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List of Cleveland Guardians seasons

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View of a baseball stadium, taken from the upper deck and looking out over the field from center. Open roof
Progressive Field, home field of the Guardians since the 1994 season.

The Cleveland Guardians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They were a founding member of the American League in 1901 as the Cleveland Bluebirds or Blues. They were given the unofficial name the Cleveland Bronchos in 1902 before being renamed the Cleveland Napoleons or Naps in 1903, and then being renamed the Cleveland Indians in 1915. The team remained as the Cleveland Indians for over a century, until the team was renamed the Cleveland Guardians in 2021, after decades of controversy surrounding the "Indians" name.[1][2][3] officially becoming the Guardians on November 19, 2021.[4][5]

The team made its first World Series appearance in 1920 and won the first of their two World Series titles. Since then, the Indians have had three periods of success. The first was from 1947 to 1956, when they had winning records in every season, including a 111–43 record in 1954, which remains the best Major League Baseball regular season record since the 1909 Pirates, and won their only other World Series in 1948. In 1954, they appeared in the World Series, and lost. Cleveland's second highly successful period was from 1994 to 2001, when they had eight consecutive winning seasons, six AL Central division titles, and two World Series appearances in 1995 and 1997, but lost both of these World Series. The third extended period of success began in 2013 under manager Terry Francona, during which they had eight consecutive winning seasons from 2013 to 2020, five playoff appearances, and one World Series appearance in 2016.

Cleveland has also experienced failure in their history. From the split of the American League into two divisions in 1969 until 1993, the Indians did not make a single postseason appearance and played only four winning seasons. They posted 100 losses four times during the era.

Key

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ALCS
 American League Championship Series
ALDS
 American League Division Series
ALWC
 American League Wild Card Game/Series
MVP
 Most Valuable Player Award
TC
 Triple Crown
MOY
 Manager of the Year Award
ROY
 Rookie of the Year Award
CYA
 Cy Young Award
CBPOY
 Comeback Player of the Year Award
WSMVP
 World Series Most Valuable Player Award

Seasons

[edit]
World Series champions † AL champions * Division champions (1969–present) ^ Wild card berth (1995–present) ¤ Division runner-up (2020) ‡
Season Team Level League Division Finish Wins Losses Win% GB Playoffs Awards Manager
Cleveland Bluebirds or Blues
1901 1901 MLB AL 7th 54 82 .397 29 Jimmy McAleer
1902 1902[a] MLB AL 5th 69 67 .507 14 Bill Armour
Cleveland Napoleons or Naps
1903 1903 MLB AL 3rd 77 63 .550 15 Bill Armour
1904 1904 MLB AL 4th 86 65 .570 7½
1905 1905 MLB AL 5th 76 78 .494 19 Nap Lajoie (56–57)
Bill Bradley (20–21)
1906 1906 MLB AL 3rd 89 64 .582 5 Nap Lajoie
1907 1907 MLB AL 4th 85 67 .559 8
1908 1908 MLB AL 2nd 90 64 .584 ½
1909 1909 MLB AL 6th 71 82 .464 27½ Nap Lajoie (57–57)
Deacon McGuire (14–25)
1910 1910 MLB AL 5th 71 81 .467 32 Deacon McGuire
1911 1911 MLB AL 3rd 80 73 .523 22 Deacon McGuire (6–11)
George Stovall (74–62)
1912 1912 MLB AL 5th 75 78 .490 30½ Harry Davis (54–71)
Joe Birmingham (21–7)
1913 1913 MLB AL 3rd 86 66 .566 9½ Joe Birmingham
1914 1914 MLB AL 8th 51 102 .333 48½
Cleveland Indians
1915 1915 MLB AL 7th 57 95 .375 44½ Joe Birmingham (12–16)
Lee Fohl (45–79)
1916 1916 MLB AL 6th 77 77 .500 14 Lee Fohl
1917 1917 MLB AL 3rd 88 66 .571 12
1918 1918 MLB AL 2nd 73 54 .575 2½
1919 1919 MLB AL 2nd 84 55 .604 3½ Lee Fohl (44–34)
Tris Speaker (40–21)
1920 1920 MLB † AL * 1st 98 56 .636 — Won World Series (Robins) 5–2 † Tris Speaker
1921 1921 MLB AL 2nd 94 60 .610 4½
1922 1922 MLB AL 4th 78 76 .506 16
1923 1923 MLB AL 3rd 82 71 .536 16½
1924 1924 MLB AL 6th 67 86 .438 24½
1925 1925 MLB AL 6th 70 84 .455 27½
1926 1926 MLB AL 2nd 88 66 .571 3

