Baseball Reference Blog

Top 5 Leaders in Home Runs for the Cleveland Guardians

Posted by Darren Baker on January 30, 2025

Since the Cubs finally captured that long-awaited World Series title in 2016, the Cleveland Guardians and their fans may get the honor of being MLB’s most tormented franchise. Heck, the classic movie Major League has satirized this misfortune. Known as the Indians through 2021, this team hasn’t won a World Series since 1948. But it’s not for a lack of trying. They lost the 1954 Fall Classic, and they didn’t return to the postseason until 1995. That started a run of five consecutive playoff appearances all ending in heartbreak, including the 1997 World Series when they had a lead going into the 9th inning of Game 7. Then in 2016, against the Cubbies, the Tribe blew a 3-1 World Series lead and lost Game 7 at home in extra innings. There are other painful tales I could recite, but I’ll spare Cleveland fans. The good news is that the Guardians have been a regular October player the last 15 years, so they have a chance of obtaining baseball’s ultimate glory soon … hopefully. Well, a major reason this fanbase feels so tortured is because Cleveland has had so many great players. No more rambling … let’s reveal the all-time leaders in home runs for the Cleveland Guardians.


Photo of Earl Averill

Earl Averill

Position: Centerfielder

Bats: Left  •  Throws: Right

5-9172lb (175cm, 78kg)

Born: May 21, 1902 in Snohomish, WA us

Died: August 16, 1983 (Aged 81-087d) in Everett, WA

Buried: Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery, Snohomish, WA

High School: Snohomish HS (Snohomish, WA)

Debut: April 16, 1929 (Age 26-330d, 6,874th in major league history)
   vs. DET 4 AB, 1 H, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB

Last Game: April 25, 1941 (Age 38-339d)
   vs. BRO 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB

Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1975. (Voted by Veteran’s Committee)
   View Earl Averill’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).

Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1929 season

Full Name: Howard Earl Averill

Nicknames: Rock or The Earl of Snohomish

Pronunciation: \A-ver-ull\

View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen

View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject

Relatives: Father of Earl Averill

SUMMARY

Career

WAR

51.6

AB

6353

H

2019

HR

238

BA

.318

R

1224

RBI

1164

SB

70

OBP

.395

SLG

.534

OPS

.928

OPS+

133

The man who is 5th all time in home runs for the Cleveland Guardians is Hall of Famer Earl Averill (226). From 1929 to 1938, this center fielder was one of the most consistent players in the American League. He had five seasons of 20+ homers and 100+ RBIs, and that resulted in five top-10 finishes in the AL MVP race. In 1936, Averill led the league in hits (232) and triples (15) and also had a smoldering 1.065 OPS. He topped out with 32 home runs in both ‘31 and ‘32. Earl played on teams that were consistently over .500, but he never played in a World Series until he was a Detroit Tiger in 1940. The Veterans Committee voted this man into Cooperstown in 1975. This franchise pillar is still Cleveland’s all-time leader in RBIs (1,084), runs scored (1,154), triples (121), and total bases (3,200); he also hit .322 for the team. Earl Averill never experienced a World Series in Cleveland, but he is one of the Guardians all-time leaders in home runs.


Photo of Manny RamirezPhoto of Manny Ramirez

Manny Ramírez

Position: Outfielder

Bats: Right  •  Throws: Right

6-0225lb (183cm, 102kg)

Born: May 30, 1972 (Age: 52-206d) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic do

Draft: Drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 1st round (13th) of the 1991 MLB June Amateur Draft from George Washington HS (New York, NY).

High School: George Washington HS (New York, NY)

Debut: September 2, 1993 (Age 21-095d, 16,395th in major league history)
   vs. MIN 4 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB

Last Game: April 6, 2011 (Age 38-311d)
   vs. LAA 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB

Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1994 season

Agents: Boras Corporation • Previously: Eric Goldschmidt, Greg Genske, Jeff Moorad

