"Anybody can have an off-decade. But three? It's enough to make you believe in the supernatural." "The Cleveland Indians were surely tempting the fates when they traded away Rocky Colavito. He was young, strong, rugged, popular, and coming off back-to-back 40 home run/100 RBI seasons. He was the type of player you just don't trade, especially not for a three-years-older singles hitter, even if Harvey Kuenn had just won the American League batting title. Frank Lane's blunder could be expected to hurt the Tribe's pennant chances for a while. But for a generation?" "In the thirteen years before the trade, the Indians finished above .500 twelve times, and were first, second, or third in the league nine times. In the thirty-three years since the trade, they've finished above .500 six times, and were in the top three in their league just once (never finishing as high as third in their division)." "With the sharp-edged wit and keen eye for detail that have made him Cleveland's favorite sportswriter, Terry Pluto looks at the strange goings-on of the past thirty-plus years, unusual occurrences that could only be the result of some cosmic plan. Other teams lose players to injuries; the Indians lose them to alcoholism (Sam McDowell), a nervous breakdown (Tony Horton), and the pro golf tour (Ken Harrelson - okay, so it was only for a little while). Other teams bask in the glow when a young star plays in the All-Star Game in his first full season; the Indians saw catcher Ray Fosse's career derailed by a homeplate collision with Pete Rose in the 1970 midsummer classic. Other teams make deals to improve the ballclub; the Indians had to trade young Dennis Eckersley because his wife had fallen in love with his best friend and teammate, Rick Manning." "Through long years of trials and tribulations that would have tested Job, the Indians' faithful have continued to come to huge, drafty Cleveland Stadium. Pluto understands the fierce attachment Tribe fans feel for their team, because he's one himself; as a Tribe fan born in 1955, Pluto's gone a lifetime without a pennant, or even a pennant race. He knows the complex combination of pride and masochism that guides a fan's heart to hope every spring, even when the mind knows that those hopes will be dashed by summer." "Pluto draws insightful portraits of the men who've made the Indians what they were, for better or worse: Gabe Paul, general manager for most of the period, whose greatest skill was selling himself as the savior of the franchise, whatever its record; Herb Score, whose shortened major league career led to a long one as a much-loved master of malaprops on Indians broadcasts; Andre Thornton, who weathered personal tragedies to stand as one of the few hitting stalwarts on some awful teams; Super Joe Charboneau, who blazed across the American League as a rookie, then flamed out the following season; and Hank Peters, John Hart, and Mike Hargrove, who finally have the team pointed in the right direction." "With exciting young stars such as Albert Belle, Carlos Baerga, and Kenny Lofton, the Tribe appears ready to overcome the curse once and for all. The Curse of Rocky Colavito is a funny, fond, irreverent look at the struggles of baseball's sleeping giant; the book is something the Tribe hasn't been since the infamous trade: a sure winner."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved