4 baseball legends you forgot played for the Cleveland Guardians

Dave Winfield

Looking at the career of Dave Winfield, he sure found himself in some interesting positions. He got his break in 1973 with the San Diego Padres, where he became a multi-time All-Star for the team. During his entire tenure with the Padres, he never made it to the playoffs.

So when he signed with the New York Yankees in 1981 to the largest contract ever at the time, everyone thought things would be turning around for him. Especially since the team had some of their best records in recent memory and were only a few years removed from a World Series win.

Winfield’s arrival during the strike-shortened 1981 season saw the Yankees reach but lose the World Series. A disappointment but surely one that they’d overcome eventually right? Nope, the Winfield-led Yankees would never again reach the postseason.

He was dealt to the California Angels in 1990, and then ultimately found himself in Toronto in 1992. There he teamed up with former Cleveland player Joe Carter and future Cleveland player Roberto Alomar, and not only made the playoffs but finally won a World Series.

The one thing that had alluded him.

He would eventually find his way to Cleveland in 1995, after being dealt during the 1994 baseball strike for a dinner, but a rotator cuff would end his run with the team, and he’d end up retiring after the 1995 season.