Cleveland Indians All-Time Top 20 Hitters in Franchise History

#6: Lou Boudreau

Lou Boudreau was selected to an All-Star Squad seven times, after beginning his Indians career in 1938. He was a huge part of the 1948 Championship team, hitting .355/.453/.534 that year and winning the MVP as well as the Major League Player of the Year Award. In thirteen seasons with the Tribe, Boudreau established himself as one of the best hitters in the franchise, including leading the league in batting average in 1944.

Lou Boudreau is third in career WAR among Indians position players, having earned a 61.7 WAR during his time with the team. That is just under two times the career WAR of Bill Bradley, the number 10 player on that list – to put how superior he was in perspective.

Boudreau’s high WAR comes in part because of his solid defense, but also because he’s sixth in Tribe history in hits (1,706), fifth in doubles (367) and third in walks (766).  Aside from being in the Indians’ record books, Boudrea led the league in doubles three times, as well as twice in WAR. His 63 career WAR is 150th in baseball history – no small feat.

In 1970, Boudreau was finally elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame with 77.3 percent of the vote, after a appearing on the ballot many times.

Next: Top 20 Hitters: #5