George Burns (MVP)

1927 1927 MLB AL 6th 66 87 .431 43½ Jack McCallister
1928 1928 MLB AL 7th 62 92 .403 39 Roger Peckinpaugh
1929 1929 MLB AL 3rd 81 71 .533 24
1930 1930 MLB AL 4th 81 73 .526 21
1931 1931 MLB AL 4th 78 76 .506 30
1932 1932 MLB AL 4th 87 65 .572 19
1933 1933 MLB AL 4th 75 76 .497 23½ Roger Peckinpaugh (26–25)
Bibb Falk (0–1)
Walter Johnson (48–51)
1934 1934 MLB AL 3rd 85 69 .552 16 Walter Johnson
1935 1935 MLB AL 3rd 82 71 .536 12 Walter Johnson (46–48)
Steve O'Neill (36–23)
1936 1936 MLB AL 5th 80 74 .519 22½ Steve O'Neill
1937 1937 MLB AL 4th 83 71 .539 19
1938 1938 MLB AL 3rd 86 66 .566 13 Ossie Vitt
1939 1939 MLB AL 3rd 87 67 .565 20½
1940 1940 MLB AL 2nd 89 65 .578 1

Bob Feller (TC)

1941 1941 MLB AL 4th[6] 75 79 .487 26 Roger Peckinpaugh
1942 1942 MLB AL 4th 75 79 .487 28 Lou Boudreau
1943 1943 MLB AL 3rd 82 71 .536 15½
1944 1944 MLB AL 5th[7] 72 82 .468 17
1945 1945 MLB AL 5th 73 72 .503 11
1946 1946 MLB AL 6th 68 86 .442 36
1947 1947 MLB AL 4th 80 74 .519 17
1948 1948 MLB † AL * 1st[8] 97 58 .626 — Won World Series (Braves) 4–2 † Lou Boudreau (MVP)
1949 1949 MLB AL 3rd 89 65 .578 8
1950 1950 MLB AL 4th 92 62 .597 6
1951 1951 MLB AL 2nd 93 61 .604 5 Al López
1952 1952 MLB AL 2nd 93 61 .604 2
1953 1953 MLB AL 2nd 92 62 .597 8½

Al Rosen (MVP)

1954 1954 MLB AL * 1st 111 43 .721 — Lost World Series (Giants) 4–0 *
1955 1955 MLB AL 2nd 93 61 .604 3

Herb Score (ROY)

