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Cleveland Indians: How Indians fans view Jason Giambi

By Steven Kubitza

Jul 10, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians designated hitter Jason Giambi (25) hits an RBI single in the second inning in front of Toronto Blue Jays catcher Josh Thole (30) at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 10, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians designated hitter Jason Giambi (25) hits an RBI single in the second inning in front of Toronto Blue Jays catcher Josh Thole (30) at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cleveland Indians fans may have a much different view of Jason Giambi than other fans around the league who watched him when he was younger.

Spring training is a time of year that sees countless familiar faces return to help out their former teams, and the Cleveland Indians have some great individuals back helping the team.

One name that stands out as interesting is that of Jason Giambi, who is back in Goodyear to help the Indians in March.

Some fans may remember Giambi for his steroid use, but once he got to the Indians in 2013, those days were long behind him. Some may never forgive him, but Indians fans only have fond memories of the player who served as a veteran presence for that 2013 team that reached the AL Wild Card Game.

His most memorable moment in Cleveland, and one that stood out until the magical 2016 run by the Indians, was a walk-off home run he hit during a 10-game winning streak to close out the 2013 season. The Indians needed to win every game to earn that Wild Card berth, and Giambi helped keep the streak alive in dramatic fashion.

He only appeared in 71 games during the 2013 season, but that home run alone was enough to make his signing a success.

Giambi was on the team in 2014, but injuries along with being 43 years old saw him serve as more of a coach than a player. Coaching may be his next pursuit, and the Indians are giving him a chance to showcase his talents by helping out in spring training.

His career arc shows that while some things may never leave one’s reputation, he was able to redeem himself after the passing of time helped heal old wounds. His steroid use will likely keep him out of any Hall of Fame consideration, but he was still able to move on from the PED use and be a key asset for a young Indians team at the end of his career.

Next: Top prospects: Gabriel Mejia

While his career legacy may not be as pure as his Indians legacy, it is good to know he has a home in Cleveland where he can come back and share his knowledge with the team.

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