Our Tribe: A Baseball Memoir by Terry Pluto

Our Tribe: A Baseball Memoir Reviews

• 
  Patrick Henry

  Terry Pluto was born in Cleveland and played football at Benedictine High. Sports reporting took him from the area but he eventually returned to his hometown. For several years Terry Pluto writes for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and provides commentary on public radio. In a different section of the Sunday paper, he writes a short homily often taken from his continuing volunteer in prison ministry.
  
  This book traces the history of the Cleveland Indians with insider stories over the decades. The early chapters develop the background over the origin of the team's native American name which has long been in dispute. Terry sets out some scenarios and decides on which one is supported with evidence.
  In those early days especially, not all baseball players behaved themselves. So, there are plenty of stories of exploits that would be front page scandals these days.
  
  Terry Pluto's mom died young. Much of the author's reflections deal with the complicated relationship with his working class father. The baseball team was their bond. But both yearned for something deeper. Terry confesses the many ways, how in his disappointment, he hurt his father, much out of the tension between them. A stroke left the elder Mr Pluto an invalid. But his son proved his fidelity by traveling from Ohio to Florida to be with him on the weekends.
  
  When this book was chosen for our men's reading group, my comment: "The only thing more boring than baseball would be a book about baseball". I had to take it back. Our Tribe was more than redeemed by the human dimension of the father and son bond. For many, it is this family sharing is what anchors baseball in the hearts of many.
  
  In an era of sensitivity to racial matters, the Cleveland baseball team opened the 2022 season known as the "Guardians". Yes, a dumb name. But this book reveals many stories of the improbable history of a cherished team.
• 
  Ramon

  This was a great book. It was not so much a history of the Cleveland Indians but you may even get lost if you are not familiar with the Indians history. The book was about the Cleveland Indians but more of a relationship between a Father and son and their love for the Cleveland Indians baseball team. I related to this book so much. Both my parents were huge Cleveland Indians fans and I think my Mom was more of an Indians fan than my father. The book did bring back so many memories and how I grew to love the Indians even through many of the Indians dry years.
  So this part is not in the book but it is a memory I cherished. When I was younger we lived in Cleveland and my Dad's brother lived in Chicago. My Uncle was a huge Chicago Cubs fan. When my uncle came to visit they would talk about the Indians and Chicago Cubs. Back then their were no games between National and American league. My dad and uncle were so proud of their teams despite both teams being in the basement in their divisions for many years. It was in 2016 when the Indians and the Chicago Cubs met in the World Series. The Chicago Cubs won the Would series! I was in Chicago at the time and bought a Chicago Cubs T shirt. The shirt reminded me of team loyalty and brothers loved their home teams and how I was part of that. It is funny how people joked with me for buying a Chicago Cubs t shirt but they really didn't understand ' the rest of the story"
• 
  Allie Bayer

  (Niche review; I know!) This would’ve been an EASY five if I’d read it 20 years ago, or, if I were born 15 years earlier. I really enjoyed the historical non fiction + memoir mash up, and the stories about Terry’s father were fantastic. I knew about, or at least recognized, a surprising (embarrassing?) amount of the early historical parts from stories my dad would tell me in my own childhood (seriously, we have home videos of four year old me reciting full line ups. We weren’t messing around.) But considering this was written in 1999, there was only so much for someone my age to feel TRULY connected to. 3/4 of the book was history prior to the teams of the nineties and I personally would’ve loved more than a third to be about the greats of *my* time (Lofton, Thome, Omar, Sandy, Belle, etc.) But I still found myself turning to Pat saying, “oh my gosh! Did you know…” countless times throughout my reading it today, and I love that I learned a lot; I eat this stuff up. A well written baseball history book that effortlessly blends in this idea that baseball is, at its core, about family. About relationships.
• 
  Joseph

  Great book
• 
  Dan

  An enjoyable read, with great prospective on family connections and the role baseball can play in bringing parents and children together.
• 
  Taylor Hatfield

  What a book. A classic and real life look at the relationship that a father and son had with their beloved baseball team. From the players to the old stadium, Terry Pluto did a fantastic job capturing how each characteristic of the times spent at the old stadium watching rather dismal Cleveland Indians baseball clubs. He explains how those times shaped him into not only a career and life, but how he coped as his father lived through a stroke, but unfortunately passed away a few years after having that stroke. The book is a roller coaster ride, as Terry tells about how he grew up in Cleveland and later moved and became a sportswriter. He deals with guilt as his dad's health begins to crumble after decades of working in a grocery store distribution center. I personally took this book to heart, relating several aspects of this book to my own life. It is a deep read, and if you can relate to it like I did (or even more), a few Kleenex's might be necessary. It is a good read for anyone who likes baseball, or really just sports. Especially when you enjoy a certain team with someone special to you, as Terry and his father did with the Indians.
• 
  Lauren

  Terry Pluto writes of growing up with the Tribe, sharing the experiences he had with his father rooting for the Indians and going to ballgames at old Municipal Stadium. And, then the experience of learning to accept his father's decline and dying, experiencing it during the Indians' unforgettable World Series appearance in 1997. I have so many fond and warm memories of sharing Indians games with my father, including our last game together in 2001, which included my radio show on the field during batting practice and attending Omar Vizquel's "Omar y Amigos" session with the kids. And, the Tribe won against the hated Yankess on a 9th inning bases loaded walk by Jeff Nelson.
• 
  Mary

  My first real baseball read. Taught me all about one of my favorite things: The Cleveland Indians. A great read if you care, like I do.
• 
  Donald Ozello

  Masterpiece. Thank you Terry Pluto. If you are a baseball fan or a loved one is a baseball fan, do yourself a big favor and read this book. You will love it.
• 
  Debbie

  Such a great walk down memory lane! A must read for any Tribe fan. A dad, a boy, a baseball team. We walk thru their lives as fans and it brings back so many memories!
• 
  Joe

  Terry has done a great job of detailing some of the history of the Cleveland Indians from the beginning up to the late 1990s. Recommend it for anyone who is a fan of The Tribe.