View of a baseball stadium, taken from the upper deck and looking out over the field from center. Open roof
Progressive Field, home field of the Guardians since the 1994 season.

The Cleveland Guardians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They were a founding member of the American League in 1901 as the Cleveland Bluebirds or Blues. They were given the unofficial name the Cleveland Bronchos in 1902 before being renamed the Cleveland Napoleons or Naps in 1903, and then being renamed the Cleveland Indians in 1915. The team remained as the Cleveland Indians for over a century, until the team was renamed the Cleveland Guardians in 2021, after decades of controversy surrounding the "Indians" name.[1][2][3] officially becoming the Guardians on November 19, 2021.[4][5]

The team made its first World Series appearance in 1920 and won the first of their two World Series titles. Since then, the Indians have had three periods of success. The first was from 1947 to 1956, when they had winning records in every season, including a 111–43 record in 1954, which remains the best Major League Baseball regular season record since the 1909 Pirates, and won their only other World Series in 1948. In 1954, they appeared in the World Series, and lost. Cleveland's second highly successful period was from 1994 to 2001, when they had eight consecutive winning seasons, six AL Central division titles, and two World Series appearances in 1995 and 1997, but lost both of these World Series. The third extended period of success began in 2013 under manager Terry Francona, during which they had eight consecutive winning seasons from 2013 to 2020, five playoff appearances, and one World Series appearance in 2016.

Cleveland has also experienced failure in their history. From the split of the American League into two divisions in 1969 until 1993, the Indians did not make a single postseason appearance and played only four winning seasons. They posted 100 losses four times during the era.

Key

ALCS
American League Championship Series
ALDS
American League Division Series
ALWC
American League Wild Card Game/Series
MVP
Most Valuable Player Award
TC
Triple Crown
MOY
Manager of the Year Award
ROY
Rookie of the Year Award
CYA
Cy Young Award
CBPOY
Comeback Player of the Year Award
WSMVP
World Series Most Valuable Player Award

Seasons

World Series champions † AL champions * Division champions (1969–present) ^ Wild card berth (1995–present) ¤ Division runner-up (2020) ‡
Season Team Level League Division Finish Wins Losses Win% GB Playoffs Awards Manager
Cleveland Bluebirds or Blues
1901 1901 MLBAL7th5482.39729Jimmy McAleer
1902 1902[lower-alpha 1] MLBAL5th6967.50714Bill Armour
Cleveland Napoleons or Naps
1903 1903 MLBAL3rd7763.55015Bill Armour
1904 1904 MLBAL4th8665.5707½
1905 1905 MLBAL5th7678.49419Nap Lajoie (56–57)
Bill Bradley (20–21)
1906 1906 MLBAL3rd8964.5825Nap Lajoie
1907 1907 MLBAL4th8567.5598
1908 1908 MLBAL2nd9064.584½
1909 1909 MLBAL6th7182.46427½Nap Lajoie (57–57)
Deacon McGuire (14–25)
1910 1910 MLBAL5th7181.46732Deacon McGuire
1911 1911 MLBAL3rd8073.52322Deacon McGuire (6–11)
George Stovall (74–62)
1912 1912 MLBAL5th7578.49030½Harry Davis (54–71)
Joe Birmingham (21–7)
1913 1913 MLBAL3rd8666.5669½Joe Birmingham
1914 1914 MLBAL8th51102.33348½
Cleveland Indians
1915 1915 MLBAL7th5795.37544½Joe Birmingham (12–16)
Lee Fohl (45–79)
1916 1916 MLBAL6th7777.50014Lee Fohl
1917 1917 MLBAL3rd8866.57112
1918 1918 MLBAL2nd7354.5752½
1919 1919 MLBAL2nd8455.6043½Lee Fohl (44–34)
Tris Speaker (40–21)
1920 1920 MLB †AL *1st9856.636—Won World Series (Robins) 5–2 †Tris Speaker
1921 1921 MLBAL2nd9460.6104½
1922 1922 MLBAL4th7876.50616
1923 1923 MLBAL3rd8271.53616½
1924 1924 MLBAL6th6786.43824½
1925 1925 MLBAL6th7084.45527½
1926 1926 MLBAL2nd8866.5713

George Burns (MVP)

