FanPost

Indians by the Numbers — #65, #66, #67 & #68

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No Field Jacket Required*

Another high number and our second repeat customer. With only two players wearing this number, it has to go to the player with the better ERA+, Clifton Phifer Lee. In 2002, Lee made two starts against the Twins and Royals. In 2003, his first was also against the Royals in late June before he went back to the minors. More than likely he switched to #34 when he returned in mid-August. Over those 3 starts, he was 1-1 with a 1.10 ERA, 1.225 WHIP and 6.06 K/9. This easily surpasses the 6 IP by Jose Roman in 1984.

*The M-1965 field jacket was commonly worn by American troops during the Vietnam War. It has made many pop-culture appearances such as on DeNiro’s Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver, Al Pacino in Serpico, and obviously Sylvester Stallone as Rambo.

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Clone Reversal*

With only 3 options with 11 PA, 4 PA or 3 IP, again we default to the one player with a positive number, William Jose Martinez. In 2000, he got a brief call-up in mid-June, made one appearance for 3 innings, allowed 1 earned run, 1 hit, 1 walk and 1 strikeout. He was claimed by the Twins if the offseason, lasted one season in AAA with the Edmonton Trappers in 2001, and had one final season in 2002 with the Reds AA affiliate, the Chattanooga Lookouts. He is one of many players to have a single appearance in the majors, although his appearance was not in September.

*Order 66 is the programmed order for the clone troopers in Revenge of the Sith to attack the Jedi they are fighting alongside.

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Vacant Interstate*

Originally a 3rd round pick by the Dodgers in 1987, Christopher Thomas Nichting did not debut in the majors until 1995 with the Rangers. After that was a series of deals, Oakland in 1997, Cleveland in 1998, and the Yankees in 1999, before returning to the Tribe in 2000. He spent most of the year in Buffalo, but got 7 September appearances with the Tribe. He split 2001 between the Reds and Rockies, and finished his career with the Rockies in 2002.

*Number 67 is the highest two digit odd number not presently designated as an Interstate in the Highway System.

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Return to Menu*

Originally an 18th round pick by the Yankees in 1986, Turner Max Ward arrived in the Indians farm system in 1989 when he and Joel Skinner were the return for Mel Hall. He only had 108 PA for Canton-Akron (AA) and another 17 rehab PA in the Gulf Coast League, working through an injury. He had a solid AAA campaign for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, 299/386/420 in 585 PA. He received that cup of coffee in September and hit 348/388/500 (148 OPS+) in 49 PA. He switched to #20 in 1991, opened the season in Cleveland, and was optioned to Colorado Springs in early June. In late June, he was the throw-in in the Tom Candiotti deal that netted Glenallen Hill and Mark Whiten.

Turner Ward RF, DH, PR (1990) 348/3888/500 148 OPS+, 49 PA; traded with Joel Skinner from Yankees for Mel Hall; switched to #20 in 1991

*In the restaurant industry, when an item is no longer available on the menu or via special it is 86’ed. When the item does become available again, it is then 68’ed.

The One Year Wonders

Jose Roman is the only player to have worn uniform #65 for only one season. Mark Higgins, Russell Branyan and Willie Martinez all wore uniform #66 for only one season. Chris Nichting is the only player to have worn uniform #67 for only one season. Scott Jordan, Turner Ward, and Michael Aubrey all wore uniform #68 for only one season.

The All-Time List - 65

Jose Roman SP, RP (1984) 0-2, 3 G, 2 GS, 18.00 ERA, 6 IP, 24 ERA+; switched to #31 in 1985

Cliff Lee SP (2002-2003) 3-4, 11 G, 11 GS, 3.30 ERA, 62.2 IP, 134 ERA+; also #34 in 2003; traded with Grady Sizemore, Brandon Phillips and Lee Stevens by Expos for Bartolo Colon and Tim Drew; switched to #34 in 2004 (most likely only 1st start of 2003 was in #65)

The All-Time List - 66

Mark Higgins 1B (1989) 100/182/100 -18 OPS+, 11 PA

Russell Branyan 3B (1998) 000/000/000 -100 OPS+, 4 PA; switched to #33 in 1999

Willie Martinez RP (2000) 0-0, 1 G, 0 GS, 3.00 ERA, 3 IP, 181 ERA+

The All-Time List - 67

Chris Nichting RP (2000) 0-0, 7 G, 0 GS, 7.00 ERA, 9 IP, 73 ERA+

The All-Time List - 68

Scott Jordan CF, RF, PR (1988) 111/111/111 -38 OPS+, 10 PA

Turner Ward RF, DH, PR (1990) 348/388/500 148 OPS+, 49 PA; traded with Joel Skinner from Yankees for Mel Hall; switched to #20 in 1991

Michael Aubrey 1B, PH, DH (2008) 200/280/333 64 OPS+, 50 PA; also #23 in 2008; sent to Orioles in conditional deal

Statistics and such

The uniform #65 has been worn 3 times by 2 different players covering 3 seasons of a possible 84 seasons since 1929. Uniform #65 has never been shared in a season.

The uniform #66 has been worn 3 times by 3 different players covering 3 seasons of a possible 84 seasons since 1929. Uniform #66 has never been shared in a season.

The uniform #67 has been worn 1 times by 1 different players covering 1 seasons of a possible 84 seasons since 1929. Uniform #67 has never been shared in a season

The uniform #68 has been worn 3 times by 3 different players covering 3 seasons of a possible 84 seasons since 1929. Uniform #68 has never been shared in a season.

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