
TheCleveland Guardians are a professional baseball team based inCleveland, Ohio. They were a founding member of theAmerican League in1901 as theCleveland Bluebirds orBlues. They were given the unofficial name theCleveland Bronchos in1902 before being renamed theCleveland Napoleons orNaps in1903, and then being renamed theCleveland Indians in1915. The team remained as the Cleveland Indians for over a century, until the team was renamed theCleveland Guardians in2021, afterdecades of controversy surrounding the "Indians" name.[1][2][3] officially becoming the Guardians on November 19, 2021.[4][5]
The team made its first World Series appearance in1920 and won the first of their two World Series titles. Since then, the Indians have had three periods of success. The first was from1947 to1956, when they had winning records in every season, including a 111–43 record in 1954, which remainsthe best Major League Baseball regular season record since the1909 Pirates, and won their only other World Series in1948. In1954, they appeared in the World Series, and lost. Cleveland's second highly successful period was from1994 to2001, when they had eight consecutive winning seasons, sixAL Central division titles, and two World Series appearances in1995 and1997, but lost both of these World Series. The third extended period of success began in2013 under managerTerry Francona, during which they had eight consecutive winning seasons from 2013 to 2020, five playoff appearances, and one World Series appearance in2016.
Cleveland has also experienced failure in their history. From the split of the American League into two divisions in1969 until1993, the Indians did not make a single postseason appearance and played only four winning seasons. They posted 100 losses four times during the era.
| World Series champions † | AL champions * | Division champions (1969–present) ^ | Wild card berth (1995–present) ¤ | Division runner-up (2020) ‡ |
| Season | Team | Level | League | Division | Finish | Wins | Losses | Win% | GB | Playoffs | Awards | Manager |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Bluebirds or Blues | ||||||||||||
| 1901 | 1901 | MLB | AL | 7th | 54 | 82 | .397 | 29 | Jimmy McAleer | |||
| 1902 | 1902[a] | MLB | AL | 5th | 69 | 67 | .507 | 14 | Bill Armour | |||
| Cleveland Napoleons or Naps | ||||||||||||
| 1903 | 1903 | MLB | AL | 3rd | 77 | 63 | .550 | 15 | Bill Armour | |||
| 1904 | 1904 | MLB | AL | 4th | 86 | 65 | .570 | 7½ | ||||
| 1905 | 1905 | MLB | AL | 5th | 76 | 78 | .494 | 19 | Nap Lajoie (56–57) Bill Bradley (20–21) | |||
| 1906 | 1906 | MLB | AL | 3rd | 89 | 64 | .582 | 5 | Nap Lajoie | |||
| 1907 | 1907 | MLB | AL | 4th | 85 | 67 | .559 | 8 | ||||