1956 1956 MLB AL 2nd 88 66 .571 9
1957 1957 MLB AL 6th 76 77 .497 21½ Kerby Farrell
1958 1958 MLB AL 4th 77 76 .503 14½ Bobby Bragan (31–36)
Joe Gordon (46–40)
1959 1959 MLB AL 2nd 89 65 .578 5 Joe Gordon
1960 1960 MLB AL 4th 76 78 .494 21 Joe Gordon (49–46)
Jo-Jo White (1–0)
Jimmy Dykes (26–32)
1961 1961 MLB AL 5th 78 83 .484 30½ Jimmy Dykes (77–83)
Mel Harder (1–0)
1962 1962 MLB AL 6th 80 82 .494 16 Mel McGaha (78–82)
Mel Harder (2–0)
1963 1963 MLB AL 5th[9] 79 83 .488 25½ Birdie Tebbetts
1964 1964 MLB AL 6th[10] 79 83 .488 20 George Strickland (33–39)
Birdie Tebbetts (46–44)
1965 1965 MLB AL 5th 87 75 .537 15 Birdie Tebbetts
1966 1966 MLB AL 5th 81 81 .500 17 Birdie Tebbetts (66–57)
George Strickland (15–24)
1967 1967 MLB AL 8th 75 87 .463 17 Joe Adcock
1968 1968 MLB AL 3rd 86 75 .534 16½ Alvin Dark
1969 1969 MLB AL East 6th 62 99 .385 46½
1970 1970 MLB AL East 5th 76 86 .469 32
1971 1971 MLB AL East 6th 60 102 .371 43 Chris Chambliss (ROY) Alvin Dark (42–61)
Johnny Lipon (18–41)
1972 1972 MLB AL East 5th 72 84 .462 14 Gaylord Perry (CYA) Ken Aspromonte
1973 1973 MLB AL East 6th 71 91 .438 26
1974 1974 MLB AL East 4th 77 85 .475 14
1975 1975 MLB AL East 4th 79 80 .497 15½ Frank Robinson
1976 1976 MLB AL East 4th 81 78 .509 16
1977 1977 MLB AL East 5th 71 90 .441 28½ Frank Robinson (26–31)
Jeff Torborg (45–59)
1978 1978 MLB AL East 6th 69 90 .434 29 Jeff Torborg
1979 1979 MLB AL East 6th 81 80 .503 22 Jeff Torborg (43–52)
Dave Garcia (38–28)
1980 1980 MLB AL East 6th 79 81 .494 23 Joe Charboneau (ROY) Dave Garcia
1981 1981[11] MLB AL East 6th 26 24 .520 5
5th 26 27 .491 5
1982 1982 MLB AL East 6th[12] 78 84 .481 17 Andre Thornton (CBPOY)
1983 1983 MLB AL East 7th 70 92 .432 28 Mike Ferraro (40–60)
Pat Corrales (30–32)
1984 1984 MLB AL East 6th 75 87 .463 29 Pat Corrales
1985 1985 MLB AL East 7th 60 102 .370 39½
1986 1986 MLB AL East 5th 84 78 .519 11½
1987 1987 MLB AL East 7th 61 101 .377 37 Pat Corrales (31–56)
Doc Edwards (30–45)
1988 1988 MLB AL East 6th 78 84 .481 11 Doc Edwards
1989 1989 MLB AL East 6th 73 89 .451 16 Doc Edwards (65–78)
John Hart (8–11)
1990 1990 MLB AL East 4th 77 85 .475 11 Sandy Alomar Jr. (ROY) John McNamara
1991 1991 MLB AL East 7th 57 105 .352 34 John McNamara (25–52)
Mike Hargrove (32–53)
1992 1992 MLB AL East 4th[13] 76 86 .469 20 Mike Hargrove
1993 1993 MLB AL East 6th 76 86 .469 19
1994 1994 MLB AL Central 2nd 66 47 .584 1 Postseason canceled[14]
1995 1995 MLB AL * Central ^ 1st ^ 100 44 .694 — Won ALDS (Red Sox) 3–0
