Cleveland Indians Top Ten All-Time Pitchers

#9: RHP Mel Harder

Mel Harder’s playing career with the Indians ended before they won the 1948 World Series, but he did get to celebrate as their pitching coach. The veteran right-hander made his major league debut in 1928, pitching in 23 games as a reliever with pretty average results. In 1930, he moved to the rotation and saw much more consistent success.

Harder was not as dominant of a pitcher as some of the names on this list – his career ERA was 3.80, and he struck out just 1161 batters despite pitching 3426.1 innings in a Tribe uniform – but he is still one of the greatest pitchers in Indians’ history. His career 223-186 record is one of the best in Indians history.

In 1933, his 2.95 ERA lead the American League, and in five other seasons, he was in the AL Top-Ten. Harder was an All-Star from 1934 to 1937, and received MVP votes in three seasons. Altogther, he played 582 games in an Indians uniform – the most of any Cleveland starter.

With a career WAR of 43, Harder is ranked 11^th among the Tribe’s All-Time leaders, and his contributions to the Cleveland Indians organization hardly stop in 1947. Beginning the year after he retired as a player, Harder joined the Tribe’s coaching staff and guided pitchers like Mike Garcia, Herb Score and Sam McDowell to greatness.

Although Harder isn’t a Baseball Hall of Famer, his number 18 was retired by the Cleveland Indians in 1990, and his legacy will live on in Tribe history.

Next: All-Time Best Pitchers: #8