| 1908 | 1908 | MLB | AL | 2nd | 90 | 64 | .584 | ½ | ||||
| 1909 | 1909 | MLB | AL | 6th | 71 | 82 | .464 | 27½ | Nap Lajoie (57–57) Deacon McGuire (14–25) | |||
| 1910 | 1910 | MLB | AL | 5th | 71 | 81 | .467 | 32 | Deacon McGuire | |||
| 1911 | 1911 | MLB | AL | 3rd | 80 | 73 | .523 | 22 | Deacon McGuire (6–11) George Stovall (74–62) | |||
| 1912 | 1912 | MLB | AL | 5th | 75 | 78 | .490 | 30½ | Harry Davis (54–71) Joe Birmingham (21–7) | |||
| 1913 | 1913 | MLB | AL | 3rd | 86 | 66 | .566 | 9½ | Joe Birmingham | |||
| 1914 | 1914 | MLB | AL | 8th | 51 | 102 | .333 | 48½ | ||||
| Cleveland Indians | ||||||||||||
| 1915 | 1915 | MLB | AL | 7th | 57 | 95 | .375 | 44½ | Joe Birmingham (12–16) Lee Fohl (45–79) | |||
| 1916 | 1916 | MLB | AL | 6th | 77 | 77 | .500 | 14 | Lee Fohl | |||
| 1917 | 1917 | MLB | AL | 3rd | 88 | 66 | .571 | 12 | ||||
| 1918 | 1918 | MLB | AL | 2nd | 73 | 54 | .575 | 2½ | ||||
| 1919 | 1919 | MLB | AL | 2nd | 84 | 55 | .604 | 3½ | Lee Fohl (44–34) Tris Speaker (40–21) | |||
| 1920 | 1920 | MLB † | AL * | 1st | 98 | 56 | .636 | — | WonWorld Series (Robins) 5–2 † | Tris Speaker | ||
| 1921 | 1921 | MLB | AL | 2nd | 94 | 60 | .610 | 4½ | ||||
| 1922 | 1922 | MLB | AL | 4th | 78 | 76 | .506 | 16 | ||||
| 1923 | 1923 | MLB | AL | 3rd | 82 | 71 | .536 | 16½ | ||||
| 1924 | 1924 | MLB | AL | 6th | 67 | 86 | .438 | 24½ | ||||
| 1925 | 1925 | MLB | AL | 6th | 70 | 84 | .455 | 27½ | ||||
| 1926 | 1926 | MLB | AL | 2nd | 88 | 66 | .571 | 3 | ||||
| 1927 | 1927 | MLB | AL | 6th | 66 | 87 | .431 | 43½ | Jack McCallister | |||
| 1928 | 1928 | MLB | AL | 7th | 62 | 92 | .403 | 39 | Roger Peckinpaugh | |||
| 1929 | 1929 | MLB | AL | 3rd | 81 | 71 | .533 | 24 | ||||
| 1930 | 1930 | MLB | AL | 4th | 81 | 73 | .526 | 21 | ||||
| 1931 | 1931 | MLB | AL | 4th | 78 | 76 | .506 | 30 | ||||
| 1932 | 1932 | MLB | AL | 4th | 87 | 65 | .572 | 19 | ||||
| 1933 | 1933 | MLB | AL | 4th | 75 | 76 | .497 | 23½ | Roger Peckinpaugh (26–25) Bibb Falk (0–1) Walter Johnson (48–51) | |||
| 1934 | 1934 | MLB | AL | 3rd | 85 | 69 | .552 | 16 | Walter Johnson | |||
| 1935 | 1935 | MLB | AL | 3rd | 82 | 71 | .536 | 12 | Walter Johnson (46–48) Steve O'Neill (36–23) | |||
| 1936 | 1936 | MLB | AL | 5th | 80 | 74 | .519 | 22½ | Steve O'Neill | |||
| 1937 | 1937 | MLB | AL | 4th | 83 | 71 | .539 | 19 | ||||
| 1938 | 1938 | MLB | AL | 3rd | 86 | 66 | .566 | 13 | Ossie Vitt | |||
| 1939 | 1939 | MLB | AL | 3rd | 87 | 67 | .565 | 20½ | ||||
| 1940 | 1940 | MLB | AL | 2nd | 89 | 65 | .578 | 1 | Bob Feller (TC) | |||
| 1941 | 1941 | MLB | AL | 4th[6] | 75 | 79 | .487 | 26 | Roger Peckinpaugh | |||
