Indians by the Numbers — #18

via www.wcnet.org

Eighteen Wheeler

As we keep on truckin’ through the uniform numbers, we arrive to another easy selection as the best to wear uniform #18, Melvin Leroy Harder. “Chief” Harder was born in Beemer, Nebraska and played high school baseball at Tech High School in Omaha. As a 17 year old, he would play for the Dubuque (IA) Dubs, a Class D affiliate in the Mississippi Valley League and the Omaha Buffaloes, a Class A affiliate in the Western League.

After graduating high school, the Indians would sign him as an 18 year old in 1928. He would make 23 appearances that season, 22 of them in relief, finishing with a 6.61 ERA (63 ERA+) in 49.0 IP. His only start would be against the Red Sox in the second half a doubleheader in late September, where he would give up 4 ER in 7 IP. In 1929, he would start the season with the Tribe (wearing #49), making 10 appearances from April through July. He then would make 11 appearances for the New Orleans Pelicans, a Class A team in the Southern Association, before returning for one last relief appearance in late September.

In 1930, Mel would don #18 for the first time, and for that season and 1931, he would split time between the bullpen and starting: 76 games, 43 starts, 16 complete games with a 4.29 ERA (110 ERA+) in 369.1 IP. He would then become a mainstay in the rotation the rest of his 20 year career.

Although Mel was one of the most beloved Indians of all time, he really only had one dominating stretch as an elite starter in the AL. That was from 1932-1935 where he was 72-53 with a 3.15 ERA (146 ERA+) in 168 games, 127 starts, 65 CG and 13 shutouts. And his peak year was 1933 where he led the league with a 2.95 ERA and 154 ERA+. He was an All Star from 1934 to 1937 and finished 16th in MVP voting in 1934, 22nd in 1935 and 16th again in 1938. In those All Star games, he was actually quite dominant. In 1933 he would get the win in relief, throwing 5 shutout innings, allowing only 2 base runners. In 1934, he would throw 3 shutout innings (in Cleveland) with only 1 base runner, getting the Save. And in 1937 he would have another 3 inning Save. In fact, his career totals in those 4 appearances are 13 IP, 9 H, 1 BB, 0 R/ER and 5 K. Pretty impressive as he is the only pitcher to ever work more than 10 IP in All Star games without allowing a run.

In 1936 he had a sore elbow and also developed bursitis in his shoulder. That would limit his effectiveness as a dominating starter. But he was still a solid starter over the rest of his career, 126-107 in 262 GS, 100 CG, 12 shutouts and a 3.97 ERA (103 ERA+) over his final 10 seasons.

As Harder did pitch for 20 years, he did end up with some impressive career numbers: First – Games (582), Losses (186), Hits (3706), Earned Runs (1447); Second – Wins (223), Games Started (433), Innings Pitched (3426.1); Third – WAR (42.5), Bases on Balls (1118), Hit By Pitch (59); Fifth – Complete Games (181); Sixth – Shutouts (25); Seventh – Strikeouts (1161), HR allowed (161).

Unfortunately for Mel, the Indians were not a great team during his 20 year tenure. They only finished 2nd once, in 1940, and never cracked 90 wins. They were never really terrible either, finishing 3rd or 4th 14 times. He retired after 1947 as a 37 year old, missing out on the 1948 championship. And he didn’t start coaching with the Tribe until 1949, so he never did get that ring.

After rejoining the Tribe in 1949, he would be the pitching coach for the Big Four rotation through the 1950s and would stay on through 1963. He even was the interim manager for the final game in 1961 and final two games in 1962, finishing undefeated as a manager, 3-0. He also coached with the Mets (1964), Cubs (1965), Reds (1966-68), and Royals (1969). He is the only man to have both a 20 year playing career and 20 year coaching career. Oddly enough, he didn’t wear #18 as a pitching coach, but rather wore #43 and #2. 

