Cleveland Indians: Who’s Tribe’s best power hitter over last 30 seasons?

Jim Thome

While this list is technically in no particular order, it’s hard to think of Cleveland Indians power hitters and not immediately have Jim Thome come to mind. A 2018 Hall of Fame inductee, Thome spent his first 12 professional seasons in Cleveland and also returned to the club for 22 games during the 2011 season, climbing his way to the top of the record books.

Thome is currently etched in Cleveland baseball history as the best power hitter all-time, statistically speaking. Over his 1,399 games with Cleveland, Thome blasted 337 home runs, nearly 100 more than the next player on the list. He also has two of the three best single seasons for home runs, sending a career-high and club record 52 over the fence in the final season of his first stint, being 2002. Thome also logged 49 the year before in 2001 which is currently the third best power season in the Cleveland history books.

During his historical 2002 season, Thome not only set a club record with 52 home runs, but he had one of the better seasons at the plate ever recorded by a member of the Cleveland Indians. Thome also drew an American League high 122 walks while slashing .304/.445/.667, also leading the American League in slugging percentage.

If you go by statistics alone, Thome is by far the best power hitter for Cleveland over the last 30 years, if not all-time, but does anyone challenge him for the pedestal?