The 2005 Cleveland Indians season was the 105th season for the franchise. It involved the Indians attempting to win the American League Central. They had a very good September (with 17 wins and 9 losses), and went into a season-closing series with the Chicago White Sox with a chance to tie the White Sox record (though the White Sox held the tiebreaker and had already won the division) and make it into the playoffs, but lost three close games to finish 6 games behind the White Sox, who were the eventual World Series winners, eliminating Cleveland from the possibility to go to the playoffs.

Offseason November 3, 2004: Ernie Young was signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians. November 24, 2004: Bob Wickman was signed as a free agent by the Indians.Bob Wickman at Baseball Reference January 17, 2005: Juan González was signed as a free agent by the Indians.Juan Gonzalez transaction at Baseball Reference His season – and his career – ended on his first regular season at-bat, when he pulled a leg muscle trying to run out a ground ball.

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions June 7, 2005: Tim Lincecum was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 42nd round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign.Tim Lincecum at Baseball Reference

Roster 2005 Cleveland Indians Roster Pitchers

Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Other batters Manager

Coaches (bench) (first base) (bullpen) (hitting) (beginning of season-June 4) (hitting) (June 5-end of season) (third base) (bench) (bullpen catcher) (pitching)

Game log

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 1 || April 4 || @ White Sox || 0–1 || Buehrle (1–0) || Westbrook (0–1) || Takatsu (1) || U.S. Cellular Field || 38,141 || 0–1 || L1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 2 || April 6 || @ White Sox || 3–4 || Marte (1–0) || Wickman (0–1) || — || U.S. Cellular Field || 10,520 || 0–2 || L2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 3 || April 7 || @ White Sox || 11–5 || Rhodes (1–0) || Vizcaino (0–1) || — || U.S. Cellular Field || 10,800 || 1–2 || W1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 4 || April 8 || @ Tigers || 4–3 || Riske (1–0) || Urbina (0–1) || Wickman (1) || Comerica Park || 23,294 || 2–2 || W2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 5 || April 9 || @ Tigers || 1–11 || Ledezma (1–0) || Westbrook (0–2) || — || Comerica Park || 26,037 || 2–3 || L1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 6 || April 10 || @ Tigers || 7–6 || Davis (1–0) || Bonderman (1–1) || Wickman (2) || Comerica Park || 25,758 || 3–3 || W1 |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 7 || April 11 || White Sox || 1–2 || Garcia (1–0) || Millwood (0–1) || Takatsu (3) || Jacobs Field || 42,461 || 3–4 || L1 |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 8 || April 13 || White Sox || 4–5 || Vizcaino (1–1) || Howry (0–1) || Hermanson (1) || Jacobs Field || 14,410 || 3–5 || L2 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 9 || April 14 || White Sox || 8–6 || Betancourt (1–0) || Hernandez (1–1) || Wickman (3) || Jacobs Field || 12,470 || 4–5 || W1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 10 || April 15 || Twins || 2–4 || Santana (3–0) || Westbrook (0–3) || Nathan (3) || Jacobs Field || 15,360 || 4–6 || L1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 11 || April 16 || Twins || 4–6 || Gassner (1–0) || Millwood (0–2) || Nathan (4) || Jacobs Field || 18,699 || 4–7 || L2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 12 || April 17 || Twins || 2–1 || Howry (1–1) || Romero (0–1) || Wickman (4) || Jacobs Field || 19,021 || 5–7 || W1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 13 || April 18 || @ Royals || 5–1 || Lee (1–0) || Greinke (0–1) || — || Kauffman Stadium || 11,115 || 6–7 || W2 |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 14 || April 19 || @ Royals || 5–6 || MacDougal (1–0) || Rhodes (1–1) || — || Kauffman Stadium || 11,884 || 6–8 || L1 |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 15 || April 20 || @ Angels || 0–2 || Colon (3–1) || Westbrook (0–4) || Rodriguez (3) || Angel Stadium of Anaheim || 42,531 || 6–9 || L2 |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 16 || April 21 || @ Angels || 5–6 || Rodriguez (1–0) || Davis (1–1) || — || Angel Stadium of Anaheim || 39,673 || 6–10 || L3 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 17 || April 22 || @ Mariners || 6–1 || Sabathia (1–0) || Meche (1–1) || — || Safeco Field || 43,207 || 7–10 || W1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 18 || April 23 || @ Mariners || 5–2 || Lee (2–0) || Sele (1–2) || Wickman (5) || Safeco Field || 33,564 || 8–10 || W2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 19 || April 24 || @ Mariners || 1–9 || Moyer (4–0) || Elarton (0–1) || — || Safeco Field || 32,889 || 8–11 || L1 |- bgcolor="#bbbbbb" | – || April 26 || Tigers || colspan=8 | Postponed (rain, makeup July 4) |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 20 || April 27 || Tigers || 3–10 || Bonderman (3–2) || Westbrook (0–5) || — || Jacobs Field || 12,162 || 8–12 || L2 |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 21 || April 28 || Tigers || 2–3 || Maroth (2–1) || Millwood (0–3) || Percival (2) || Jacobs Field || 13,809 || 8–13 || L3 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 22 || April 29 || Royals || 6–0 || Sabathia (2–0) || Greinke (0–2) || — || Jacobs Field || 16,666 || 9–13 || W1 |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 23 || April 30 || Royals || 1–8 || Bautista (2–1) || Lee (2–1) || — || Jacobs Field || 15,771 || 9–14 || L1

|- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 24 || May 1 || Royals || 5–6 || Wood (1–2) || Betancourt (1–1) || Burgos (1) || Jacobs Field || 17,672 || 9–15 || L2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 25 || May 3 || @ Twins || 4–2 || Westbrook (1–5) || Mays (1–1) || Wickman (6) || Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome || 16,919 || 10–15 || W1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 26 || May 4 || @ Twins || 5–4 || Howry (2–1) || Romero (0–2) || Wickman (7) || Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome || 19,856 || 11–15 || W2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 27 || May 5 || @ Twins || 0–9 || Radke (3–3) || Sabathia (2–1) || — || Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome || 18,265 || 11–16 || L1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 28 || May 6 || @ Rangers || 8–6 || Lee (3–1) || Astacio (1–4) || Wickman (8) || Ameriquest Field in Arlington || 30,742 || 12–16 || W1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 29 || May 7 || @ Rangers || 1–6 || Drese (3–3) || Elarton (0–2) || — || Ameriquest Field in Arlington || 36,311 || 12–17 || L1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 30 || May 8 || @ Rangers || 2–7 || Rogers (3–2) || Westbrook (1–6) || Cordero (10) || Ameriquest Field in Arlington || 23,203 || 12–18 || L2 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 31 || May 9 || @ Angels || 3–0 || Millwood (1–3) || Lackey (3–2) || Wickman (9) || Angel Stadium of Anaheim || 36,763 || 13–18 || W1 |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 32 || May 10 || @ Angels || 4–5 || Byrd (3–3) || Sabathia (2–2) || Rodriguez (9) || Angel Stadium of Anaheim || 38,320 || 13–19 || L1 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 33 || May 11 || @ Angels || 8–3 || Lee (4–1) || Escobar (1–2) || — || Angel Stadium of Anaheim || 35,508 || 14–19 || W1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 34 || May 13 || Blue Jays || 6–4 || Davis (2–1) || Lilly (1–4) || Wickman (10) || Jacobs Field || 19,637 || 15–19 || W2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 35 || May 14 || Blue Jays || 3–2 || Rhodes (2–1) || Frasor (1–3) || Wickman (11) || Jacobs Field || 22,525 || 16–19 || W3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 36 || May 15 || Blue Jays || 2–5 || Halladay (6–2) || Sabathia (2–3) || — || Jacobs Field || 23,446 || 16–20 || L1 |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 37 || May 16 || Angels || 1–3 || Byrd (4–3) || Lee (4–2) || Shields (3) || Jacobs Field || 13,729 || 16–21 || L2 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 38 || May 17 || Angels || 13–5 || Elarton (1–2) || Santana (0–1) || — || Jacobs Field || 15,033 || 17–21 || W1 |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 39 || May 18 || Angels || 1–2 || Colon (5–3) || Westbrook (1–7) || Shields (4) || Jacobs Field || 19,030 || 17–22 || L1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || May 20 || @ Reds || 1–2 || Harang (3–2) || Millwood (1–4) || Graves (10) || Great American Ball Park || 25,412 || 17–23 || L2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 41 || May 21 || @ Reds || 5–3 || Sabathia (3–3) || Ramirez (0–2) || Wickman (12) || Great American Ball Park || 31,083 || 18–23 || W1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 42 || May 22 || @ Reds || 9–2 || Lee (5–2) || Ortiz (1–3) || — || Great American Ball Park || 21,862 || 19–23 || W2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 43 || May 23 || Twins || 2–1 || Rhodes (3–1) || Lohse (3–3) || Wickman (13) || Jacobs Field || 13,257 || 20–23 || W3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 44 || May 24 || Twins || 3–6 || Crain (4–0) || Riske (1–1) || Nathan (13) || Jacobs Field || 15,884 || 20–24 || L1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 45 || May 25 || Twins || 3–2 || Howry (3–1) || Rincon (2–2) || — || Jacobs Field || 15,794 || 21–24 || W1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 46 || May 26 || Twins || 4–5 || Crain (5–0) || Riske (1–2) || Nathan (14) || Jacobs Field || 19,161 || 21–25 || L1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 47 || May 27 || Athletics || 4–1 || Lee (6–2) || Zito (1–6) || Riske (1) || Jacobs Field || 19,711 || 22–25 || W1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 48 || May 28 || Athletics || 6–3 || Elarton (2–2) || Saarloos (1–4) || Howry (1) || Jacobs Field || 33,646 || 23–25 || W2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 49 || May 29 || Athletics || 6–2 || Westbrook (2–7) || Etherton (1–1) || Miller (1) || Jacobs Field || 25,737 || 24–25 || W3 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 50 || May 31 || @ Twins || 4–3 || Sabathia (4–3) || Silva (3–3) || Wickman (14) || Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome || 15,494 || 25–25 || W4