1927 1927 MLBAL6th6687.43143½Jack McCallister
1928 1928 MLBAL7th6292.40339Roger Peckinpaugh
1929 1929 MLBAL3rd8171.53324
1930 1930 MLBAL4th8173.52621
1931 1931 MLBAL4th7876.50630
1932 1932 MLBAL4th8765.57219
1933 1933 MLBAL4th7576.49723½Roger Peckinpaugh (26–25)
Bibb Falk (0–1)
Walter Johnson (48–51)
1934 1934 MLBAL3rd8569.55216Walter Johnson
1935 1935 MLBAL3rd8271.53612Walter Johnson (46–48)
Steve O'Neill (36–23)
1936 1936 MLBAL5th8074.51922½Steve O'Neill
1937 1937 MLBAL4th8371.53919
1938 1938 MLBAL3rd8666.56613Ossie Vitt
1939 1939 MLBAL3rd8767.56520½
1940 1940 MLBAL2nd8965.5781

Bob Feller (TC)

1941 1941 MLBAL4th[6]7579.48726Roger Peckinpaugh
1942 1942 MLBAL4th7579.48728Lou Boudreau
1943 1943 MLBAL3rd8271.53615½
1944 1944 MLBAL5th[7]7282.46817
1945 1945 MLBAL5th7372.50311
1946 1946 MLBAL6th6886.44236
1947 1947 MLBAL4th8074.51917
1948 1948 MLB †AL *1st[8]9758.626—Won World Series (Braves) 4–2 † Lou Boudreau (MVP)
1949 1949 MLBAL3rd8965.5788
1950 1950 MLBAL4th9262.5976
1951 1951 MLBAL2nd9361.6045Al López
1952 1952 MLBAL2nd9361.6042
1953 1953 MLBAL2nd9262.5978½

Al Rosen (MVP)

1954 1954 MLBAL *1st11143.721—Lost World Series (Giants) 4–0 *
1955 1955 MLBAL2nd9361.6043

Herb Score (ROY)

