The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division.
A minor league team headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, called the Grand Rapids Rippers was founded in 1894 and played in the Western League as the Grand Rapids Roughriders.
When the Cleveland Lake Shores migrated to Cleveland in 1900, they renamed the club. Prior to the 1900 season, the Western League has renamed the American League while maintaining its minor league status.
Cleveland was one of the eight founding members of the American League when it became a major league in 1901. In 1902, the team was referred to as the “Cleveland Bronchos” despite the fact that it was originally referred to as the “Cleveland Bluebirds.”
In honor of its captain Nap Lajoie, the squad was dubbed the Cleveland Napoleons or Naps in 1903. To replace Lajoie following the 1914 season, club owner Charles Somers asked baseball writers to come up with a new moniker.
They resurrected the Cleveland Indians moniker, which was first given to the Cleveland Spiders by Native American player Louis Sockalexis during his time with the organization.
Who Is The Greatest Cleveland Indian Ever?
Bob Feller has been regarded as the greatest Cleveland Indian ever. He was an American baseball pitcher who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians between 1936 and 1956.
Feller pitched 3,827 innings in 570 games and had a win-loss record of 266–162, 279 complete games, 44 shutouts, and an earned run average of 3.25 during his career (ERA). His 2,581 career strikeouts ranked him third in all-time history when he retired.
Feller made his major league debut with the Indians at the age of 17 after bypassing the minor leagues as a baseball prodigy. For four years during World War II, he served as a Chief Petty Officer on the USS Alabama as a Navy Chief Petty Officer.
Feller became the first pitcher under the age of 21 to win 24 games in a season.