Meet the Indians In most cities going to a baseball game is just one of many things people like to do In Cleveland Ohio watching the Indians is a way of life Many of the people sitting in the ballpark or tuning in on television are part of families that have been rooting for the team for generations n When the Indians are playing well everyone in town has an extra hop in their step If the team is playing for a championship hip the entire state of Ohio comes alive with energy Every winter fans talk about the past season and make predictions about the season to come This book tells the story of the Indians Whether they are up or down in the running or out of it the Indians are always a hot topic of conversation in Cleveland That was true a century ago and it will be the same way for many years to come Matt LaPorta gets a high-five from Jack Hannahan after a home run 5
Glory Days T he American League AL played its first season in 1901 Cleveland was one of the eight cities that got a team in the new league The club was called the Blues In 1902 they changed their name to the Bronchoes A year later they changed names again this time to the Naps They would not become the Indians for another 12 seasons The Naps were named in honor of Napoleon Lajoie their best player Lajoie was the AL’s most popular star in those early years His teammates included Joe Jackson Cy Young Addie Joss Elmer Flick and Bill Bradley In 1908 the Naps fell one victory short of winning the pennant 6
The Indians rose to the top of the AL in 1920 under player manager Tris Speaker The team had a great pitching staff that included Stan Coveleski Jim Bagby Slim Caldwell and George Uhle Cleveland won the World Series that fall and seemed to be headed for great things But baseball was changing and sluggers would soon rule the game Cleveland could not find the power hitters it needed to challenge baseball’s best teams Still many more stars wore the Cleveland uniform during the 1920s and 1930s Hal Trosky Earl Averill Joe Sewell and Charlie Jamieson were among the AL’s best hitters Mel Harder Willis Hudlin and Bob Feller were among the top pitchers No one in baseball had a fastball as good as Feller’s He arrived in Cleveland as a teenager and became the city’s most popular player The Indians finally returned to the World Series in 1948 That team starred Feller and player-manager Lou Boudreau They joined forces with Ken Keltner Joe Gordon Gene Bearden Bob Lemon and others to win the pennant in a thrilling playoff with the Boston LEFT Napoleon Lajoie poses for photographers ABOVE Bob Feller tends to his mitt on the dugout steps 7