1956 1956 MLBAL2nd8866.5719
1957 1957 MLBAL6th7677.49721½Kerby Farrell
1958 1958 MLBAL4th7776.50314½Bobby Bragan (31–36)
Joe Gordon (46–40)
1959 1959 MLBAL2nd8965.5785Joe Gordon
1960 1960 MLBAL4th7678.49421Joe Gordon (49–46)
Jo-Jo White (1–0)
Jimmy Dykes (26–32)
1961 1961 MLBAL5th7883.48430½Jimmy Dykes (77–83)
Mel Harder (1–0)
1962 1962 MLBAL6th8082.49416Mel McGaha (78–82)
Mel Harder (2–0)
1963 1963 MLBAL5th[9]7983.48825½Birdie Tebbetts
1964 1964 MLBAL6th[10]7983.48820George Strickland (33–39)
Birdie Tebbetts (46–44)
1965 1965 MLBAL5th8775.53715Birdie Tebbetts
1966 1966 MLBAL5th8181.50017Birdie Tebbetts (66–57)
George Strickland (15–24)
1967 1967 MLBAL8th7587.46317Joe Adcock
1968 1968 MLBAL3rd8675.53416½Alvin Dark
1969 1969 MLBALEast6th6299.38546½
1970 1970 MLBALEast5th7686.46932
1971 1971 MLBALEast6th60102.37143Chris Chambliss (ROY)Alvin Dark (42–61)
Johnny Lipon (18–41)
1972 1972 MLBALEast5th7284.46214Gaylord Perry (CYA)Ken Aspromonte
1973 1973 MLBALEast6th7191.43826
1974 1974 MLBALEast4th7785.47514
1975 1975 MLBALEast4th7980.49715½Frank Robinson
1976 1976 MLBALEast4th8178.50916
1977 1977 MLBALEast5th7190.44128½Frank Robinson (26–31)
Jeff Torborg (45–59)
1978 1978 MLBALEast6th6990.43429Jeff Torborg
1979 1979 MLBALEast6th8180.50322Jeff Torborg (43–52)
Dave Garcia (38–28)
1980 1980 MLBALEast6th7981.49423Joe Charboneau (ROY)Dave Garcia
1981 1981[11] MLBALEast6th2624.5205
5th2627.4915
1982 1982 MLBALEast6th[12]7884.48117Andre Thornton (CBPOY)
1983 1983 MLBALEast7th7092.43228Mike Ferraro (40–60)
Pat Corrales (30–32)
1984 1984 MLBALEast6th7587.46329Pat Corrales
1985 1985 MLBALEast7th60102.37039½
1986 1986 MLBALEast5th8478.51911½
1987 1987 MLBALEast7th61101.37737Pat Corrales (31–56)
Doc Edwards (30–45)
1988 1988 MLBALEast6th7884.48111Doc Edwards
1989 1989 MLBALEast6th7389.45116Doc Edwards (65–78)
John Hart (8–11)
1990 1990 MLBALEast4th7785.47511Sandy Alomar Jr. (ROY)John McNamara
1991 1991 MLBALEast7th57105.35234John McNamara (25–52)
Mike Hargrove (32–53)
1992 1992 MLBALEast4th[13]7686.46920Mike Hargrove
1993 1993 MLBALEast6th7686.46919
1994 1994 MLBALCentral2nd6647.5841Postseason canceled[14]
1995 1995 MLBAL *Central ^1st ^10044.694—Won ALDS (Red Sox) 3–0
Won ALCS (Mariners) 4–2
Lost World Series (Braves) 4–2 *
1996 1996 MLBALCentral ^1st ^9962.615—Lost ALDS (Orioles) 3–1
1997 1997 MLBAL *Central ^1st ^8675.534—Won ALDS (Yankees) 3–2
Won ALCS (Orioles) 4–2
Lost World Series (Marlins) 4–3 *
1998 1998 MLBALCentral ^1st ^8973.549—Won ALDS (Red Sox) 3–1
Lost ALCS (Yankees) 4–2
1999 1999 MLBALCentral ^1st ^9765.599—Lost ALDS (Red Sox) 3–2
2000 2000 MLBALCentral2nd9072.5565Charlie Manuel
2001 2001 MLBALCentral ^1st ^9171.562—Lost ALDS (Mariners) 3–2
2002 2002 MLBALCentral3rd7488.45720½Charlie Manuel (39–47)
Joel Skinner (35–41)
2003 2003 MLBALCentral4th6894.42022Eric Wedge
2004 2004 MLBALCentral3rd8082.49412
2005 2005 MLBALCentral2nd9369.5746
2006 2006 MLBALCentral4th7884.48118
2007 2007 MLBALCentral ^1st ^9666.593—Won ALDS (Yankees) 3–1
Lost ALCS (Red Sox) 4–3		CC Sabathia (CYA)
Eric Wedge (MOY)
2008 2008 MLBALCentral3rd8181.5007½Cliff Lee (CYA, CBPOY)
2009 2009 MLBALCentral4th[15]6597.40121½
2010 2010 MLBALCentral4th6993.42625Manny Acta
2011 2011 MLBALCentral2nd8082.49415
2012 2012 MLBALCentral4th6894.42020Manny Acta (65–91)
Sandy Alomar Jr. (3–3)
2013 2013 MLBALCentral2nd ¤9270.5681Lost ALWC (Rays)Terry Francona (MOY)Terry Francona
2014 2014 MLBALCentral3rd8577.5255Corey Kluber (CYA)
2015 2015 MLBALCentral3rd8180.50313½
2016 2016 MLBAL *Central ^1st ^9467.584—Won ALDS (Red Sox) 3–0
Won ALCS (Blue Jays) 4–1
Lost World Series (Cubs) 4–3 *		Terry Francona (MOY)
2017 2017 MLBALCentral ^1st ^10260.630—Lost ALDS (Yankees) 3–2Corey Kluber (CYA)
2018 2018 MLBALCentral ^1st ^9171.563—Lost ALDS (Astros) 3–0
2019 2019 MLBALCentral2nd9369.5748
2020 2020 MLBALCentral2nd ‡[16]3525.5831Lost ALWC (Yankees) 2–0Shane Bieber (TC, CYA)
Carlos Carrasco (CBPOY)
2021 2021 MLBALCentral2nd8082.49413
Cleveland Guardians
2022 2022 MLBALCentral ^1st ^9270.568—Won ALWC (Rays) 2–0
Lost ALDS (Yankees) 3–2		Terry Francona (MOY)Terry Francona
2023 2023 MLBALCentral3rd7686.46911
Totals Wins Losses Win%
9,760 9,300 .512 All-time regular season record (1901–2023)
60 58 .508 All-time postseason record
9,820 9,358 .512 All-time regular and postseason record

Notes

  1. ↑ unofficially known as the Cleveland Bronchos

Record by decade

The following table describes the Guardians' regular season win–loss record by decades.

Records are current through the 2023 season.

