6 former Guardians you may have forgotten were All-Stars

Next week, the Cleveland Guardians are Cade Smith, Parker Messick and Travis Bazzana to the Midsummer Classic in Philadelphia next week, all of whom secured their first-ever All-Star selection.

“All-Star” is rather fitting for each player selected; Smith is a bonafide star who leads Major League Baseball in saves (26), while rookies Messick and Bazzana appear to be on a clear ascension to star status, if they're not already there.

This is now the tenth year in a row the Guardians have sent multiple players to the All-Star Game, trailing only the Yankees and Dodgers for the longest active streak.

As we know, this is only partway through the season, and an All-Star selection, or snub (see Bryce Harper's 2021 MVP selection after not appearing at the All-Star game), is not necessarily indicative of a player’s full-season performance. 

Or, in the case of 2017 All-Star Ross Stripling (yes, you read that correctly), perhaps it highlights a career year and the privilege of someday being able to say “yes, I was a big league All-Star” to their grandkids.

Mimicking the tradition of “many a man” who find themselves sitting on a barstool with the game on and recounting the names of random athletes with their friends I thought it would be fun to look at some of the random, one-time, and oft-forgotten All-Stars Cleveland has produced since 2000.

Without further ado, I present my findings:

The Guardians have had multiple players who were random All-Stars

2001: Juan González (OF/DH)

Somehow one of the more forgotten player seasons since then-Jacobs Field opened in 1994, González had somewhat of a career renaissance in 2001 following his relatively disappointing season with the Tigers the year prior.

He eclipsed 30 home runs for the last time in his career during the campaign, and sent a blast over the wall on June 22, 2001 that made him the then-all-time leader in home runs for a Puerto Rican-born player. He also drove in a whopping 140 runs.

González was voted to start the All-Star Game in Seattle, joining Roberto Alomar as the only Cleveland representatives.

All-Star Game statline: 0-for-1

2005: Bob Wickman (RHP)

It is somewhat surprising the one-time saves leader in Cleveland baseball’s history was only a one-time All-Star for the Guardians, though he did receive an NL selection in 2000 before being traded to Cleveland.

The 2005 season marked one of Wickman’s best in an otherwise solid career spent mostly with the Yankees and Brewers. He led all of MLB in saves (45) that season while posting a 2.47 ERA and earned some down-ballot votes for the American League Cy Young.

All-Star Game statline: 0 IP, 1 ER, 0 H, 1 BB

2008: Cliff Lee (LHP)

Although Lee is now a household name among Phillies and Rangers fans for his postseason heroics, it's easy to forget his time in Cleveland was a bit of a bumpy road.

Lee’s 2008 All-Star appearance was not surprising because he did not deserve it that year, but because it was incredibly unexpected. 

A year after putting together a negative WAR season while sporting a 6.29 ERA, Lee had a season for the ages as he compiled a 22-3 record in 2008, with a 2.54 ERA and four complete games.

Lee won the AL Cy Young over Roy Halladay and company, nearly doubling the runner-up’s voting point total. He would go on to pitch well the following season before being traded at the deadline to the Phillies and pitching in the 2009 World Series.

All-Star Game statline: 2 IP (starter), 1 H, 0 ER, 3 SO

2016: Danny Salazar (RHP)

In a year filled with so many great memories for Cleveland fans, one that many have probably forgotten about is Salazar’s incredible start to the 2016 season.

Salazar was selected to his lone All-Star Game alongside Francisco Lindor and Corey Kluber, but had to withdraw himself as he dealt with injury.

Unfortunately, this would be a continuous theme throughout his career as he could never quite stay out of the training room. He would be yet another casualty in the long line of promising starters who simply could not stay healthy enough to have a lasting big league career.

At the time of his All-Star Game selection, he led Cleveland the Guardians in ERA, and was third in both strikeouts and wins. This was on the heels of being named AL Pitcher of the Month that June.

All-Star Game statline: DNP

2019: Brad Hand (LHP)

During a season largely forgotten after three straight division titles and before the bizarre season that was the 2020 COVID-shortend campaign, Hand took full control over the Guardians' closer role.

Hand was acquired from San Diego ahead of the 2018 trade deadline (along with Adam Cimber) and shortly took over closer duties from a struggling Cody Allen. His 2019 season was impressive, as he tallied 34 saves with a 3.30 ERA.

While 2019 was a solid season for Hand, he was likely robbed of what would have been an All-Star appearance in the shortened 2020 season. He led baseball with 16 saves (in a 60-game season) and had a 2.05 ERA.

All-Star Game statline: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO

2022: Andrés Giménez (2B)

There were a couple of Guardians who could have filled this last mention in my chronological order of players (Josh Naylor or David Fry, perhaps), but Giménez felt fitting as he stole the show while flashing the leather in a game amongst the stars in Hollywood. 

Now it's important to remember to note his 2022 season has stood out as the outlier in his career as time has gone on, as he posted career-highs in batting average. 297) and on-base percentage (.371).

But it's time to forget the numbers because this appearance and this season are about the moment.

The 2022 season, of course, was only the second season after the Lindor trade and Giménez was one of four players brought back, none of whom currently remain with the organization.

This rag-tag and youthful bunch shocked the baseball world when they went on a late-season heater and won the AL Central crown.

The conversation even became a discussion as to whether it was the Guardians who won the trade or the Mets, a conversation for another date and time.

But for a moment, we had a second baseman who could hit and had (and has always had) an elite glove, which he showed with a fantastic play in the All-Star Game.

All-Star Game statline: 0-2, 2 SO & one spectacular defensive play

Other notable one-time Cleveland All-Stars since 2000:

• 2004: Ronnie Belliard
• 2010: Roberto Hernández
• 2013: Justin Masterson
• 2017: Andrew Miller
• 2024: Josh Naylor
• 2024: David Fry

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