| 1942 | 1942 | MLB | AL | 4th | 75 | 79 | .487 | 28 | Lou Boudreau | |||
| 1943 | 1943 | MLB | AL | 3rd | 82 | 71 | .536 | 15½ | ||||
| 1944 | 1944 | MLB | AL | 5th[7] | 72 | 82 | .468 | 17 | ||||
| 1945 | 1945 | MLB | AL | 5th | 73 | 72 | .503 | 11 | ||||
| 1946 | 1946 | MLB | AL | 6th | 68 | 86 | .442 | 36 | ||||
| 1947 | 1947 | MLB | AL | 4th | 80 | 74 | .519 | 17 | ||||
| 1948 | 1948 | MLB † | AL * | 1st[8] | 97 | 58 | .626 | — | WonWorld Series (Braves) 4–2 † | Lou Boudreau (MVP) | ||
| 1949 | 1949 | MLB | AL | 3rd | 89 | 65 | .578 | 8 | ||||
| 1950 | 1950 | MLB | AL | 4th | 92 | 62 | .597 | 6 | ||||
| 1951 | 1951 | MLB | AL | 2nd | 93 | 61 | .604 | 5 | Al López | |||
| 1952 | 1952 | MLB | AL | 2nd | 93 | 61 | .604 | 2 | ||||
| 1953 | 1953 | MLB | AL | 2nd | 92 | 62 | .597 | 8½ | ||||
| 1954 | 1954 | MLB | AL * | 1st | 111 | 43 | .721 | — | LostWorld Series (Giants) 4–0 * | |||
| 1955 | 1955 | MLB | AL | 2nd | 93 | 61 | .604 | 3 | ||||
| 1956 | 1956 | MLB | AL | 2nd | 88 | 66 | .571 | 9 | ||||
| 1957 | 1957 | MLB | AL | 6th | 76 | 77 | .497 | 21½ | Kerby Farrell | |||
| 1958 | 1958 | MLB | AL | 4th | 77 | 76 | .503 | 14½ | Bobby Bragan (31–36) Joe Gordon (46–40) | |||
| 1959 | 1959 | MLB | AL | 2nd | 89 | 65 | .578 | 5 | Joe Gordon | |||
| 1960 | 1960 | MLB | AL | 4th | 76 | 78 | .494 | 21 | Joe Gordon (49–46) Jo-Jo White (1–0) Jimmy Dykes (26–32) | |||
| 1961 | 1961 | MLB | AL | 5th | 78 | 83 | .484 | 30½ | Jimmy Dykes (77–83) Mel Harder (1–0) | |||
| 1962 | 1962 | MLB | AL | 6th | 80 | 82 | .494 | 16 | Mel McGaha (78–82) Mel Harder (2–0) | |||
| 1963 | 1963 | MLB | AL | 5th[9] | 79 | 83 | .488 | 25½ | Birdie Tebbetts | |||
| 1964 | 1964 | MLB | AL | 6th[10] | 79 | 83 | .488 | 20 | George Strickland (33–39) Birdie Tebbetts (46–44) | |||
| 1965 | 1965 | MLB | AL | 5th | 87 | 75 | .537 | 15 | Birdie Tebbetts | |||
| 1966 | 1966 | MLB | AL | 5th | 81 | 81 | .500 | 17 | Birdie Tebbetts (66–57) George Strickland (15–24) | |||
| 1967 | 1967 | MLB | AL | 8th | 75 | 87 | .463 | 17 | Joe Adcock | |||
| 1968 | 1968 | MLB | AL | 3rd | 86 | 75 | .534 | 16½ | Alvin Dark | |||
| 1969 | 1969 | MLB | AL | East | 6th | 62 | 99 | .385 | 46½ | |||
| 1970 | 1970 | MLB | AL | East | 5th | 76 | 86 | .469 | 32 | |||
| 1971 | 1971 | MLB | AL | East | 6th | 60 | 102 | .371 | 43 | Chris Chambliss (ROY) | Alvin Dark (42–61) Johnny Lipon (18–41) | |
| 1972 | 1972 | MLB | AL | East | 5th | 72 | 84 | .462 | 14 | Gaylord Perry (CYA) | Ken Aspromonte | |
| 1973 | 1973 | MLB | AL | East | 6th | 71 | 91 | .438 | 26 | |||
| 1974 | 1974 | MLB | AL | East | 4th | 77 | 85 | .475 | 14 | |||
| 1975 | 1975 | MLB | AL | East | 4th | 79 | 80 | .497 | 15½ | Frank Robinson | ||
