8 Baseball Players who Played for Cleveland and San Diego
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 San Diego Padres.
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 6 players who played for both Cleveland and San Diego.
Popular Choices
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.
Gaylord Perry
Gaylord Perry, who pitched from 1962 to 1983, is renowned for his time with the Giants, Indians (now Guardians) and Padres. However, Perry played for 5 additional teams as well – Rangers, Mariners, Royals, Braves and Yankees.
Perry was an exceptional pitcher, recording over 300 wins and 3,500 strikeouts in his career, an accomplishment that led him to the Hall of Fame.
Known for his spitball — a pitch that was technically illegal during his career — Perry won two Cy Young Awards (Padres & Indians), becoming the first player to win the award in both the American and National Leagues.
Rare Choices
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.
Dave Winfield
When you have an amazing 22-year career, you usually find your way onto multiple teams over the course of that time.
Dave Winfield played for 6 different teams over the course of his Hall of Fame career – the Yankees, Padres, Twins, Angels (California Angels at the time), Indians (now Guardians) and Blue Jays.
Winfield led the league in RBIs with 118 in 1979 with the Padres (finished 3rd in MVP voting that year). He finished with over 1800 RBIs over his career.
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.
Brad Hand
Brad Hand was selected by the Florida Marlins in the second round of the 2008 MLB Draft. He is a relief pitcher known for his quality fastball-slider combination.
Throughout his career, Hand has received several honors, including three All-Star selections in 2017, 2018, and 2019. He has also been among the league leaders in saves multiple times.
Hand has played for 9 different teams in his 13-year career (6 just in the last three seasons) including the Marlins, Padres, Indians, Nationals, Mets, Blue Jays, Phillies, Rockies and Braves.
Hand Key Stats
- All-Star (Padres, Indians)
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.
