Right-hander Mike Garcia was one of the top guns of the legendary Cleveland Indians' pitching staff during the 1950's, which included Hall of Famers' Bob Feller, Bob Lemon and Early Wynn. Nicknamed 'the Big Bear; 6'1", 210 lbs, Mike Garcia had a quick fast ball, wasting no time between pitches. Bob Feller once said, "From the beginning Mike was a sneaky quick pitcher. For a big guy he was certainly mobile." Mike Garcia posted a 14-5 record in his rookie season in 1949, throwing 5 shutouts with a 2.36 ERA. He won 20 games in 1951 and again in 1952. His 22-11 record, .667 pct in 1952 included 6 shutouts, 4 saves, in 292 innings, starting 36 games and completing 19 of them. He went 18-9 in 1953, pitching in 272 innings with a 3.25 ERA.

Garcia twice led the league in shutouts and in 1954 he led the league with a 2.64 ERA, the year the Tribe set the American League record by winning 111 games in a 154 game schedule. In the 1954 World Series when the Giants swept the Indians in four games, Garcia started Game 3 but lasted only 3 innings giving up four runs. After the series, he said, "Sure, we were disappointed. We figured we'd win, but the Giants were too strong. But we were a team. We shared the credit and blame equally". Mike Garcia career: 142-97, .594 pct, 3.27 ERA, 428 games, 281 GS, 111 GC, 27 shutouts, 23 saves, 2174 innings, 1117 K's and a low .319 on-base pct. We honor Mike Garcia, one of the Indians' 'Big Four' during the 1950's. If not for the fact that big Mike Garcia spent three years in the U.S. Military prior to joining the Indians' starting rotation and because of the fact that he was in the pitching rotation along with three pitchers who did make the Hall of Fame, Garcia would have been elected to the 'Hall of Fame'. His outstanding lifetime record should serve to get consideration in future 'Hall of Fame' balloting. Baseball History