| 1976 | 1976 | MLB | AL | East | 4th | 81 | 78 | .509 | 16 | |||
| 1977 | 1977 | MLB | AL | East | 5th | 71 | 90 | .441 | 28½ | Frank Robinson (26–31) Jeff Torborg (45–59) | ||
| 1978 | 1978 | MLB | AL | East | 6th | 69 | 90 | .434 | 29 | Jeff Torborg | ||
| 1979 | 1979 | MLB | AL | East | 6th | 81 | 80 | .503 | 22 | Jeff Torborg (43–52) Dave Garcia (38–28) | ||
| 1980 | 1980 | MLB | AL | East | 6th | 79 | 81 | .494 | 23 | Joe Charboneau (ROY) | Dave Garcia | |
| 1981 | 1981[11] | MLB | AL | East | 6th | 26 | 24 | .520 | 5 | |||
| 5th | 26 | 27 | .491 | 5 | ||||||||
| 1982 | 1982 | MLB | AL | East | 6th[12] | 78 | 84 | .481 | 17 | Andre Thornton (CBPOY) | ||
| 1983 | 1983 | MLB | AL | East | 7th | 70 | 92 | .432 | 28 | Mike Ferraro (40–60) Pat Corrales (30–32) | ||
| 1984 | 1984 | MLB | AL | East | 6th | 75 | 87 | .463 | 29 | Pat Corrales | ||
| 1985 | 1985 | MLB | AL | East | 7th | 60 | 102 | .370 | 39½ | |||
| 1986 | 1986 | MLB | AL | East | 5th | 84 | 78 | .519 | 11½ | |||
| 1987 | 1987 | MLB | AL | East | 7th | 61 | 101 | .377 | 37 | Pat Corrales (31–56) Doc Edwards (30–45) | ||
| 1988 | 1988 | MLB | AL | East | 6th | 78 | 84 | .481 | 11 | Doc Edwards | ||
| 1989 | 1989 | MLB | AL | East | 6th | 73 | 89 | .451 | 16 | Doc Edwards (65–78) John Hart (8–11) | ||
| 1990 | 1990 | MLB | AL | East | 4th | 77 | 85 | .475 | 11 | Sandy Alomar Jr. (ROY) | John McNamara | |
| 1991 | 1991 | MLB | AL | East | 7th | 57 | 105 | .352 | 34 | John McNamara (25–52) Mike Hargrove (32–53) | ||
| 1992 | 1992 | MLB | AL | East | 4th[13] | 76 | 86 | .469 | 20 | Mike Hargrove | ||
| 1993 | 1993 | MLB | AL | East | 6th | 76 | 86 | .469 | 19 | |||
| 1994 | 1994 | MLB | AL | Central | 2nd | 66 | 47 | .584 | 1 | Postseason canceled[14] | ||
| 1995 | 1995 | MLB | AL * | Central ^ | 1st ^ | 100 | 44 | .694 | — | WonALDS (Red Sox) 3–0 WonALCS (Mariners) 4–2 LostWorld Series (Braves) 4–2 * | ||
| 1996 | 1996 | MLB | AL | Central ^ | 1st ^ | 99 | 62 | .615 | — | LostALDS (Orioles) 3–1 | ||
| 1997 | 1997 | MLB | AL * | Central ^ | 1st ^ | 86 | 75 | .534 | — | WonALDS (Yankees) 3–2 WonALCS (Orioles) 4–2 LostWorld Series (Marlins) 4–3 * | ||
| 1998 | 1998 | MLB | AL | Central ^ | 1st ^ | 89 | 73 | .549 | — | WonALDS (Red Sox) 3–1 LostALCS (Yankees) 4–2 | ||
| 1999 | 1999 | MLB | AL | Central ^ | 1st ^ | 97 | 65 | .599 | — | LostALDS (Red Sox) 3–2 | ||
| 2000 | 2000 | MLB | AL | Central | 2nd | 90 | 72 | .556 | 5 | Charlie Manuel | ||
| 2001 | 2001 | MLB | AL | Central ^ | 1st ^ | 91 | 71 | .562 | — | LostALDS (Mariners) 3–2 | ||
| 2002 | 2002 | MLB | AL | Central | 3rd | 74 | 88 | .457 | 20½ | Charlie Manuel (39–47) Joel Skinner (35–41) | ||
| 2003 | 2003 | MLB | AL | Central | 4th | 68 | 94 | .420 | 22 | Eric Wedge | ||