Won ALCS (Mariners) 4–2
Lost World Series (Braves) 4–2 *
1996 1996 MLB AL Central ^ 1st ^ 99 62 .615 — Lost ALDS (Orioles) 3–1
1997 1997 MLB AL * Central ^ 1st ^ 86 75 .534 — Won ALDS (Yankees) 3–2
Won ALCS (Orioles) 4–2
Lost World Series (Marlins) 4–3 *
1998 1998 MLB AL Central ^ 1st ^ 89 73 .549 — Won ALDS (Red Sox) 3–1
Lost ALCS (Yankees) 4–2
1999 1999 MLB AL Central ^ 1st ^ 97 65 .599 — Lost ALDS (Red Sox) 3–2
2000 2000 MLB AL Central 2nd 90 72 .556 5 Charlie Manuel
2001 2001 MLB AL Central ^ 1st ^ 91 71 .562 — Lost ALDS (Mariners) 3–2
2002 2002 MLB AL Central 3rd 74 88 .457 20½ Charlie Manuel (39–47)
Joel Skinner (35–41)
2003 2003 MLB AL Central 4th 68 94 .420 22 Eric Wedge
2004 2004 MLB AL Central 3rd 80 82 .494 12
2005 2005 MLB AL Central 2nd 93 69 .574 6
2006 2006 MLB AL Central 4th 78 84 .481 18
2007 2007 MLB AL Central ^ 1st ^ 96 66 .593 — Won ALDS (Yankees) 3–1
Lost ALCS (Red Sox) 4–3		 CC Sabathia (CYA)
Eric Wedge (MOY)
2008 2008 MLB AL Central 3rd 81 81 .500 7½ Cliff Lee (CYA, CBPOY)
2009 2009 MLB AL Central 4th[15] 65 97 .401 21½
2010 2010 MLB AL Central 4th 69 93 .426 25 Manny Acta
2011 2011 MLB AL Central 2nd 80 82 .494 15
2012 2012 MLB AL Central 4th 68 94 .420 20 Manny Acta (65–91)
Sandy Alomar Jr. (3–3)
2013 2013 MLB AL Central 2nd ¤ 92 70 .568 1 Lost ALWC (Rays) Terry Francona (MOY) Terry Francona
2014 2014 MLB AL Central 3rd 85 77 .525 5 Corey Kluber (CYA)
2015 2015 MLB AL Central 3rd 81 80 .503 13½
2016 2016 MLB AL * Central ^ 1st ^ 94 67 .584 — Won ALDS (Red Sox) 3–0
Won ALCS (Blue Jays) 4–1
Lost World Series (Cubs) 4–3 *		 Terry Francona (MOY)
2017 2017 MLB AL Central ^ 1st ^ 102 60 .630 — Lost ALDS (Yankees) 3–2 Corey Kluber (CYA)
2018 2018 MLB AL Central ^ 1st ^ 91 71 .563 — Lost ALDS (Astros) 3–0
2019 2019 MLB AL Central 2nd 93 69 .574 8
2020 2020 MLB AL Central 2nd ‡[16] 35 25 .583 1 Lost ALWC (Yankees) 2–0 Shane Bieber (TC, CYA)
Carlos Carrasco (CBPOY)
2021 2021 MLB AL Central 2nd 80 82 .494 13
Cleveland Guardians
2022 2022 MLB AL Central ^ 1st ^ 92 70 .568 — Won ALWC (Rays) 2–0
Lost ALDS (Yankees) 3–2		 Terry Francona (MOY) Terry Francona
2023 2023 MLB AL Central 3rd 76 86 .469 11
2024 2024 MLB AL Central ^ 1st ^ 92 69 .571 — Won ALDS (Tigers) 3–2
Lost ALCS (Yankees) 4–1		 Stephen Vogt
Totals Wins Losses Win%
9,852 9,369 .513 All-time regular season record (1901–2024)
64 64 .500 All-time postseason record
9,916 9,433 .512 All-time regular and postseason record

