8 Baseball Players who Played for Cleveland and Baltimore Orioles
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 Baltimore Orioles.
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 for both Cleveland and Baltimore.
Popular Choices
Jim Thome
If you’re like me, you picture Jim Thome in a Cleveland Indians uniform. And while Thome did play 13 seasons with Cleveland, his career spans 22 years and 6 different teams.
In addition to Cleveland, Thome played for the Phillies (where he hit a league-leading 47 home runs in 2003), White Sox, Twins, Dodgers and Orioles.
He is also one of 28 players to hit over 500 home runs in his career (another grid item that you may see). His single-season best was 52 home runs in 2002 with the Indians (now the Guardians).
Thome was the most popular pick for this square on a previous grid (Grid 93 & 104).
Thome Key Stats
- Hall of Fame (Indians, Phillies, White Sox, Twins, Dodgers, Orioles)
- All-Star (Indians, Phillies, White Sox)
- Silver Slugger (Indians)
- 500+ Career Home Rus (Indians, Phillies, White Sox, Twins, Dodgers, Orioles)
- 40+ Home Runs Season (Indians, Phillies, White Sox)
- 100+ RBI Season (Indians, Phillies, White Sox)
- .300+ Average Season (Indians)
Eddie Murray
Eddie Murray had a 21-year career in major league baseball. He spent most of his time with the Baltimore Orioles, but also played for other teams like the Dodgers, Cleveland Indians (now the Guardians), Mets and Angels.
Murray was a crucial player in the Orioles’ ’83 World Series win. He finished his career with 504 home runs, 3255 hits (one of 33 players over 3000) and a career .287 batting average. This switch-hitter was an 8-time All-Star and landed in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003.
Frank Robinson
Frank Robinson, who had a stellar 21-year career from 1956 to 1976, was a trailblazer and one of the greatest players in MLB history. As an outfielder, he played for the Reds, Orioles, Dodgers, Angels, and Indians.
Robinson had a career batting average of .294 and hit an impressive 586 home runs. He was named to the All-Star team 14 times, won two World Series championships with the Orioles, and received the MVP award in both the National League and American League.
In his MVP seasons, he hit .323 with 37 home runs for the Reds in 1961 and .316 with 49 home runs for the Orioles in 1966, winning the Triple Crown that year. His accomplishments led to his induction into the Hall of Fame in 1982.
Robinson Key Stats
- Hall of Fame
- MVP (Reds, Orioles)
- Rookie of the Year (Reds)
- All-Star (Reds, Orioles, Angels)
- Gold Glove (Reds)
- 500+ Career Home Runs
- 40+ Home Run Season (Orioles)
- 100+ RBI Season (Reds, Orioles)
- 200+ Hit Season (Reds)
Rare Choices
Joe Carter
When I hear Joe Carter I still picture him in a Toronto Blue Jays uniform running the bases after hitting a walk-off home run to win the World Series in 1993.
In addition to the Blue Jays, Joe Carter played for 5 other teams over his 16-year career – the Indians (now Guardians), Padres, Cubs, Giants and Orioles.
The five-time All-Star (all with the Blue Jays) led the league in RBIs with 121 in 1986 while playing with the Cleveland Indians.
Roberto Alomar
Roberto Alomar is the quintessential Immaculate Grid player. Not only did he play for 7 different teams (Blue Jays, Padres, Indians (now Guardians), Orioles, Mets, White Sox and Diamondbacks) he played in All-Star games for 4 of them!
Alomar was an exceptional all-around player, earning 12 All-Star selections, 10 Gold Glove Awards, and 4 Silver Slugger Awards. He amassed over 2,700 hits, scored over 1500 runs and stole over 450 bases.
Alomar was also instrumental in the Blue Jays’ back-to-back World Series championships in 1992 and 1993, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011.
Rick Dempsey
Rick Dempsey, a notable catcher in Major League Baseball, had a long-lasting career from 1969 to 1992, playing for several teams but most prominently with the Baltimore Orioles.
Dempsey was known for his solid defensive skills behind the plate, catching more than 1500 games in his career. His career highlight came in the 1983 World Series when he was named the Most Valuable Player after hitting .385 with a home run and four doubles, leading the Orioles to the championship.
Although his career batting average was .233, his knack for clutch hitting, leadership, and defensive prowess made him a valuable asset to his teams.
Ultra Rare Choices
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.
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.