| 2004 | 2004 | MLB | AL | Central | 3rd | 80 | 82 | .494 | 12 | |||
| 2005 | 2005 | MLB | AL | Central | 2nd | 93 | 69 | .574 | 6 | |||
| 2006 | 2006 | MLB | AL | Central | 4th | 78 | 84 | .481 | 18 | |||
| 2007 | 2007 | MLB | AL | Central ^ | 1st ^ | 96 | 66 | .593 | — | WonALDS (Yankees) 3–1 LostALCS (Red Sox) 4–3 | CC Sabathia (CYA) Eric Wedge (MOY) | |
| 2008 | 2008 | MLB | AL | Central | 3rd | 81 | 81 | .500 | 7½ | Cliff Lee (CYA,CBPOY) | ||
| 2009 | 2009 | MLB | AL | Central | 4th[15] | 65 | 97 | .401 | 21½ | |||
| 2010 | 2010 | MLB | AL | Central | 4th | 69 | 93 | .426 | 25 | Manny Acta | ||
| 2011 | 2011 | MLB | AL | Central | 2nd | 80 | 82 | .494 | 15 | |||
| 2012 | 2012 | MLB | AL | Central | 4th | 68 | 94 | .420 | 20 | Manny Acta (65–91) Sandy Alomar Jr. (3–3) | ||
| 2013 | 2013 | MLB | AL | Central | 2nd ¤ | 92 | 70 | .568 | 1 | LostALWC (Rays) | Terry Francona (MOY) | Terry Francona |
| 2014 | 2014 | MLB | AL | Central | 3rd | 85 | 77 | .525 | 5 | Corey Kluber (CYA) | ||
| 2015 | 2015 | MLB | AL | Central | 3rd | 81 | 80 | .503 | 13½ | |||
| 2016 | 2016 | MLB | AL * | Central ^ | 1st ^ | 94 | 67 | .584 | — | WonALDS (Red Sox) 3–0 WonALCS (Blue Jays) 4–1 LostWorld Series (Cubs) 4–3 * | Terry Francona (MOY) | |
| 2017 | 2017 | MLB | AL | Central ^ | 1st ^ | 102 | 60 | .630 | — | LostALDS (Yankees) 3–2 | Corey Kluber (CYA) | |
| 2018 | 2018 | MLB | AL | Central ^ | 1st ^ | 91 | 71 | .563 | — | LostALDS (Astros) 3–0 | ||
| 2019 | 2019 | MLB | AL | Central | 2nd | 93 | 69 | .574 | 8 | Carlos Carrasco (CBPOY) | ||
| 2020 | 2020 | MLB | AL | Central | 2nd ‡[16] | 35 | 25 | .583 | 1 | LostALWC (Yankees) 2–0 | Shane Bieber (TC,CYA) | |
| 2021 | 2021 | MLB | AL | Central | 2nd | 80 | 82 | .494 | 13 | |||
| Cleveland Guardians | ||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2022 | MLB | AL | Central ^ | 1st ^ | 92 | 70 | .568 | — | WonALWC (Rays) 2–0 LostALDS (Yankees) 3–2 | Terry Francona (MOY) | Terry Francona |
| 2023 | 2023 | MLB | AL | Central | 3rd | 76 | 86 | .469 | 11 | |||
| 2024 | 2024 | MLB | AL | Central ^ | 1st ^ | 92 | 69 | .571 | — | WonALDS (Tigers) 3–2 LostALCS (Yankees) 4–1 | Stephen Vogt (MOY) | Stephen Vogt |
| 2025 | 2025 | MLB | AL | Central ^ | 1st ^ | 88 | 74 | .543 | — | LostALWC (Tigers) 2–1 | Stephen Vogt (MOY) | |
| Totals | Wins | Losses | Win% | |||||||||
| 9,940 | 9,443 | .513 | All-time regular season record (1901–2025) | |||||||||
| 65 | 66 | .496 | All-time postseason record | |||||||||
| 10,005 | 9,509 | .513 | All-time regular and postseason record | |||||||||
The following table describes the Guardians' regular season win–loss record by decades.
