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Cleveland Rocked: The Magic of the 1995 Indians
In 1995, Cleveland rocked. With Montell Jordan’s “This Is How We Do It,” blaring in the locker room, the Indians racked up 100 wins in a strike-shortened season and reached the World Series for the first time in 41 years. Fans were on a first-name basis with the stars that lit up the city: Omar, Manny, The Thomeinator, A.B. Cleveland Rocked is the complete story of the team that brought sellout crowds and walk-off wins to the corner of Carnegie and Ontario. Author Zack Meisel traces the roots of the pennant winner – from trading All-Star Joe Carter for Sandy Alomar and Carlos Baerga in 1989 to the campaign to build a new stadium. Meisel introduces readers to a cast of characters that larger-than-life personalities -- including Belle, Thome, Kenny Lofton, and Eddie Murray -- and manager Mike Hargrove, who managed to keep the clubhouse at peace. Thrilling come-from-behind wins jump off the page as the Indians race toward clinching the division. Then Meisel details the Indians’ October to Remember, from thrilling playoff triumphs over Boston and Seattle to the first World Series games in Cleveland since the days of Bob Feller. The ultimate keepsake for any Indians fan, Cleveland Rocks offers the story of a team that brought baseball back in Northeast Ohio.
- GenresSportsBaseballNonfiction
256 pages, Hardcover
Published May 12, 2020
23 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 6, 2020
Like most of 2020, the new baseball books this year have been slim pickings at best. Not a great year for sports writing overall but I’ll take what I can get. In honor of the 25th anniversary of the 1995 Cleveland Indians team that broke through and made it to the World Series, Indians’ super fan and ESPN writer Zack Meisel has chronicled that team’s history. Having gone 47 years since their last World Series title, Cleveland craved a winning baseball team. The Indians had moved into new and beautiful Jacobs Field the year before, and the team and fans both could sense the electricity in the air surrounding a quality baseball team. The team was on the cusp of something special and then the 1994 strike hit.
Unlike the rest of the baseball, the 1995 Indians were amped up and ready to take Major League Baseball by storm, en route to a 100-44 record in a shortened season. Lead by a mix of veterans, up and coming stars, and future hall of famers, the Indians had fun winning in 1995, only to lose in the World Series to an Atlanta Braves team that featured three hall of fame pitchers. Good pitching beats good hitting at least 90% of the time, so says my dad. Meisel, a biased fan, believed that the Indians were the better team, and the city of Cleveland thought so as well, holding a parade and rally for the team just because they made it to the World Series. Cleveland was starved for a winner, and this team came oh so close, that one could sense that multiple championships were soon to follow. It was only right of the city to honor this team that precipitated an era of winning.
The Indians would continue to dominate the American League central for the next half decade, selling out their ballpark for nearly seven straight seasons. Sadly, they still have not won a World Series, with this core group losing again in 1997, leading to a fall out and breaking up of the team. My Cubs beat the Indians in a fall classic for the ages in 2016, and now the Indians have gone the longest of any team without a title. So it goes. The 1995 Indians were fun for a fan to watch, hitting tape measure home runs at an exorbitant rate. It is no wonder that they took the league by storm and had fun doing it.
Meisel’s book is biased, lacks enough subject matter to fill a whole book, and features reminisces, interviews, and top ten lists written by former Indian stars. Not a quality baseball book, Cleveland Rocked comes out about average, but at least it is a baseball book about a year in the annals of baseball history that I could read during the off-season. There are still almost three months until spring training starts and another one and a half months after that until opening day. Suffice to say, I will be reading more baseball books before then. In the meantime, Cleveland Rocked was a fun read for a gloomy off-season day. It made me crave a day at the old ballpark, the modus operandi, at least for me, of any baseball book.
