10 Baseball Players who Played for Cleveland and LA Dodgers
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 (formerly the Indians) and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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.
Here are 10 players who played for both Cleveland and Los Angeles. Some are more popular Hall of Famers and a couple are a bit more obscure (if you like playing for low rarity scores).
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
Jeff Kent
Jeff Kent was a powerhouse from 1992 to 2008. Like me, most of you probably think of him as a San Francisco Giant, but Kent also played for the Mets, Dodgers, Astros, Indians (now Guardians) and Blue Jays.
A second baseman with serious pop in his bat, Kent earned the MVP title in 2000 with the Giants. He had 33 home runs that year with 125 RBIs.
Over his career, he hit over 370 home runs, racked up more than 1,500 RBIs, and had an impressive 560 doubles. Kent was selected for the All-Star game five times.
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).
Mark Grudzielanek
Mark Grudzielanek, who played from 1995 to 2010, spent his career with several teams, including the Dodgers, Expos, Cubs, Royals, Indians (now Guardians) and Cardinals.
A versatile infielder known for his reliable glove and solid hitting, Grudzielanek amassed over 2,000 hits and earned a Golden Glove in 2006 with the Royals.
He had a standout season in 1996 when he hit .306 with the Expos, and he earned an All-Star appearance in 1996. One year later (still with Expos), he led the majors with 54 doubles.
Immaculate Grid FAQ
Can I Use Former Cleveland Indians for Cleveland Guardian Squares?
Yes. Players that played when the team used the Indians mascot (like Jim Thome for example) are accepted.
