Cleveland Indians All-Time Top 20 Hitters in Franchise History

#16: Andre Thornton

Andre Thornton began his 14-year career with the Chicago Cubs, before being traded to the Montreal Expos in 1976. After just a partial season in Canada, the Expos dealt Thornton to the Cleveland Indians before the 1977 season.

With Cleveland, Thornton played the final ten years of his career. He hit just .254 during that time, but he also crushed 253 home runs and knocked in 895 RBIs as the team’s first baseman and (later) designated hitter.

Thornton’s best seasons came in 1982 and 1984, when he had All-Star seasons for the Tribe. In 1982, he hit 32 home runs and batted .273, and in 1984, he had 33 home runs and a .271 average.

Thorton was certainly one of the best early power hitter in Tribe history, and the Indians were lucky to get him in what was regarded as a terrible trade for the Expos. At the end of his career, he had racked up 1,342 hits, 876 walks, and even 48 stolen bases in addition to his home runs.

Next: Top 20 Hitters: #15