Full Name: Manuel Aristides Ramírez

Nicknames: Man-Ram, Manny Being Manny or Mannywood

Pronunciation: \Ruh-MEER-ez\

View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen

View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject

SUMMARY

Career

WAR

69.3

AB

8244

H

2574

HR

555

BA

.312

R

1544

RBI

1831

SB

38

OBP

.411

SLG

.585

OPS

.996

OPS+

154

Yes, Manny Ramirez was unique, but there is no denying how good of an all-around hitter he was. Manny played his first eight years with Cleveland and is 4th on the Guardians all-time home-run list with 236. This Dominican turned New Yorker was the 13th overall pick in the 1991 draft. He was a huge piece of the Cleveland renaissance in the 90s. He hit 30+ homers six times in Cleveland (topping out at 45 in ‘98) and helped get them to two World Series (‘95 & ‘97). This run-producing machine drove in 165 during the ‘99 season, which is the highest single-season total since the 1930s. Plus, he could hit for average and batted .300+ five times as an Indian. The all-time MLB leader in postseason home runs blasted 13 of those 29 for Cleveland, including 3 in World Series play. Ramirez was clutch and consistently created offense for the Tribe; he is the franchise leader in slugging % (.592) and OPS (.998). Manny left Cleveland after the 2000 season and continued his prodigious production … 555 home runs (15th all time) and 1,831 RBIs (20th all time). Baseball became relevant again in Cleveland during the 1990s, and a big part of that was Manny Ramirez, one of the Guardians top home-run hitters ever. 


Photo of Albert BellePhoto of Albert Belle

Albert Belle

Name Note: played 1989 and 1990 under the name Joey Belle

Position: Leftfielder

Bats: Right  •  Throws: Right

6-1190lb (185cm, 86kg)

Born: August 25, 1966 (Age: 58-119d) in Shreveport, LA us

Draft: Drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 2nd round of the 1987 MLB June Amateur Draft from Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, LA).

High School: Huntington HS (Shreveport, LA)

School: Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, LA)

Debut: July 15, 1989 (Age 22-324d, 15,643rd in major league history)
   vs. TEX 4 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1 SB

Last Game: October 1, 2000 (Age 34-037d)
   vs. NYY 3 AB, 1 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB

Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1989 season

Agents: Terry Belle • Previously: Arn Tellem

National Team: us USA (18U)

Full Name: Albert Jojuan Belle

Nicknames: Joey or Mr. Freeze

View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen

View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject

SUMMARY

Career

WAR

40.1

AB

5853

H

1726

HR

381

BA

.295

R

974

RBI

1239

SB

88

OBP

.369

SLG

.564

OPS

.933

OPS+

144

One of my favorite baseball highlights ever was in the mid 90s when Albert Belle ran over second baseman Fernando Vina. That intensity helped surge Albert Belle to being 3rd all time in home runs for the Cleveland Guardians (242). This intimidator was one of baseball’s best players while in Cleveland as he helped make the franchise a contender. His season averages from 1991 to 1996 were impressive … 39 homers, 119 RBIs, a .303 batting average, and a .967 OPS. That dominant stretch resulted in four top-7 MVP finishes. In the strike-shortened 1995 season, Belle had one of the best offensive years ever and became the first, and still only, member of the 50-homers/50-doubles club. He also led the league in runs (121), RBIs (126), total bases (377), and slugging % (.690). That pop powered the Tribe to the World Series where Belle added four postseason long balls. This left fielder moved on from Cleveland after the ‘96 season but continued his potent production. If not for retiring at a fairly young age due to a hip condition, this man was on the fast track to Cooperstown. Just look at his 162-game averages, and you’ll see exactly what I mean. Albert Belle’s time in Cleveland wasn’t super lengthy, but it was super powerful, and that’s why Albert Belle is one of the all-time leaders in home runs for the Guardians.


Photo of José RamírezPhoto of José Ramírez

José Ramírez

Positions: Third Baseman, Second Baseman and Shortstop

Bats: Both  •  Throws: Right

5-9190lb (175cm, 86kg)

Team: Cleveland Guardians (majors)

Born: September 17, 1992 (Age: 32-096d) in Bani, Dominican Republic do

Debut: September 1, 2013 (Age 20-349d, 20,517th in major league history)
   vs. DET 0 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB

Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 2014 season

2025 Contract Status: Signed thru 2028, 7 yrs/$141M (22-28)

Service Time (01/2025): 10.074  •  Free Agent: 2029

Agents: Republik Sports • Previously: Beverly Hills Sports Council, Wasserman

Full Name: José Enrique Ramírez

Nicknames: Enriquito or J-Ram

Twitter: @MrLapara

Instagram: @ramirez_jose11

View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen

SUMMARY

2024

Career

WAR

6.8

52.4

AB

620

5377

H

173

1500

HR

39

255

BA

.279

.279

R

114

898

RBI

118

864

SB

41

243

OBP

.335

.352

SLG

.537

.504

OPS

.872

.856

OPS+

143

130

The dude, and I emphasize dude … just ask Tim Anderson, who is currently 2nd on the Cleveland Guardians all-time home-run list is maybe the most underrated player in baseball: Jose Ramirez. This third baseman has launched 255 home runs with the team, and he has an am-I-reading-this-correctly six top-6 or better finishes in AL MVP voting since 2017. Not coincidentally, Cleveland has reached the postseason seven times since Ramirez debuted in 2013. Although he may not be thought of as Judge or Ohtani in terms of power, this 5 ‘9, 190-pound dynamo has hit 29+ homers five times, peaking with 39 in ‘18 and ‘24. That goes along with four seasons each of 100+ runs and 100+ RBIs. Other teams definitely fear Jose because he led MLB in intentional walks twice (the franchise’s all-time leader with 88). Enriquito is the true heart and soul of the franchise, and he has further exemplified that with 4 home runs and 18 RBIs in the playoffs. He is already in Cleveland’s all-time top five in WAR (52.4), OBP (.407), and total bases (2,709). With a team-friendly contract that will keep him in Cleveland for the foreseeable future, there is a strong possibility that Jose Ramirez may be the Guardians all-time leader in home runs at some point


Photo of Jim ThomePhoto of Jim Thome

Jim Thome

Positions: First Baseman, Designated Hitter and Third Baseman

Bats: Left  •  Throws: Right

6-4250lb (193cm, 113kg)

Born: August 27, 1970 (Age: 54-117d) in Peoria, IL us

Draft: Drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 13th round of the 1989 MLB June Amateur Draft from Illinois Central College (East Peoria, IL).

High School: Limestone Community HS (Bartonville, IL)

School: Illinois Central College (East Peoria, IL)

Debut: September 4, 1991 (Age 21-008d, 16,034th in major league history)
   vs. MIN 4 AB, 2 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB

Last Game: October 3, 2012 (Age 42-037d)
   vs. TBR 4 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB

Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2018. (Voted by BBWAA on 379/422 ballots)
   View Jim Thome’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).

Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1992 season

Agents: Pat Rooney SFX

Full Name: James Howard Thome

Pronunciation: \TOE-mee\

View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen

View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject

SUMMARY

Career

WAR

73.1

AB

8422

H

2328

HR

612

BA

.276

R

1583

RBI

1699

SB

19

OBP

.402

SLG

.554

OPS

.956

OPS+

147

The franchise leader in home runs for the Guardians is a Hall of Famer who is 8th on MLB’s all-time home-run list with 612. Jim Thome hit 337 of 612 career home runs with Cleveland. A major difference maker during the Cleveland baseball renaissance in the 90s, this third baseman/first baseman/designated hitter posted 20+ home runs in nine straight seasons from 1994 to 2002. That includes 40 in ‘97, 49 in ‘01, and a team-record 52 in ‘02. In that 2002 season, Thome led the American League in walks (122), slugging % (.677), OPS (1.122), and OPS+ (197). As far as October, Jim’s power sustained into the fall with 17 career home runs (3 in the World Series). In one unbelievable series, a 1999 ALDS five-game defeat to Boston, this lefty put up video game stats … 4 home runs, 10 RBIs, a .353 batting average, a .476 OBP, a 1.059 slugging %, and a 1.535 OPS. After 2002, Thome signed with the Phillies and continued his potent pop there and at other subsequent stops. He actually briefly returned to Cleveland in 2011 before retiring following the 2012 season. In addition to long balls, this Cooperstown inductee is also in the franchise’s top three in walks, RBIs, OBP, slugging %, and OPS. Jim Thome, the all-time leader in home runs for the Cleveland Guardians, is not only one of the greatest power hitters in team history, but he is also one of MLB’s all-time power bats.  


Who has the Guardians single-season home-run record?

Jim Thome has the Guardians home-run record for a season. He hit 52 home runs in 2002.

Who is the Guardians all-time leader in home runs?

Jim Thome is the Guardians career home-run leader with 337.


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