⚾️ 3 stars 🎸
Unlike the rest of the baseball, the 1995 Indians were amped up and ready to take Major League Baseball by storm, en route to a 100-44 record in a shortened season. Lead by a mix of veterans, up and coming stars, and future hall of famers, the Indians had fun winning in 1995, only to lose in the World Series to an Atlanta Braves team that featured three hall of fame pitchers. Good pitching beats good hitting at least 90% of the time, so says my dad. Meisel, a biased fan, believed that the Indians were the better team, and the city of Cleveland thought so as well, holding a parade and rally for the team just because they made it to the World Series. Cleveland was starved for a winner, and this team came oh so close, that one could sense that multiple championships were soon to follow. It was only right of the city to honor this team that precipitated an era of winning.
The Indians would continue to dominate the American League central for the next half decade, selling out their ballpark for nearly seven straight seasons. Sadly, they still have not won a World Series, with this core group losing again in 1997, leading to a fall out and breaking up of the team. My Cubs beat the Indians in a fall classic for the ages in 2016, and now the Indians have gone the longest of any team without a title. So it goes. The 1995 Indians were fun for a fan to watch, hitting tape measure home runs at an exorbitant rate. It is no wonder that they took the league by storm and had fun doing it.
Meisel’s book is biased, lacks enough subject matter to fill a whole book, and features reminisces, interviews, and top ten lists written by former Indian stars. Not a quality baseball book, Cleveland Rocked comes out about average, but at least it is a baseball book about a year in the annals of baseball history that I could read during the off-season. There are still almost three months until spring training starts and another one and a half months after that until opening day. Suffice to say, I will be reading more baseball books before then. In the meantime, Cleveland Rocked was a fun read for a gloomy off-season day. It made me crave a day at the old ballpark, the modus operandi, at least for me, of any baseball book.
⚾️ 3 stars 🎸
July 3, 2020
Great book! An incredible chronicle of the greatest team in MLB history to not win a World Series!
July 12, 2024
"Cleveland Rocked: The Personalities, Sluggers, and Magic of the 1995 Cleveland Indians" successfully captures the extraordinary essence of a historical epoch in Cleveland sports. Anyone who lived through the electrifying summer of 1995 knows the magic that enveloped the city as the Indians captivated hearts and imaginations. This book does justice to that memorable season, recounting the feverish excitement that permeated Cleveland.
Zach Meisel adeptly brings to life the unique characters and defining moments of the team, portraying the deep bond between the city and its beloved Indians. Meisel's narrative encapsulates the vibrant personalities within the team and the unforgettable events that defined the season, allowing readers to relive the cherished memories.
However, what prevents "Cleveland Rocked" from achieving premier status among sports books is its occasional lack of depth. At times, the reliance on stats and lists feels like filler content, rather than contributions to a comprehensive narrative. Additionally, the book occasionally digresses into broader Cleveland Indians history, losing focus on the pivotal 1995 season.
While I appreciated the book’s overall storytelling, I was yearning for a more thorough, in-depth look at that remarkable season. The narrative could have benefited from more rigorous reporting and a tighter focus on the events and personalities that made 1995 so special.
Despite these shortcomings, "Cleveland Rocked" remains an enjoyable read and a must-have for any Cleveland sports fan. It provides a nostalgic trip down memory lane and celebrates a time when the city and its baseball team were perfectly in sync.
Zach Meisel adeptly brings to life the unique characters and defining moments of the team, portraying the deep bond between the city and its beloved Indians. Meisel's narrative encapsulates the vibrant personalities within the team and the unforgettable events that defined the season, allowing readers to relive the cherished memories.
However, what prevents "Cleveland Rocked" from achieving premier status among sports books is its occasional lack of depth. At times, the reliance on stats and lists feels like filler content, rather than contributions to a comprehensive narrative. Additionally, the book occasionally digresses into broader Cleveland Indians history, losing focus on the pivotal 1995 season.
While I appreciated the book’s overall storytelling, I was yearning for a more thorough, in-depth look at that remarkable season. The narrative could have benefited from more rigorous reporting and a tighter focus on the events and personalities that made 1995 so special.
Despite these shortcomings, "Cleveland Rocked" remains an enjoyable read and a must-have for any Cleveland sports fan. It provides a nostalgic trip down memory lane and celebrates a time when the city and its baseball team were perfectly in sync.