The Indians did not retire #18 until 1990, allowing the following guys to wear the uniform, including my childhood favorite …..

via www.landloyalty.com

 Duane Kuiper. Kuiper, a Racine WI native was drafted in the 12th round by the Yankees as a graduating high school senior. He decided to attend Indian Hill Community College, and then graduated from Southern Illinois University. Through those years he was drafted by the Pilots (9th in Jan secondary 69 and June 69), White Sox (5th overall in Jan 70), Reds (3rd in June secondary 70) and Red Sox (4th in June secondary 71). The Tribe drafted him with the 21st overall selection in the January secondary draft of 1972.

He began his professional career as a SS for the Reno Silver Sox (California League-A) in 1972, hitting 300/355/365 in 538 PA. He even had 2 dingers that year. In 1973, the Tribe would start him in AA (San Antonio Brewers, Texas League)  and finish in AAA (Oklahoma City 89ers – American Association). He finished that year at 271/322/317 with 1 tater and also completed his conversion to 2B. He would spend 2 more seasons in AAA (74-310/357/394 3 bombs in 600 PA; 75-244/309/293 1 bomb in 181 PA). He got his proverbial cup of coffee with the Tribe in Sept 74 (500/542/591 in 24 PA) and joined the Tribe permanently in June 1975.

Kuiper was never a flashy hitter, but as a kid I recall him supposedly being a very good defender. He did lead the league in fielding percentage in 1976 and in 1979, but his dWAR numbers are fairly atrocious, a -1.7 over his entire Cleveland career. As for his hitting, well over his 8 year career, he hit 274/320/321 82 OPS+ in 3148 PA. He did hit his lone HR off Steve Stone in 1977 on a line drive down the corner in Cleveland Stadium. Luckily the game was against the White Sox was nationally televised that day, so he actually has video evidence that it really happened. He is the career record holder for most PAs with only 1 homer.

Kuiper actually had decent numbers against 2 Hall of Famers, Jim Palmer (347/396/388) and Dennis Eckersley (410/467/462). On July 27, 1978, he also hit two bases loaded triples against the Yankees in the same game, one of only three guys to do this. He was injured (knee) most of 1980 and 1981 (114 total games) He was dealt to the Giants for Ed Whitson in November 1981.

Kuiper would appear in 606 games for San Francisco over the next 4 seasons before retiring at 35. After retiring, Kuiper became a broadcaster for the Giants. I lived in the Bay Area from 1996-2008 and enjoyed listening to him broadcast the Giants games. He has won five Emmys as a play-by-play announcer with Mike Krukow as the color commentator.

A Brief History

Russ Christopher took over #18 for the 1948 championship team. He appeared in 45 games and had 3-2 record with 17 saves (leading the league). He had a 2.90 ERA (141 ERA+) in 59.0 IP. He would not pitch in the majors again after his age 30 season. It is unclear as to why.

In June 1952, the Tribe would claim Joe Tipton off of waivers from the Philadelphia Athletics, for his second tour in Cleveland. He would put up a good 238/371/425 122 OPS+ in 260 PA as a backup catcher in 1952 and 1953.

Another backup catcher, Hal Naragon, would wear #18 for 6 seasons, having a 279/347/368 93 OPS+ in 592 PA.

Barry Latman would assume #18 at some point in 1960. Over his 3 seasons, he would be 28-25,in 121 G with 59 GS, 15 CGs, 4.08 ERA 95 ERA+ in 503.1 IP. Somehow his 1961 season of 13-5, 45 G 18 GS 4.02 ERA 98 ERA+ 176.2 IP would get him an All Star appearance. Latman arrived when the Indians traded Herb Score to the White Sox and was traded to the Angels for Leon Wagner.

Early in 1963, the Indians traded Doc Edwards to the Royals for Joe Azcue and Dick Howser. Howser would be the starting SS in 1963 and 1964. In his four years here, he was 246/336/311 84 OPS+ in 1463 PA. The Indians traded him to the Yankees after the 1966 season for Gil Downs. Howser would end up with a World Series title in 1985, managing the Kansas City Royals for six seasons.

