Cleveland Guardians

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The franchise traces its roots to the Grand Rapids Rustlers, who began play in the Western League in 1894. The team remained in Grand Rapids through the 1899 season before moving to Cleveland in 1900 as the Cleveland Lake Shores. When the league declared itself a major league in 1901, they were charter members known as the Bluebirds or Blues. In 1902, the team was renamed the Napoleons (or Naps) after captain Nap Lajoie, who arrived from Philadelphia on June 4 and drew 10,000 fans to League Park. After Lajoie departed following the 1914 season, owner Charles Somers held a fan contest in 1915 to choose a new name; the winning entry was Cleveland Indians. This name lasted over a century until criticism regarding Native American mascots led to the adoption of the current name, Guardians, beginning with the 2022 season.

In Their Own Story

Between August 24 and September 14, 2017, the team achieved a historic milestone by winning 22 consecutive games. This run stands as the longest winning streak in American League history and the second-longest in MLB history. The franchise's overall major league record through the end of the 2025 season is 9,940–9,443–91, reflecting a .513 winning percentage. Spring training has long been held at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Arizona. The team's mascot is named Slider. Early years saw financial struggles that nearly forced a move to Pittsburgh or Cincinnati before the acquisition of star player Nap Lajoie stabilized the club.

Reader's Guide

As one of four original American League teams remaining in its founding city alongside Boston, Chicago, and Detroit, Cleveland holds a unique place in baseball geography. The team's identity is deeply tied to local landmarks; the name 'Guardians' was derived directly from the eight 1932 sculptures by Henry Hering on the Hope Memorial Bridge adjacent to their stadium. Prior to 1901, the Western League operated as a minor league before rebranding as the American League in 1900 and declaring major league status in 1901. The franchise endured significant turmoil in its early decades, including the disastrous 1899 season with a record of 20–134 under the Spiders name, which preceded the modern era's establishment.

Did You Know?

• The team won the World Series in 1920 and 1948, with a drought since then being the longest active among all MLB teams, as the Seattle Mariners have never won a title.
• In 2017, the franchise set an American League record with 22 consecutive wins.
• The name 'Guardians' comes from the eight Art Deco sculptures on Cleveland's Hope Memorial Bridge.
• The franchise played in Grand Rapids from 1894 through 1899 before moving to Cleveland in 1900.
• Nap Lajoie's arrival in Cleveland on June 4, 1902 drew 10,000 fans to League Park.

Early Career and Minor League Development

Despite fluctuating win-loss records, he consistently logged significant innings, reaching 106 innings in 2019 with a 3.99 ERA. This extensive minor league tenure served as a crucial foundation, allowing him to refine his pitching mechanics before eventually being selected by the Seattle Mariners in the Rule 5 draft at the end of 2019.

Major League Debut and Tenure with Seattle

Ramírez made his Major League Baseball debut on July 24, 2020, pitching for the Seattle Mariners against their former organization, the Houston Astros. In this historic first appearance, he recorded a scoreless inning and secured his initial strikeout against catcher Martín Maldonado. His rookie campaign was statistically notable, as he finished with a solid 2.61 ERA alongside 26 strikeouts in just over 20 innings, though he also issued 20 walks. The following year, he expanded his role to 25 appearances, posting a 3.90 ERA and striking out 35 batters across nearly 28 innings. However, his performance dipped significantly in 2022; after only seven appearances with a struggling 7.56 ERA, the Mariners designated him for assignment in May, marking the end of his time with the franchise that had given him his first taste of major league baseball.

Brief Stint and Trade to Cleveland

Following his departure from Seattle, Ramírez was traded to the Cleveland Guardians on May 16, 2022, in a deal involving cash considerations or a player to be named later. During this period, he allowed five earned runs over ten innings of work. He did make one major league appearance for Cleveland on June 24, pitching two innings while allowing a single run on three hits. Despite this limited exposure at the highest level, his tenure with the Guardians was short-lived; just days after his debut, he was designated for assignment on July 3, spending less than a month with the team before moving on to another franchise.

Peripatetic Journey Through Multiple Franchises

After leaving Cleveland, Ramírez embarked on a whirlwind journey through numerous MLB clubs, becoming a quintessential journeyman pitcher. His career saw rapid transitions as he was designated for assignment multiple times across the Orioles, Dodgers, Red Sox, and a second stint with the Mets and Pirates. Notable moments included a difficult outing against the San Francisco Giants in July 2024 while with the Dodgers, where he surrendered five runs without retiring a batter. By October 2024, he had cleared waivers to Worcester before electing free agency, only to re-sign with Pittsburgh later that month, highlighting his persistent resilience and ability to remain active across the league despite constant roster turnover.