April 21, 2021
Absolutely loved this book, great stories from the players and organization around the 95 season. Would highly recommend for any Cleveland baseball fan.
November 2, 2022
I really wanted to like this, but it seemed unfinished and whitewashed. Additionally, there are a bunch of lists at the end of several chapters that don't serve much purpose but to pad out the book a little more.
November 14, 2020
A really good book on the 1995 Cleveland Indians team that was stocked with great players like Albert Belle, Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome, Kenny Lofton, Dennis Martinez, Carlos Baerga, Eddie Murray, Sandy Alomar, Charles Nagy, Jose Mesa, Omar Visquel and Orel Hershiser. I won't say what happens to the team in case somebody doesn't know, but this was the first Indians team that had been great in about four decades. The 1995 season was the second year at Jacobs Field, their new ballpark, and fans flocked to the venue constantly for sellouts. The author, Zack Meisel does a good job of updating the reader shortly of what happened the few years before, but the focus of the book is on the 95 season. If you want to read about the 97 team, this isn't the book for you. Good stuff, most MLB fans will enjoy and it's a must for Indians fans.
July 10, 2023
Like the Suns with Nash/Stoudemire/Marion, or the Rams with Warner/Faulk/Holt, even if you weren't a fan of the mid-late 90s Cleveland baseball teams, you can't deny the excitement they brought to the game.
Meisel gives a competent, but not overly good view of the '95 Cleveland team, one of the best offenses of my lifetime, and with a standout bullpen, but with the only weakness being a starting rotation that was merely good.
- Albert Belle was robbed of the MVP b/c he's a curmudgeon, and what he did the last two months of the season is otherworldly - .850 Slugging with 31 HR & 54 XBH is 58 games. Not an exaggeration to place that amongst the top 10 two-month post-war stretches
- Kenny Lofton comes off as a whiny little bitch, whose sour grapes attempt to excuse his team's bats going silent (except for Belle's) due to the strike zone in the World Series rings hollow. Really, Kenny? Is that why you hit <.200 in 6 of your next 7 playoff series too? Including two with the Braves? Easy to see why the guy played for 9 teams his last 6 seasons. Toxic personality and below replacement level come playoff time (.247/.315/.352 slashline)
- I cannot believe Jim Thome & Manny Ramirez both put up .400+ OBP & .550+ Slugging but were relegated to 6th & 7th in the batting order. A modern manager would have had Vizquel hitting 7th-9th rather than 2nd, and likely Belle batting 2nd with Thome & Ramirez 3rd and 4th
- It sucks that Cleveland couldn't win in '95, '97, or '16, and that in my four summers in NE Ohio they only managed a single playoff game in the stadium in which I've watched more MLB contests than any other two stadiums combined
- In many ways the '95 WS was a matchup of the country's two most cursed sports cities (I understand objections from Buffalo & San Diego) but if the best offense of the 90s was ever going to get muted it makes sense it met its match in the best pitching staff of the 90s
- The book was just OK, but looking back over the stats and the games was a good reminder of just how stacked this Cleveland team's lineup really was
Meisel gives a competent, but not overly good view of the '95 Cleveland team, one of the best offenses of my lifetime, and with a standout bullpen, but with the only weakness being a starting rotation that was merely good.
