this is likely because, prior to the draft, teams were able to sign the best players locally without any competition.
This is the third geographically based All-Time Indians list. For the other two, you can look here for the first and best Indians player from every country and here, for the best from each state.
10. Earl Moore – Hometown: Pickerington
A member of the original Cleveland Blues in 1901, Moore originally played for the Dayton Veterans in 1900 before being signed by Cleveland. Moore would go on to play seven years in Cleveland, including an amazing 1903 campaign with a 20-8 record and a league best 1.74 ERA. During the 1907, he was traded to the New York Highlanders, but he would eventually come back to Ohio and he lived and died in Columbus.
9. Bill Wambsganss – Cleveland
The author of the only World Series unassisted triple play, Wamby was born in Cleveland and signed by the team in 1913 at the age of 19. He played in town for ten years before being traded away for a player to be named later on in this list. In addition to his stellar defense, Wambsganss knocked in 429 runs and stole 122 bases as the Tribe’s second baseman.
8. Jim Bagby, Jr. – Cleveland
Bagby is the only player on this list because his father was playing in Cleveland when he was born. Almost two decades after Jim Bagby, Sr. left the Indians, Junior came in a trade from Boston. While he didn’t play long, in his five years he posted a 3.45 ERA and made two All-Star teams, winning 17 games in both 1942 and 1943.
7. George Burns – Niles
The Indians first MVP was a hometown kid, although he didn’t begin his career in Cleveland. Burns was purchased from the Athletics in 1920, played two seasons, then came back in 1924 in exchange for Wambsganss. In total, he played seven years in Cleveland, batting .327 with a league high 216 hits and 64 doubles in his 1926 MVP campaign.
6. Joe Vosmik – Cleveland
Out of Cleveland East Tech High School, Vosmik was signed by the Indians at age 19 and made his debut the following season in 1930. Over his seven seasons with the Indians, Vosmik batted .313 with 206 doubles and was one of the first All-Stars for the Indians in 1935 when he lead the league in hits, doubles and triples. He was ultimately traded to St. Louis, but would return to Cleveland in his retirement, where he died in 1962.
5. George Uhle – Cleveland
Uhle was signed by the Indians out of Cleveland in 1919 and was one of the top pitchers during the 1920’s, winning at least 20 games three times, leading the league twice including with 27 in 1926. After eleven seasons, Uhle was traded to the Tigers, but he did come back, pitching 12.2 innings in 1936 and staying in the area after retiring at the end of 1939.
4. Bill Bradley – Cleveland
The best player actually from Cleveland, Bradley didn’t begin his career in Cleveland, but jumped to the American League and the Cleveland Blues the second he had the chance. One of few players to begin in 1901 and stick around, Bradley played a decade in Cleveland and smashed 339 extra base hits as the team’s first and still one of the best, starting third baseman.
3. Bob Rhoads – Wooster
Rhoads wasn’t originally signed by the Indians, but didn’t become a start until coming back home to Cleveland. He joined the Naps in 1903 and quickly became a top pitcher behind the incredible Addie Joss. In seven seasons, Rhoads’ ERAs spanned from 1.77 to 2.90 including a 22 win, 1.80 ERA, 315 inning campaign in 1906.
2. Elmer Flick – Bedford
One of two Hall of Famers in the top ten, Flick was not originally signed by the Indians (then the Bronchos) beginning his career before the advent of the American League. In 1902, he came to Cleveland where played out the rest of his career which ended in 1910. In that span, he batted .299 with 106 triples including three straight years when he lead the league. Flick stayed in Ohio after retiring as well, retiring to his home town of Bedford.
1. Cy Young – Gilmore
A member of the second Hall of Fame class in 1937, the home grown Denton True Young is generally considered one of the top five pitchers in the history of baseball. He joined the Cleveland Spiders as a 23 year old out of Gilmore, Ohio, played nine years there, then after a time in Boston, came back to Cleveland from 1909 through 1911, playing for the Naps. Before and after accumulating his MLB record 511 wins, Young played for the minor league Canton Nadjys (1890) and Statesmen (1912).
Borderline: David Justice (Cincinnati), Johnny Hodapp (Cincinnati), Pat Tabler (Hamilton), Paul Shuey (Lima), George Kahler (Athens)
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