1973 Cleveland Indians season
Encyclopedia
The Cleveland Indians
season was the 73rd in the franchise's history. The club finished in sixth place in the American League East
.
sold the Cleveland Indians to Nick Mileti
for $10 million dollars. It was $1.4 million dollars more than the group led by George Steinbrenner had offered in December 1971.
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
season was the 73rd in the franchise's history. The club finished in sixth place in the American League East
American League East
The American League Eastern Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions . This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the Western Division...
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Offseason
In January, Vernon StoufferVernon Stouffer
Vernon B. Stouffer, owned a national chain of restaurants, motor inns, and food-service operations and the Cleveland Indians from 1966-72. He played a key part in developing frozen foods and microwavable foods. His company Stouffer's was valued at $21.5 million when it was merged with Litton...
sold the Cleveland Indians to Nick Mileti
Nick Mileti
Nick James Mileti was, during the 1970s, the owner of the Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Crusaders hockey team, the Coliseum at Richfield and radio station "3WE" WWWE AM/1100 ....
for $10 million dollars. It was $1.4 million dollars more than the group led by George Steinbrenner had offered in December 1971.
Notable transactions
- October 19, 1972: Eddie LeonEddie LeonEduardo Antonio Leon is a former Major League Baseball infielder of Mexican American descent, who played for eight seasons, splitting time as a shortstop and second baseman...
was traded by the Indians to the Chicago White SoxChicago White SoxThe Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
for Walt WilliamsWalt Williams (baseball)Walter Allen Williams is a former American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder for the Houston Colt .45s , Chicago White Sox , Cleveland Indians , and the New York Yankees .-Early life:Williams was nicknamed No-Neck due to his relatively short stature...
. - November 27, 1972: Graig NettlesGraig NettlesGraig Nettles , nicknamed "Puff", is a former Major League Baseball third baseman. During a 22-year baseball career, he played for the Minnesota Twins , Cleveland Indians , New York Yankees , San Diego Padres , Atlanta Braves and Montreal Expos .Nettles was one of the best...
and Jerry MosesJerry MosesGerald Braheen Moses is a retired American professional baseball player. A catcher, he signed a bonus contract with the Boston Red Sox in and spent his early Major League Baseball career with the Bosox, but over the course of his nine years in MLB Moses would play for seven different teams...
were traded by the Indians to the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
for John EllisJohn Ellis (baseball)John Charles Ellis , is a former professional baseball player who played first base and catcher in the Major Leagues from 1969-81. He played for the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, and Texas Rangers....
, Jerry KenneyJerry KenneyGerald Tennyson Kenney is a retired American Major League Baseball infielder. He is from Beloit, Wisconsin.-Baseball career:...
, Charlie SpikesCharlie SpikesLeslie Charles Spikes was a Major League Baseball player from 1972 to 1980 for the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, and Atlanta Braves. He also played 26 games for the Chunichi Dragons in Japan in . He mostly played the outfield...
, and Rusty TorresRusty TorresRosando "Rusty" Torres Hernández is a former professional baseball outfielder. He played all or part of nine season in Major League Baseball for five different teams...
. - November 30, 1972: Del UnserDel UnserDelbert Bernard Unser is a retired Major League Baseball center fielder and utility player who had a 15-year career from 1968 to 1982. Unser played for the Washington Senators from 1968 to 1971 and the Cleveland Indians in 1972...
and Terry Wedgewood (minors) were traded by the Indians to the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for Oscar GambleOscar GambleOscar Charles Gamble is a former outfielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball. He played for 17 seasons, from 1969 to 1985, on seven different teams: the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees on two separate occasions, as well as the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland...
and Roger FreedRoger FreedRoger Vernon Freed was a Major League Baseball outfielder and pinch hitter. He played all or part of eight seasons between and for five different major league teams.-Orioles:...
. - November 30, 1972: Tom Ragland was traded by the Texas Rangers to the Cleveland Indians for Vince Colbert.
- March 8, 1973: Alex JohnsonAlex JohnsonAlexander Johnson Alexander Johnson Alexander Johnson (born December 7, 1942, in Helena, Arkansas is a former professional baseball player. He was an outfielder and designated hitter over parts of 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, California Angels,...
was traded by the Indians to the Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
for Rich HintonRich HintonRichard Michael Hinton is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched parts of six seasons between and , including three separate stints with the Chicago White Sox.-Draft history:...
and Vince ColbertVince ColbertVincent Norman Colbert is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for three seasons. He played for the Cleveland Indians from 1970 to 1972.-External links:...
. - March 24, 1973: Ray FosseRay FosseRaymond Earl Fosse is a former professional baseball player who was a catcher in the Major Leagues. He was drafted in the first round of the 1965 amateur draft by the Cleveland Indians. Fosse also holds the distinction of being the Indians' first ever draft pick, as 1965 was the first year of the...
and Jack HeidemannJack HeidemannJack Seale Heidemann is a former right-handed Major League Baseball shortstop who played from to with the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers. He attended Brenham High School. He is also the uncle of Brett Bordes, a minor league pitcher in the Baltimore...
were traded by the Indians to the Oakland AthleticsOakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
for Dave DuncanDave Duncan (baseball)David Edwin Duncan is an American former professional baseball player and current pitching coach for the St. Louis Cardinals...
and George HendrickGeorge HendrickGeorge Andrew Hendrick Jr. is a former major league outfielder for the Oakland Athletics, Cleveland Indians, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates and California Angels. However Hendrick is best remembered as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, for whom he played for from 1979–84. He was a...
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Regular season
- John Adams started to drum at Cleveland StadiumCleveland StadiumCleveland Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in Cleveland, Ohio. In its final years, the stadium seated 74,438, for baseball and 81,000, for football. It was one of the early multi-purpose stadiums, built to accommodate both baseball and football...
on August 24, 1973, when the Indians played the Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. Cleveland won, 11-5. Ever since, Adams has sat in the highest bleacherBleacherBleachers is an American term used to describe the raised, tiered rows of seats found at sports fields or at other spectator events...
seat in left center field with his bass drum and has been a fixture for the team.
Notable transactions
- May 4, 1973: Jerry KenneyJerry KenneyGerald Tennyson Kenney is a retired American Major League Baseball infielder. He is from Beloit, Wisconsin.-Baseball career:...
was released by the Indians. - June 12, 1973: Lowell PalmerLowell PalmerLowell Raymond Palmer is a retired American Major League Baseball pitcher. The right-hander was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1st round of the 1966 amateur draft . He played for the Phillies , St. Louis Cardinals , Cleveland Indians , and San Diego Padres...
was traded by the Indians to the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
for Mike KekichMike KekichMichael Dennis Kekich was a Major League Baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, and Seattle Mariners between 1965 and 1977...
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Roster
| 1973 Cleveland Indians | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers | Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders | Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LF | 140 | 506 | 120 | .237 | 23 | 73 | |
| RF | 122 | 312 | 64 | .205 | 7 | 28 | |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 127 | 437 | 118 | .270 | 14 | 68 | |
| 104 | 350 | 101 | .289 | 8 | 38 | |
| 14 | 41 | 10 | .244 | 2 | 3 | |
| 5 | 16 | 4 | .250 | 0 | 2 | |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 97 | 1 | 8 | 6.22 | 41 | |
| 4 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 6.50 | 10 |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4.67 | 10 | |