- Albert Belle was robbed of the MVP b/c he's a curmudgeon, and what he did the last two months of the season is otherworldly - .850 Slugging with 31 HR & 54 XBH is 58 games. Not an exaggeration to place that amongst the top 10 two-month post-war stretches
- Kenny Lofton comes off as a whiny little bitch, whose sour grapes attempt to excuse his team's bats going silent (except for Belle's) due to the strike zone in the World Series rings hollow. Really, Kenny? Is that why you hit <.200 in 6 of your next 7 playoff series too? Including two with the Braves? Easy to see why the guy played for 9 teams his last 6 seasons. Toxic personality and below replacement level come playoff time (.247/.315/.352 slashline)
- I cannot believe Jim Thome & Manny Ramirez both put up .400+ OBP & .550+ Slugging but were relegated to 6th & 7th in the batting order. A modern manager would have had Vizquel hitting 7th-9th rather than 2nd, and likely Belle batting 2nd with Thome & Ramirez 3rd and 4th
- It sucks that Cleveland couldn't win in '95, '97, or '16, and that in my four summers in NE Ohio they only managed a single playoff game in the stadium in which I've watched more MLB contests than any other two stadiums combined
- In many ways the '95 WS was a matchup of the country's two most cursed sports cities (I understand objections from Buffalo & San Diego) but if the best offense of the 90s was ever going to get muted it makes sense it met its match in the best pitching staff of the 90s
- The book was just OK, but looking back over the stats and the games was a good reminder of just how stacked this Cleveland team's lineup really was
May 23, 2020
I grew up an Indians fan. The 1995 team was unquestionably the greatest team I’ve seen. The memories of being part of sold-out crowds at Jacobs Field during that magical season will stay with me forever. This book looks back at that season by focusing on the prelude and the personalities rather than providing a game by game rehash. The question asked towards the end of the book is can the 1995 Indians be considered a great team despite not winning the World Series? Yes, they can. This book provides a wonderful look back at a special team and a special season.
November 24, 2020
This is how you author a sports book. A clear and concise tribute to the 1995 Cleveland Indians, which had one of the best lineups in baseball history. There is a bit of bias from the author who is an obvious fan of the team. But I enjoyed the book as it captured the season just as much as the team did that summer. (Full Disclosure: I'm a Chicago Cubs fan.)
February 23, 2021
A nostalgic look back on the best team in baseball to never win a world series.
Mostly interesting anecdotes and statistics, good use of the top ten list, and cool player/coach perspectives. But also probably lacking enough of a story/info to really be a full book, making it a bit repetitive with the use of way too many super-long player quotes.
Mostly interesting anecdotes and statistics, good use of the top ten list, and cool player/coach perspectives. But also probably lacking enough of a story/info to really be a full book, making it a bit repetitive with the use of way too many super-long player quotes.
February 21, 2022
Baseball by the Book #264 071320: In 1995, the once-lowly Cleveland Indians dominated the American League and slugged their way to the World Series for the first time in four decades. Author Zack Meisel joins us to discuss Albert Belle, Jim Thome, Kenny Lofton and the rest of team that captured the heart of a generation of Cleveland baseball fans.
January 29, 2025
Manny Ramirez was in the clubhouse watching the OJ Simpson chase live on television but didn’t know who OJ Simpson was and believed he was watching the cops chase Cleveland pitcher Chad Ogea live on CNN.
I thought I knew everything there was to know about this team and its history, but I was delighted to be wrong.
I thought I knew everything there was to know about this team and its history, but I was delighted to be wrong.
May 20, 2020
The baseball team of my childhood had not been to the playoffs in my entire life (41 years in total) and then went to the World Series in 1995. How could I not read this book! A great trip down memory lane for an Indians fan.
November 16, 2020
Excellent for any Tribe fan who remembers the ‘95 season.
February 10, 2021
Great memories of a magical time to be in North East Ohio.
February 24, 2025
Zack Meisel you deserve these five stars
February 26, 2023
Brings back memories, but also depth....
Loved the details we never heard, but also the love and respect the members still have for that team. Just wish it had fully worked out.
Loved the details we never heard, but also the love and respect the members still have for that team. Just wish it had fully worked out.
July 11, 2020
Lots of fun to read, bringing back great memories and providing insight about the personalities on the team.
April 10, 2021
I love looking back on the 1995 Indians with modern advanced statistics. Sometimes you go, "Wow, what were they thinking?" And sometimes you go, "Wow, that team was even better than we thought. How did they not win everything?" This is a nostalgic trip through the 1995 season, the home runs, the pitching (better than we thought!), the insane strike zone in the World Series, and the heartbreak at the end. Also, the advanced statistics confirmed that Eric Plunk was not as terrible as fans insisted, was actually pretty good, and validates my fandom of him.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews