9 Baseball Players who Played for Cleveland and Chicago White Sox
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 Chicago White 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 9 players who played for both Cleveland and Chicago.
Harold Baines
Harold Baines, who played primarily with the Chicago White Sox from 1980-2001, was known for his consistent hitting and smooth left-handed swing. In addition to the White Sox, Baines played for the Orioles, A’s, Rangers and Indians (now Guardians).
He collected over 2,800 hits and 384 homers, earning him six All-Star selections (White Sox, A’s, Orioles) and a Silver Slugger Award in 1989 (White Sox). He also went over 100 RBIs 3 times in his career (White Sox, Orioles).
Finally, Baines was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019.
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 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)
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.
Sandy Alomar
Sandy Alomar Jr., part of the famous Alomar baseball family, made his mark in Major League Baseball as an accomplished catcher from 1988 to 2007. He spent the bulk of his career with the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians), where his strong arm and reliable glove made him a key asset behind the plate.
Alomar was also effective with the bat, boasting a career batting average of .273. He was a six-time All-Star (Cleveland) and won the Rookie of the Year award in 1990.
One of his career highlights was being named the MVP of the 1997 All-Star Game after hitting a game-winning home run.
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.
Kenny Lofton
Kenny Lofton, known for his speed and prowess in the outfield started his professional career in 1991 with the Houston Astros. His breakout season came only one year later with the Indians when he led the American League with 66 stolen bases.
Lofton was an integral part of the Cleveland Indians’ success in the 1990s. His speed and base-stealing abilities at the top of the lineup, combined with his exceptional defense in center field, made him a cornerstone of the team that won six division titles from 1995 to 2001.
Over his 17-year career, Lofton played for several teams (11 in total), including the Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, and San Francisco Giants. He had a career batting average of .299, scored over 1,500 runs, and stole over 600 bases. Lofton’s stellar career also includes four Gold Glove awards and six All-Star selections.
Lofton Key Stats
- All-Star (Indians, Braves)
- Gold Glove (Indians)
- 30+ Stolen Base Season (Indians, Dodgers)
- 200+ Hit Season (Indians)
- .300 Average Season (Indians, Braves, Cubs, Phillies, Dodgers, Rangers)
EDWIN ENCARNACION
Edwin Encarnación, a Dominican player who debuted in 2005, is best recognized for his time as a designated hitter and first baseman with the Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians (now Guardians).
Over his impressive career, Encarnación amassed over 1800 hits, belted more than 400 home runs, and maintained a batting average close to .260. He was a three-time All-Star (Blue Jays) and the AL RBI leader, once driving in 127 runs in a season.
His most productive season came in 2012 with the Blue Jays when he hit .280 with 42 home runs and 110 RBIs.
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.
Steve Carlton
Steve Carlton, nicknamed “Lefty”, was a legendary pitcher in baseball from 1965 to 1988. He is best remembered for his success with the Philadelphia Phillies, but he also played for the Cardinals, Twins, Giants, Indians (now Guardians) and White Sox.
Carlton was a big part of the 1980 World Series win for the Phillies.
He had over 300 wins and struck out more than 4,000 batters. Plus, he was a four-time Cy Young Award winner. Carlton was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994. In short, Lefty was a pitching powerhouse and left a huge footprint in the sport.
RARITY SCORE ALERT: Carlton is most well known for his time with Phillies and to a lesser degree, the Cardinals. He only played part of one season with Cleveland (1987) and part of one season with the White Sox (1986) – both at the tail end of his career.
Immaculate Grid FAQ
Can I Use Cleveland Indians players for Cleveland Guardians?
Yes. Players that played for the Cleveland Indians (Jim Thome for example) will be accepted on Cleveland Guardian grid squares.
