The top 10 greatest short-lived duos in MLB history

World Series co-MVPs Arizona Diamondbacks pitchers Randy Johnson (L) and Curt Schilling hold their MVP trophy during post-game ceremonies after the Diamondbacks' win of Game 7 of the World Series in Phoenix 04 November 2001. The Diamondbacks defeated the New York Yankees 3-2, winning the series four games to three to become the world champions. AFP PHOTO/Jeff HAYNES (Photo by JEFF HAYNES / AFP) (Photo by JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images) /

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Cleveland Indians Roberto Alomar (L) backs out of the way of Manny Ramirez to avoid a collision while chasing down a fly ball hit by Oakland’s A. J. Hinch in the top of the fourth inning on 17 June 1999, at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio. AFP PHOTO David MAXWELL (Photo by DAVID MAXWELL / AFP) (Photo credit should read DAVID MAXWELL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Short-lived MLB duo No. 10: Roberto Alomar and Manny Ramirez — 1999–2000 Cleveland Indians

One could make a strong case that the Cleveland Indians teams from the 1990s were the most high-octane offense in all of baseball. Over the decade, they finished in the top 10 in runs scored in all but three seasons. They also had five different Hall of Fame hitters play for them in this period, including Jim Thome.

The Indians’ 1999 season was their most notable as they scored 1,009 runs, which was the most by any team in the decade.

Much of their success in 1999 can be credited to the video game-like stats of both Roberto Alomar and Manny Ramirez. Alomar logged a 7.4 bWAR campaign with a .412 wOBA and 142 wRC+. Ramirez recorded a 7.3 bWAR, 1.105 OPS and 165 RBI, which was the most by any player since Jimmie Foxx’s 179 RBI in 1938. Both Alomar and Ramirez tied for third in the American League MVP voting, although both had a higher bWAR than eventual winner Ivan Rodriguez (6.4).

They played another season together in 2000. It was not as dominant as their 1999 showcase but still noteworthy; Ramirez hit a career-high .351 and Alomar scored a team-high 111 runs.

The two split later in the year as Ramirez signed for the Boston Red Sox in free agency, where he wound up forming a more historic duo alongside David Ortiz. Alomar played two more All-Star seasons with the Indians before being traded to the New York Mets in 2001.

Alomar and Ramirez are surely one of the most underappreciated hitting duos of the steroid era.

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