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Louis Sockalexis: The First Cleveland Indian is the full-length biography of the man who became the first Native American to play major league baseball, as well as the first minority player in the National League. A member of the Penobscot tribe of Maine, Sockalexis was a multitalented athlete who starred in baseball, football, and track at the College of the Holy Cross before he signed with the National League's Cleveland Spiders in early 1897. He made such an impression on all who saw him that the local writers began calling the team the "Indians" that spring. Unfortunately, his stardom did not last. He batted .338 in his rookie season, but alcoholism derailed the career of this amazing athlete. The difficulties encountered by baseball's first minority player making his way in the white world also contributed to Sockalexis' downfall. By 1899 he was out of the major leagues, and he died in Maine in 1913 at the age of 42. Two years later, the Cleveland American League team officially adopted the name "Indians," by which it is known to this day.
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"Well-written and carefully documented ... for the next scholar to assume the task [of telling his story] it is Fleitz who best lays out the evidence." - SABR 19th Century Committee newsletter “Well-researched, highly readable study ... an interesting and detailed account ... in creating this concise and accurate account of the career of Louis Sockalexis, Fleitz displays an inquisitive scholar’s refusal to accept old tales at face value, a diligent researcher’s willingness to seek out the facts in primary sources, and a skillful writer’s ability to clearly describe what actually happened ... valuable work” —Nine “More scholarly and complete [than the competition] ... excellent illustrations ... detailed endnotes”—Bowling Green (Kentucky) Daily News “Fleitz has researched and told the story of Sockalexis very well”—Harold Seymour.com. "This book, like Fleitz's first on Shoeless Joe Jackson, is thoroughly researched, well-written, and completely presented." - Toledo Blade |
David Fleitz, a SABR member and author of several books and numerous
articles, was the first to tell the story of Louis Sockalexis in book
form. McFarland and Company published Louis
Sockalexis: The First Cleveland Indian in October of
2002. Though at
least two other biographies of this Penobscot athlete have reached the
market since then, Fleitz's book remains the standard against which all similar works are measured.
How to order: There are three ways to order Louis Sockalexis: The First Cleveland Indian. 1. Go to the McFarland web site (click here) 2. Go to amazon.com (click here) 3. Call McFarland toll-free at 1-800-253-2187. Awards and Honors:
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