Jose's rank among Cleveland baseball greats?
- col-dave-mast
- June 14, 2024
- 581
Who is the all-time greatest player in Cleveland’s Major League Baseball history?
Is it one of the old-time greats like Nap Lajoie? Bob Feller? Earl Averill? Lou Boudreau, Larry Doby or Tris Speaker?
Is it from the newer regime like Kenny Lofton, Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome or Albert Belle?
I present to you one Jose Ramirez.
While still playing, Ramirez continues to climb up the leaderboard on just about every offensive category there is, and not only that, but also he is a Gold Glove finalist year after year at third base.
So I make the case for Ramirez as the greatest professional Cleveland baseball player of all time, and with it we will look at what his numbers might look like in three years should he stay the course and continue to produce in the award-winning way he has been producing over the past many seasons.
By the numbers
—Extra base hits: Leader Earl Averill, 724, and Ramirez, 609 (fourth). In three years Ramirez will have easily eclipsed Averill’s total.
—RBI: Leader Averill, 1,084, and Ramirez, 804 (eighth). In three years Ramirez will have easily surpassed that number.
—Home runs: Jim Thome, 337, and Ramirez, 232 (fourth). In three years Ramirez will easily move into second on the list, passing Albert Belle’s 242.
—Doubles: Tris Speaker, 486, and Ramirez, 338 (sixth). In three years he should move into second ahead of Nap Lajoie’s 424.
—Hits: Nap Lajoie, 2,047, and Ramirez, 1,391. In three years he should be perched in third place.
—Runs: Earl Averill, 1,154, and Ramirez, 830 (fourth). In three years Ramirez should own that record.
—Stolen bases: Kenny Lofton, 452, and Ramirez, 211 (sixth). In three years Ramirez will rank second ahead of Omar Vizquel’s 279.
—Intentional walks: Jim Thome, 87, and Ramirez, 79 (second). He may own this one this season.
—Power/speed combo: Ramirez currently ranks first, and it isn’t even close to anyone wearing a Tribe uniform.
There you have it, a by-the-numbers case as to Ramirez’s all-time great status with the Indians/Guardians.
Of course, all of the predicted numbers are based on Ramirez staying healthy and remaining in Cleveland, but those predictions are only for three years. Currently, he is only 31 years old, and he could conceivably play another decade as a Guardian, during which time he would smash every single season record listed above.
While the numbers are an out-of-this-world slice of tasty awesomeness, keep this in mind: Ramirez became a free agent not too long ago. Rich teams with bottomless pockets like the Yankees, Dodgers, Mets and Red Sox, among others, lined up to bid for his services.
Unlike Thome, Francisco Lindor and many others who ran for the almighty dollars, Ramirez shunned other offers, stating boldly he wanted to remain in Cleveland.
His purpose in doing so:
—He wants to retire in Cleveland.
—He wants to have his jersey retired by the organization he loves, which gave him his opportunity.
—He wants to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, representing Cleveland.
—He wants to win a World Series with the Guardians.
Upon reaching free agency, Cleveland’s front office came to Ramirez and told him they couldn’t afford to pay him what he’s worth.
Ramirez didn’t care. He said do whatever you have to do that you feel is fair compensation to keep me here in Cleveland, and I’ll sign on the dotted line.
Unlike the masses who chased dollars, he left money on the table.
His exact words: “$150 million or $200 million, my life is gonna be the same. I’m happier with $150 million in Cleveland than $200 million somewhere else.”
If that doesn’t endear Ramirez to your heart, nothing will, which in my eyes makes him the all-time greatest player ever to don a Cleveland uniform.