9 Baseball Players who Played for Cleveland and Boston
There is a good chance that if you’ve found this page then you’re playing the Immaculate Grid.
That also means that today’s grid has asked for players that have played for both the Cleveland Guardians and the Boston Red Sox.
And, it also means that you’re probably stuck on this particular box and you’re looking for a little help. Sound about right so far?
Well, good news, you’re in the right place.
I’ve done some research and have found players who played on both the Guardians and the Red Sox.
Manny Ramirez
Manny Ramirez was a 12-time All-Star, playing mostly as a left fielder and designated hitter, from ’93 till 2011.
He played for several teams (Cleveland, Boston, LA Dodgers, Tampa Bay, Chicago White Sox) but really shined with the Red Sox, even helped them win the World Series in ’04 and ’07.
Manny hit 555 home runs (one of 28 players with over 500 career home runs), with a career batting average of .312.
Corey Kluber
Corey Kluber was drafted in the 4th round of the 2007 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres and later made his MLB debut with the Cleveland Indians in 2011. Kluber was one of the most dominant pitchers in the league for a span of about five years.
He won the Cy Young Award twice, first in 2014 and then again in 2017, both times with the Indians. Kluber has been named to three All-Star teams and has thrown a no-hitter, which came in 2021 as a member of the New York Yankees.
Kluber played his first 9 seasons in Cleveland but has bounced around more recently in his career with stops at the Rays, Red Sox, Rangers and Yankees.
Kluber Key Stats
- Cy Young (Indians)
- All-Star (Indians)
- 20+ Win Season (Indians)
- 200+ Strikeout Season (Indians)
Hanley Ramirez
Hanley Ramirez, who played from 2005 to 2019, is best known for his time as a shortstop and left fielder with the Marlins and Red Sox. He also had stops with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Guardians.
Ramirez was a dynamic player, known for his blend of speed and power. He compiled over 1,800 hits, 271 home runs, and 281 stolen bases.
He was the 2006 NL Rookie of the Year (Marlins), a three-time All-Star (Marlins), and won two Silver Slugger Awards (Marlins). Ramirez had over 200 hits in 2007 with the Marlins and won the NL Batting Title with a .342 average in 2009.
Ellis Burks
Ellis Burks was an influential outfielder in Major League Baseball from 1987 to 2004. He had notable stints with the Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, and Cleveland Indians.
With a blend of power and speed, Burks hit over 350 home runs and stole more than 180 bases in his career, maintaining a solid .291 batting average. His career highlights include two All-Star selections (Red Sox, Rockies) and a Gold Glove (Red Sox), testifying to his prowess both in the field and at the plate.
In 1996, while with the Rockies, he had a standout season, hitting .344 with 40 home runs, 128 RBIs and 32 stolen bases.
Johnny Damon
Johnny Damon had a successful 18-year Major League Baseball career, most notably with the Kansas City Royals, Boston Red Sox, and New York Yankees. A talented outfielder and proficient leadoff hitter, he recorded a .284 career batting average with 2769 hits, 235 home runs, and 408 stolen bases.
Damon’s speed and ability to get on base were valuable assets, helping both the Red Sox in 2004 and the Yankees in 2009 secure World Series Championships.
Known for his affable personality and distinctive long hair and beard during his time with the Red Sox, Damon was a fan favorite and an influential figure in the clubhouse. He was named to the All-Star team twice, in 2002 and 2005.
Damon Key Stats
- All-Star (Red Sox)
- 40+ Stolen Base Season (Royals)
Coco Crisp
Coco Crisp was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh round of the 1999 MLB Draft and went on to play in the big leagues for 15 seasons. Crisp had memorable stops with the Indians, Red Sox, and Athletics.
In 2007, as a member of the Red Sox, he won the World Series, contributing significantly with his base running and fielding. While with Oakland, Crisp led the American League in stolen bases in 2011 with 49.
Over his career, Crisp compiled a batting average of .265, along with 130 home runs, 639 RBIs, and 309 stolen bases. Known for his energetic play and unique name, Crisp remains a fan favorite in the cities where he played.
Bartolo Colon
Bartolo Colon, affectionately known as “Big Sexy”, was a fixture on the mound in baseball from 1997 until 2018. He played for a whole bunch of teams (11), which makes him an extremely versatile player for the Immaculate Grid.
Colon’s career stops included the Indians (now Guardians), Dodgers, Mets, Athletics, White Sox, Twins, Braves, Red Sox, Rangers, Montreal Expos and Yankees.
Colon was a 4-time All-Star and even bagged a Cy Young Award in 2005. He had over 240 wins and more than 2,500 strikeouts.
Otis Nixon
Otis Nixon was a speedy outfielder whose career went from 1983 to 1999. Over those 17 seasons, Nixon played for 9 different teams – Braves, Indians (now Guardians), Montreal Expos, Blue Jays, Twins, Red Sox, Rangers, Dodgers and Yankees.
Nixon wasn’t a big hitter, but he was a whiz on the basepaths, stealing over 620 bases during his career and maintaining a respectable .270 batting average. He’s best remembered for his daring steals and spectacular catches, including an unforgettable game-saving grab in 1992 while with the Braves (video above).
Rich Hill
Rich Hill is an Immaculate Grid beast. The left-handed pitcher has played for 13 different clubs over his incredible 19-year career – one that is still ongoing as I’m writing this (he’s currently pitching with the Padres).
Hill’s MLB journey began when he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2002. After making his major league debut in 2005, he had initial success with the Cubs, particularly in 2007 when he had a standout season. However, injuries, inconsistency, and command issues led to him bouncing around the minors and various MLB teams for several years.
After refining his pitching approach and mechanics, he experienced a career resurgence starting in 2015. At an age when many players see diminished returns, Hill became one of the most effective starters in baseball. This late-career renaissance led to stints with the Red Sox, Athletics, Dodgers, Twins, and Rays.
Heathcliff Slocumb
You may remember Heathcliff Slocumb as a relief pitcher with the Phillies and Red Sox in the 90s, but he was a bit of a journeyman playing for 8 teams over the course of 10 years. (Cubs, Phillies, Cardinals, Red Sox, Mariners, Padres, Indians (now Guardians), Orioles)
He was a solid reliever with some good seasons and even an all-star appearance while with the Phillies in 1995.
However, he might be best known in baseball lore for being traded from the Red Sox to the Mariners in 1997 for Derek Lowe and Jason Varitek, a deal that later appeared very lopsided in Boston’s favor.