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ unofficially known as the Cleveland Bronchos

Record by decade

[edit]

The following table describes the Guardians' regular season win–loss record by decades.

Records are current through the 2024 season.

Decade Wins Losses Win %
1900s 697 632 .524
1910s 742 747 .498
1920s 786 749 .512
1930s 824 708 .538
1940s 800 731 .523
1950s 904 634 .588
1960s 783 826 .487
1970s 737 866 .460
1980s 710 849 .455
1990s 823 728 .531
2000s 816 804 .504
2010s 855 763 .528
2020s 375 332 .530
All-time 9,852 9,369 .513

These statistics are from Baseball-Reference.com's Cleveland Guardians Team History & Encyclopedia,[17] except where noted, and are current as of September 29, 2024.

Postseason record by year

[edit]

The Guardians have made the postseason 17 times in their history, with their first being in 1920 and the most recent being in 2024.

Year Finish Round Opponent Result
1920 World Series Champions World Series Brooklyn Robins Won 5 2
1948 World Series Champions World Series Boston Braves Won 4 2
1954 American League Champions World Series New York Giants Lost 0 4
1995 American League Champions ALDS Boston Red Sox Won 3 0
ALCS Seattle Mariners Won 4 2
World Series Atlanta Braves Lost 2 4
1996 American League Central Champions ALDS Baltimore Orioles Lost 1 3
1997 American League Champions ALDS New York Yankees Won 3 2
ALCS Baltimore Orioles Won 4 2
World Series Florida Marlins Lost 3 4
1998 American League Central Champions ALDS Boston Red Sox Won 3 1
ALCS New York Yankees Lost 2 4
1999 American League Central Champions ALDS Boston Red Sox Lost 2 3
2001 American League Central Champions ALDS Seattle Mariners Lost 2 3
2007 American League Central Champions ALDS New York Yankees Won 3 1
ALCS Boston Red Sox Lost 3 4
2013 American League Wild Card Wild Card Game Tampa Bay Rays Lost 0 1
2016 American League Champions ALDS Boston Red Sox Won 3 0
ALCS Toronto Blue Jays Won 4 1
World Series Chicago Cubs Lost 3 4
2017 American League Central Champions ALDS New York Yankees Lost 2 3
2018 American League Central Champions ALDS Houston Astros Lost 0 3
2020 American League Central 2nd Place Wild Card Series New York Yankees Lost 0 2
2022 American League Central Champions Wild Card Series Tampa Bay Rays Won 2 0
ALDS New York Yankees Lost 2 3
2024 American League Central Champions ALDS Detroit Tigers Won 3 2
ALCS New York Yankees Lost 1 4
17 Totals 12–15 64 64

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Bell, Mandy (November 17, 2021). "Cleveland set for 'Guardians' name transition". CLEGuardians.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  2. ^ "Cleveland Indians announce decision to change current team name". CLEGuardians.com (Press release). MLB Advanced Media. December 14, 2020. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  3. ^ Waldstein, David; Schmidt, Michael S. (December 13, 2020). "Cleveland's Baseball Team Will Drop Its Indians Team Name". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 14, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  4. ^ Bell, Mandy (July 23, 2021). "New for '22: Meet the Cleveland Guardians". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on July 23, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  5. ^ Hoynes, Paul (July 23, 2021). "Cleveland Indians choose Guardians as new team name". The Plain Dealer. Archived from the original on July 25, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  6. ^ The Indians finished the 1941 season tied with the Detroit Tigers for 4th place. MLB does not officially break ties except those involving playoff spots.
  7. ^ The Indians finished the 1944 season tied with the Philadelphia Athletics for 5th place. MLB does not officially break ties except those involving playoff spots.
  8. ^ The Indians finished the 1948 season tied with the Boston Red Sox for first place in the American League. The Indians defeated the Red Sox 8–3 in a tie-breaker game to win the AL pennant
  9. ^ The Indians finished the 1963 season tied with the Detroit Tigers for 5th place. MLB does not officially break ties except those involving playoff spots.
  10. ^ The Indians finished the 1964 season tied with the Minnesota Twins for 6th place. MLB does not officially break ties except those involving playoff spots.
  11. ^ The 1981 season was split into two halves as a result of the 1981 players strike. The top line represents the results of the first half and the bottom line represents the results of the second half.
  12. ^ The Indians finished the 1982 season tied with the Toronto Blue Jays for 6th place. MLB does not officially break ties except those involving playoff spots.
  13. ^ The Indians finished the 1992 season tied with the New York Yankees for 4th place. MLB does not officially break ties except those involving playoff spots.
  14. ^ The 1994 season was cut short as a result of the 1994 players strike. The Indians were in the lead for the wild card spot and one game out of first place in the AL Central at the time of the strike.
  15. ^ The Indians finished the 2009 season tied with the Kansas City Royals for 4th place. MLB does not officially break ties except those involving playoff spots.
  16. ^ Due to the shortened season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the playoffs were expanded to include the top two teams from each division, and two wild card teams from each league.
  17. ^ "Cleveland Guardians Team History & Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
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