Records are current through the 2025 season.
| Decade | Wins | Losses | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 697 | 632 | .524 |
| 1910s | 742 | 747 | .498 |
| 1920s | 786 | 749 | .512 |
| 1930s | 824 | 708 | .538 |
| 1940s | 800 | 731 | .523 |
| 1950s | 904 | 634 | .588 |
| 1960s | 783 | 826 | .487 |
| 1970s | 737 | 866 | .460 |
| 1980s | 710 | 849 | .455 |
| 1990s | 823 | 728 | .531 |
| 2000s | 816 | 804 | .504 |
| 2010s | 855 | 763 | .528 |
| 2020s | 463 | 406 | .533 |
| All-time | 9,940 | 9,443 | .513 |
These statistics are fromBaseball-Reference.com'sCleveland Guardians Team History & Encyclopedia,[17] except where noted, and are current as of September 29, 2024.
The Guardians have made the postseason18 times in their history, with their first being in 1920 and the most recent being in 2025.
| Year | Finish | Round | Opponent | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | World Series Champions | World Series | Brooklyn Robins | Won | 5 | 2 |
| 1948 | World Series Champions | World Series | Boston Braves | Won | 4 | 2 |
| 1954 | American League Champions | World Series | New York Giants | Lost | 0 | 4 |
| 1995 | American League Champions | ALDS | Boston Red Sox | Won | 3 | 0 |
| ALCS | Seattle Mariners | Won | 4 | 2 | ||
| World Series | Atlanta Braves | Lost | 2 | 4 | ||
| 1996 | American League Central Champions | ALDS | Baltimore Orioles | Lost | 1 | 3 |
| 1997 | American League Champions | ALDS | New York Yankees | Won | 3 | 2 |
| ALCS | Baltimore Orioles | Won | 4 | 2 | ||
| World Series | Florida Marlins | Lost | 3 | 4 | ||
| 1998 | American League Central Champions | ALDS | Boston Red Sox | Won | 3 | 1 |
| ALCS | New York Yankees | Lost | 2 | 4 | ||
| 1999 | American League Central Champions | ALDS | Boston Red Sox | Lost | 2 | 3 |
| 2001 | American League Central Champions | ALDS | Seattle Mariners | Lost | 2 | 3 |
| 2007 | American League Central Champions | ALDS | New York Yankees | Won | 3 | 1 |
| ALCS | Boston Red Sox | Lost | 3 | 4 | ||
| 2013 | American League Wild Card | Wild Card Game | Tampa Bay Rays | Lost | 0 | 1 |
| 2016 | American League Champions | ALDS | Boston Red Sox | Won | 3 | 0 |
| ALCS | Toronto Blue Jays | Won | 4 | 1 | ||
| World Series | Chicago Cubs | Lost | 3 | 4 | ||
| 2017 | American League Central Champions | ALDS | New York Yankees | Lost | 2 | 3 |
| 2018 | American League Central Champions | ALDS | Houston Astros | Lost | 0 | 3 |
| 2020 | American League Central 2nd Place | Wild Card Series | New York Yankees | Lost | 0 | 2 |
| 2022 | American League Central Champions | Wild Card Series | Tampa Bay Rays | Won | 2 | 0 |
| ALDS | New York Yankees | Lost | 2 | 3 | ||
| 2024 | American League Central Champions | ALDS | Detroit Tigers | Won | 3 | 2 |
| ALCS | New York Yankees | Lost | 1 | 4 | ||
| 2025 | American League Central Champions | Wild Card Series | Detroit Tigers | Lost | 1 | 2 |
| 18 | Totals | 12–16 | 65 | 66 | ||