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 51 || June 1 || @ Twins || 2–6 || Radke (5–4) || Lee (6–3) || — || Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome || 20,739 || 25–26 || L1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 52 || June 2 || @ Twins || 3–4 || Romero (1–2) || Betancourt (1–2) || — || Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome || 17,351 || 25–27 || L2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 53 || June 3 || @ White Sox || 4–6 || Hernandez (6–1) || Westbrook (2–8) || Hermanson (12) || U.S. Cellular Field || 23,132 || 25–28 || L3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 54 || June 4 || @ White Sox || 5–6 || Garland (9–2) || Davis (2–2) || Hermanson (13) || U.S. Cellular Field || 26,365 || 25–29 || L4 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 55 || June 5 || @ White Sox || 6–4 || Riske (2–2) || Hermanson (0–1) || — || U.S. Cellular Field || 26,146 || 26–29 || W1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 56 || June 7 || @ Padres || 2–0 || Betancourt (2–2) || Hoffman (0–2) || Wickman (15) || Petco Park || 25,047 || 27–29 || W2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 57 || June 8 || @ Padres || 6–1 || Elarton (3–2) || Peavy (5–1) || Howry (2) || Petco Park || 29,464 || 28–29 || W3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 58 || June 9 || @ Padres || 2–3 || Eaton (9–1) || Westbrook (2–9) || Hoffman (17) || Petco Park || 27,149 || 28–30 || L1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 59 || June 10 || @ Giants || 10–2 || Sabathia (5–3) || Tomko (5–8) || — || SBC Park || 37,102 || 29–30 || W1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 60 || June 11 || @ Giants || 7–6 || Davis (3–2) || Schmidt (3–3) || Wickman (16) || SBC Park || 39,961 || 30–30 || W2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 61 || June 12 || @ Giants || 5–3 || Lee (7–3) || Rueter (2–5) || Wickman (17) || SBC Park || 41,500 || 31–30 || W3 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 62 || June 14 || Rockies || 11–2 || Westbrook (3–9) || Francis (5–4) || — || Jacobs Field || 17,631 || 32–30 || W4 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 63 || June 15 || Rockies || 7–6 || Howry (4–1) || Neal (1–3) || — || Jacobs Field || 20,986 || 33–30 || W5 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 64 || June 16 || Rockies || 2–1 || Millwood (2–4) || Wright (4–6) || Wickman (18) || Jacobs Field || 19,244 || 34–30 || W6 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 65 || June 17 || Diamondbacks || 13–6 || Lee (8–3) || Halsey (4–5) || — || Jacobs Field || 23,138 || 35–30 || W7 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 66 || June 18 || Diamondbacks || 3–1 || Elarton (4–2) || Webb (7–3) || Wickman (19) || Jacobs Field || 28,306 || 35–30 || W8 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 67 || June 19 || Diamondbacks || 3–2 || Westbrook (4–9) || Estes (5–5) || Wickman (20) || Jacobs Field || 27,416 || 37–30 || W9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 68 || June 20 || Red Sox || 9–10 || Wells (6–4) || Sabathia (5–4) || Foulke (14) || Jacobs Field || 30,562 || 37–31 || L1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 69 || June 21 || Red Sox || 2–9 || Arroyo (6–3) || Millwood (2–5) || — || Jacobs Field || 28,450 || 37–32 || L2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 70 || June 22 || Red Sox || 4–5 || Foulke (5–3) || Wickman (0–2) || — || Jacobs Field || 29,915 || 37–33 || L3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 71 || June 24 || Reds || 4–5 || Mercker (2–1) || Howry (4–2) || Weathers (3) || Jacobs Field || 27,129 || 37–34 || L4 |- bgcolor="bbffbb"