I was e-mailed an interesting link last night, from a delightly obsessed baseball blogger who goes by the name Sully. Apparently he is going through all 30 franchises this offseason and naming, not one, but two all-time great rosters for each franchise. One roster is exclusively players who were drafted and/or signed as amateurs -- 100% homegrown -- and the other is players who were acquired via trade or free agency.
His complete rules are here, and his full article on the Indians All-Time Rosters is here and definitely worth a full read. Since he doesn't present a simple listing anywhere in his article I'll present one here. I nudged him on a couple of choices, but who are the big snubs? And which club would you rather have on the field?
| ALL-TIME HOMEGROWN | ALL-TIME ACQUIRED | |
| Victor Martinez | C | Sandy Alomar Jr. |
| Jim Thome | 1B | Eddie Murray |
| Bobby Avila | 2B | Napolean Lajoie |
| Lou Boudreau | SS | Omar Vizquel |
| Al Rosen | 3B | Brook Jacoby |
| Manny Ramirez | LF | Shoeless Joe Jackson |
| Earl Averill | CF | Tris Speaker |
| Larry Doby | RF | Elmer Flick |
| Albert Belle | DH | Travis Hafner |
| Bob Feller | SP | Gaylord Perry |
| Bob Lemon | SP | Early Wynn |
| Herb Score | SP | Len Barker |
| C.C. Sabathia | SP | Orel Hershiser |
| Addie Joss |
SP | Cliff Lee |
| Satchel Paige | RP | Jose Mesa |
| Ray Narleski | RP | Bob Wickman |
| Gary Bell | RP | Gene Bearden |
| Mel Harder | RP | Doug Jones |
| Sam McDowell | RP | Stan Coveleski |
| Joe Sewell | IF | Carlos Baerga |
| Hal Trosky | IF | Roberto Alomar |
| Cory Snyder | OF | Kenny Lofton |
| Dale Mitchell | OF | Grady Sizemore |
| Ray Fosse | C | Tony Peña |
| Rocky Colavito | 25 | Cy Young |
UPDATES: Sully has updated his rosters based on new information and feedback from the LGT mob. First, the presumptive, eventual MVP Grady Sizemore takes Joe Carter's spot. Next, Addie Joss has moved from the Acquried roster to the Homegrown roster, knocking Charles Nagy off the Homegrown roster and making room for Cliff Lee on the Acquired roster. I'm not sure Lee deserves a spot over Nagy, but since they're not competing for the same spot, the point is moot.