Indians Heroes: Remembering the Cleveland Indians Who Helped Make the 1960s Baseball's Real Golden Age

These were the heroes who owned the summers of the 1960s. Sam McDowell and Leon Wagner. Duke Sims and Sonny Siebert. Pedro Ramos and Tito Francona. Max Alvis and Rocky Colavito. During the summers of the 1960s, the heroes of Cleveland wore Indians uniforms. On their best days (which were, admittedly, too few), they were entertaining and inspiring. They smote hated rivals and sent their best to the All-Star game, in the decade when that mid-summer classic moved under the lights … and into prime time. On their worst days, these Indians heroes broke our hearts, squandering late-inning leads and pre-season hopes … but they never lost our devotion. They were the heroes of our youth. Now their stories are collected in Indians Heroes: Remembering the Cleveland Indians Who Helped Make the 1960s Baseball’s Real Golden Age. The book profiles the best (and a few of the worst) of the Cleveland Indians of the 1960s. In all, there are 83 profiles of the infielders, outfielders, catchers and pitchers who played for the Cleveland Indians in the 1960s. Do you remember … The left-handed fireballer who struck out 325 batters in 1965, still the American League record for a southpaw? (page 110) The slugging outfielder who retired to become a professional golfer, only three seasons after leading the American League in RBIs? (page 53) The 1961 ERA champion who was traded to Cleveland and won 20 games for the Tribe … at age 34? (page 92) The two-time All-Star catcher who helped bring Rocky Colavito back to Cleveland? (page 83) The Cy Young award winner who returned to Cleveland to win one more game … victory number 300? (page 139) The first baseman who won 3 Gold Gloves for the Indians … two in the 1960s? (page 75) The pitcher who lost 20 games in 1969 after leading the American League in ERA in 1968? (page 133) The second baseman whose superb defense kept him in the major leagues for nine seasons despite a .213 lifetime batting average? (page 20) The “Daddy” who had the Indians’ highest single-season home run mark in the 1960s? (page 72) The only player to pinch-hit for Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski, after he was acquired from Cleveland (where he once pinch-hit for Roger Maris)? (page 50) Their stories are here. Enjoy the memories.