Jack Heidemann was the June 1st round pick in 1967. He became the starting SS in 1970 and continued the terrrible offensive woes of Cleveland SS by putting up a 208/260/268 45 OPS+ in 782 PA. He was included in the Ray Fosse deal to the Oakland A’s for Dave Duncan and George Hendrick in 1973.

Ken Schrom arrived from the Twins in January 1986 and would have 62 starts in two seasons with the Tribe. He actually was the Cleveland All Star representative in 1986 when he was 14-7 with a 4.54 ERA (91 ERA+) in 206 IP. He would disintegrate in 1987, 6-13 and 6.50 ERA (70 ERA+) in 153.2 IP.

After coming over in the Joe Carter deal with Sandy Alomar and Carlos Baerga, Chris James would be the final player to wear #18. He made the last season a good one, 299/341/443 118 OPS+ in 569 PA. After that season, the Indians would retire #18 for Harder and James would wear #7 the next season.

The One Year Wonders

Johnny Miljus, Russ Christopher, Minnie Minoso, Marino Pieretti, Bubba Harris, Billy Moran, Gus Gil, Mike Kekich, Ossie Blanco, Kevin Rhomberg, Ron Tingley and Chris James all wore uniform #18 for only one season.  

The All-Time List

Johnny Miljus RP, SP (1929) 8-8 34 G 15 GS 5.19 ERA 86 ERA+ 128.1 IP

Mel Harder SP (1930-1947)

Russ Christopher RP (1948) 3-2 2.90 ERA 141 ERA+ in 59.0 IP, 45 G, 17 SV

Minnie Minoso RF (1949) 188/350/375 93 OPS+ in 20 PA

Marino Pieretti RP (1950) also 28 and 47 that year; 0-1 4.18 ERA 104 ERA+, 29 G, 1 GS 47.1 IP

Bubba Harris RP (1951) 0-0 2 G 4.0 IP 4.50 ERA 93 ERA+

Joe Tipton C (1952-1953) 238/371/425 122 OPS+ in 260 PA

Hal Naragon C, PH (1954-1959) 279/347/368 93 OPS+ in 592 PA

Billy Moran 2B, SS (1959) 294/294/294 in 17 PA

Barry Latman RP, SP (1960-1962) also #24 and #27 in 1960; 28-25, 121 G, 59 GS 4.08 ERA 95 ERA+ in 503.1 IP; All Star in 1961 13-5, 45 G 18 GS 4.02 ERA 98 ERA+ 176.2 IP

Dick Howser SS, 2B (1963-1966)  246/336/311 84 OPS+ 1463 PA

Gus Gil 2B (1967) 115/198/156 5 OPS+ 107 PA

Jack Heidemann SS (1969-1972) 208/260/268 45 OPS+ 782 PA

Mike Kekich RP. SP (1973) 1-4 16 G 6 GS 7.02 ERA 57 ERA+ in 50.0 IP

Ossie Blanco 1B (1974) also #16; 194/326/194 in 43 PA

Duane Kuiper 2B (1974-1981) 274/320/321 82 OPS+ 3148 PA 1 HR

Kevin Rhomberg LF (1983) also #54 and #12 in 1983; 476/500/476 in 24 PA

Ken Schrom SP (1986-1987) 20-20 62 GS 5.38 ERA 80 ERA+ in 359.2 IP

Ron Tingley C (1988) 167/231/292 45 OPS+ in 26 PA

Chris James DH, LF (1990) 299/341/443 118 OPS+ 569 PA

Statistics and such

Other fun facts, the uniform #16 has been worn 59 times by 21 different players covering 57 seasons of a possible 83 seasons since 1929. Uniform #18 was shared in a season twice, 1959 and 1974.