Cleveland Indians Top Ten All-Time Pitchers

#1 RHP Bob Feller

There’s no one else who could possibly make the cut as the number one pitcher in Indians’ history. Bob Feller was a superstar, posting a career 266-162 record with an ERA of 3.25 and an astonishing 2,581 strikeouts.

Among Feller’s many achievements, he was an eight-time All-Star and six-time American League wins leader. In 1940, he won the pitching Triple Crown, as he bested everyone in ERA, wins and strikeouts. It was hardly the first or last time that he’d lead in strikeouts – he did it seven times in his career.

Feller’s fastball made him nearly impossible to hit. On April 16, 1940, he threw the only Opening Day no-hitter in the history of baseball. The New York Yankees suffered the same fate on April 30, 1946. Feller threw this third career no hitter on July 1, 1951, against the Detroit Tigers.

He pitched 18 years for the Indians, despite having his career interrupted in December 1941 with four years of service in the United States Navy during World War II. During that time, he won 20 games in six seasons, led the league in WAR twice, and led the league in innings pitched five times. Scouts, coaches and fellow players all agreed that no one could compare to his talent as a pitcher.

In 1962, Feller was elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, and in 1956, the Indians retired his number 19 – the first number they had retired in franchise history. It’s not a bold statement to say that there will never be another pitcher in Indians history who can stand up to Bob Feller’s legacy.

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