Collecting Cleveland Indians Topps team sets from 1952-present, as well as post-war minor and major league autographs.
Milan Tolentino was Cleveland’s 4th-round pick in 2020 out of Santa Margarita Catholic in California. He opened the season in the back-half of the Guardian’s Top 30 prospect list but has been on fire in 2022 at Low-A Lynchburg, hitting .333/.436/.428 with one home run. Tolentino is quickly becoming another[…]
After being drafted in the 39th round of the 2002 draft–a draft position not known to make many majors leaguers, he would go on to spend parts of three seasons in the majors–to include an All-Star selection. And there is no denying he was a masher in the minors, highlighted by his 2011 campaign with the Cubs AAA affiliate when he hit .331/.405/.664 with 38 HR and was selected the Pacific Coast League MVP.
Pitcher Carl Pavano was ranked one of the Top 10 prospects in baseball coming into the 1998 season. While he would never quite live up to that lofty billing, he did have some very nice seasons during his 14-year career.
Tony Horton made the majors in 1964 with the Boston Red Sox. While the Red Sox considered him a legit prospect, he struggled to find playing time behind another promising rookie, George Scott. So in June 1967 the Red Sox, in contention and in need of pitching, traded Horton and Don Demeter to Cleveland for Gary Bell.
Eddie Murray spent 21-seasons in the big leagues. Three of those seasons, in the twilight of his career, came with Cleveland. They were good too. In 1995, at the age of 39, he would hit .323/.375/.516 with 21 HR, good for a 129 OPS+.
Nellie Rodriguez was drafted by Cleveland in the 15th round of the 2012 draft. From 2014-2017 Rodriguez was one of the Tribe’s Top 30 prospects–almost totally based on his plus power.
I always forget what a good prospect Lonnie Chisenhall was. In 2010 he was ranked the #31 overall prospect in baseball, and the next season he moved up to #25.
Collectors Choice. I am not sure why, but they are some of my favorite looking cards of the 90’s, and assuming the photo works, some of my favorite cards to get signed.
Bryan Lavastida (2018, 15th round) is one of my favorite prospects in the Cleveland system. This past season he hit .289/.380/.456 with 9 HR between across three levels, which included 19 at-bats in AAA. The Guards thought enough of his season to add him to the 40-man last month. Good[…]
Josh Tomlin was Cleveland’s 19th round pick in 2006 draft. He has had a pretty good career, spending 12-seasons in the big leagues with Cleveland and Atlanta. Excellent control, less excellent stuff, Tomlin is a classic 4th or 5th starter who will shine on occassion. His biggest strength has always[…]