DecadeWinsLossesWin %
1900s697632.524
1910s742747.498
1920s786749.512
1930s824708.538
1940s800731.523
1950s904634.588
1960s783826.487
1970s737866.460
1980s710849.455
1990s823728.531
2000s816804.504
2010s855763.528
2020s283263.518
All-time9,7609,300.512

These statistics are from Baseball-Reference.com's Cleveland Indians History & Encyclopedia,[17] except where noted, and are current as of October 1, 2023.

Postseason record by year

The Guardians have made the postseason 16 times in their history, with their first being in 1920 and the most recent being in 2022.

Year Finish Round Opponent Result
1920 World Series Champions World Series Brooklyn Robins Won 5 2
1948 World Series Champions World Series Boston Braves Won 4 2
1954 American League Champions World Series New York Giants Lost 0 4
1995 American League Central Champions ALDS Boston Red Sox Won 3 0
ALCS Seattle Mariners Won 4 2
World Series Atlanta Braves Lost 2 4
1996 American League Central Champions ALDS Baltimore Orioles Lost 1 3
1997 American League Central Champions ALDS New York Yankees Won 3 2
ALCS Baltimore Orioles Won 4 2
World Series Florida Marlins Lost 3 4
1998 American League Central Champions ALDS Boston Red Sox Won 3 1
ALCS New York Yankees Lost 2 4
1999 American League Central Champions ALDS Boston Red Sox Lost 2 3
2001 American League Central Champions ALDS Seattle Mariners Lost 2 3
2007 American League Central Champions ALDS New York Yankees Won 3 1
ALCS Boston Red Sox Lost 3 4
2013 American League Wild Card Wild Card Game Tampa Bay Rays Lost 0 1
2016 American League Central Champions ALDS Boston Red Sox Won 3 0
ALCS Toronto Blue Jays Won 4 1
World Series Chicago Cubs Lost 3 4
2017 American League Central Champions ALDS New York Yankees Lost 2 3
2018 American League Central Champions ALDS Houston Astros Lost 0 3
2020 American League Central 2nd Place Wild Card Series New York Yankees Lost 0 2
2022 American League Central Champions Wild Card Series Tampa Bay Rays Won 2 0
ALDS New York Yankees Lost 2 3
16Totals11–146058

Notes

  1. ↑ Bell, Mandy (November 17, 2021). "Cleveland set for 'Guardians' name transition". CLEGuardians.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Cleveland Indians announce decision to change current team name". CLEGuardians.com (Press release). MLB Advanced Media. December 14, 2020. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  3. ↑ Waldstein, David; Schmidt, Michael S. (December 13, 2020). "Cleveland's Baseball Team Will Drop Its Indians Team Name". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 14, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  4. ↑ Bell, Mandy (July 23, 2021). "New for '22: Meet the Cleveland Guardians". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on July 23, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  5. ↑ Hoynes, Paul (July 23, 2021). "Cleveland Indians choose Guardians as new team name". The Plain Dealer. Archived from the original on July 25, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  6. ↑ The Indians finished the 1941 season tied with the Detroit Tigers for 4th place. MLB does not officially break ties except those involving playoff spots.
  7. ↑ The Indians finished the 1944 season tied with the Philadelphia Athletics for 5th place. MLB does not officially break ties except those involving playoff spots.
  8. ↑ The Indians finished the 1948 season tied with the Boston Red Sox for first place in the American League. The Indians defeated the Red Sox 8–3 in a tie-breaker game to win the AL pennant
  9. ↑ The Indians finished the 1963 season tied with the Detroit Tigers for 5th place. MLB does not officially break ties except those involving playoff spots.
  10. ↑ The Indians finished the 1964 season tied with the Minnesota Twins for 6th place. MLB does not officially break ties except those involving playoff spots.
  11. ↑ The 1981 season was split into two halves as a result of the 1981 players strike. The top line represents the results of the first half and the bottom line represents the results of the second half.
  12. ↑ The Indians finished the 1982 season tied with the Toronto Blue Jays for 6th place. MLB does not officially break ties except those involving playoff spots.
  13. ↑ The Indians finished the 1992 season tied with the New York Yankees for 4th place. MLB does not officially break ties except those involving playoff spots.
  14. ↑ The 1994 season was cut short as a result of the 1994 players strike. The Indians were in the lead for the wild card spot and one game out of first place in the AL Central at the time of the strike.
  15. ↑ The Indians finished the 2009 season tied with the Kansas City Royals for 4th place. MLB does not officially break ties except those involving playoff spots.
  16. ↑ Due to the shortened season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the playoffs were expanded to include the top two teams from each division, and two wild card teams from each league.
  17. ↑ "Cleveland Indians History & Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
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