Indian Summer – Brian McDonald

Three of the first four books covered in the Burning River Book Club did not directly have to do with the Indians, with more of an overall view of the sport, so it is time to get back to Cleveland. This month’s book is an old one about a much older time. Little is known about team that preceded the Tribe in Cleveland and much more is rumored, but Indian Summer: The Forgotten Story of Louis Sockalexis, The First Native American in Major League Baseball is as accurate portrayal as is currently possibly.

Indian Summer, written by Brian McDonald in 2003 is a historically accurate biography of the first Native American professional baseball player, Louis Sockalexis who played with the Cleveland Spiders from 1897 through 1899. While in a normal situation, a player with a three year career and 367 career at bats would not merit a biography, Chief Sockalexis is a different situation entirely. In general the book covers everything from his birth to his death, supplementing with time accurate newspaper articles.

Born of the Penobscot tribe in Maine, Sockalexis was a tremendous athlete and he had to be for a Major League team in the 1890’s to put aside their racism and sign him. There is a certain kind of lore surrounding his early days and that is included in the story as well. Once he joins the Spiders, almost a day to day account is kept of his three seasons in Cleveland. Of course, this started out well when he batted .338 with eight triples and 42 RBI in 66 games in 1897, soon injuries and a tragic addiction to alcohol would derail that career, but not before the idea of Sockalexis vitalized a whole city.

One subject included in the book is of particular interest in the modern era. Revisionist historians like to say that the Cleveland Indians moniker had nothing to do with Sockalexis, but was just trying to take advantage of the success of the Boston Braves. While this may be some of it, the facts are that the team was called the Indians in 1898 during Spring Training. The full story is included in the book, but there is little doubt that the team name existed long before 1911.

While the story may take place long before any current fan’s interest in baseball begins, this book is one that should be read by every Cleveland Indians fan, if for no other reason than to know where your team came from. In addition, McDonald does a great job describing things in detail, while keeping things entertaining. Even though Sockalexis’ life ended in tragedy, his life and experience can be remembered and celebrated, but only if his story continues to be told.