Synopsis
John Tortes "Chief" Meyers (1880-1971), a member of the Santa Rosa Band of the Cahuilla Tribe of California, emerged as one of Major League Baseball's earliest prominent Native American stars during the Deadball Era. The biography by William A. Young traces his life from his Cahuilla roots and early years in California, through a brief stint at Dartmouth College, to his professional baseball career that began in earnest around age 28 after he adjusted his reported age to break into the majors.
Meyers became the hard-hitting, reliable catcher for John McGraw's powerhouse New York Giants from 1909 to 1915 (with his debut in 1908), forming a legendary battery with Christy Mathewson and contributing significantly to teams that reached the World Series in 1911, 1912, and 1913. He later played for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Boston Braves, appearing in four World Series overall and earning recognition as one of the era's top catchers through strong defensive skills, hitting prowess, and frequent high finishes in National League MVP voting.
Unlike many Native American players who downplayed their heritage to avoid prejudice, Meyers proudly embraced his Cahuilla identity throughout his career and beyond. After retiring from baseball in 1917, he returned to his community, became a tribal leader, and lived into his nineties. Young's thoroughly researched account, drawing on archival sources, family interviews, and contemporary press, places Meyers's story in the broader context of Native American struggles for dignity in sports and society while highlighting his accomplishments, personal resilience, and lasting legacy as a pioneering figure.