Cleveland Guardians

The Cleveland Guardians play at Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland, a franchise that rebranded from the Indians in 2021 to better reflect the city's identity. Known historically for standout pitching staffs and, in the 1990s, one of the most electric offenses in baseball, Cleveland has a loyal and long-suffering fan base. The name "Guardians" nods to the iconic Guardians of Traffic statues on the nearby Hope Memorial Bridge. The franchise remains one of the American League's original charter members.

Founded in 1901 as a charter member of the American League, the franchise won World Series titles in 1920 and 1948, the latter led by player-manager Lou Boudreau. The 1990s teams, featuring Albert Belle, Manny Ramirez, and Jim Thome, sold out 455 consecutive games and reached the World Series in 1995 and 1997 without a title. The team played as the Cleveland Indians for over a century before adopting the Guardians name in 2021. Two championships anchor a franchise with one of the American League's longest continuous histories.