Baseball's First Indian: Louis Sockalexis: Penobscot Legend, Cleveland Indian: Amazon.ca: Ed Rice: Books

Product Description

Born in 1871 on Maine's Penobscot Indian reservation and nephew of a chief, Louis Sockalexis became professional baseball's first American Indian player. Ultimately, his prowess on the diamond inspired the nickname Cleveland's baseball team carries today. Baseball's First Indian explores the brilliant but too-brief major league career of the 'Deerfoot of the Diamond' at the end of the 1890s, describes his fall to New England's minor leagues, and watches his final return to the reservation in Maine where he continued as a baseball coach and umpire. Author Ed Rice's fascinating study of the life of Louis Sockalexis is filled with game-by-game action and leavened by the flamboyant and colourful stories of nineteenth-century sportswriters who frequently invented what the truth would not supply. Every student of baseball history will treasure Baseball's First Indian.

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5.0 out of 5 stars What a shame..., Jan 4 2009

By	Marc Ranger "Baseball fan" (qu�bec, canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

What a shame...He coulda been the best there ever was. This book is not about Louis Sockalexis alone, it's about 19th century baseball, how it was played, what was said on the field, how managers drove their teams...
A fine book indeed.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Take This One Home!, Sep 18 2003

By A Customer

This new book by Ed Rice has everything--stats, rare photos of Louis Sockalexis and Hall-of-Famers such as "Cy" Young and Jesse Burkett, and game-by-game summaries. We learn about "Sock's" short, brilliant career as an outfielder with an arm like a rifle and the fastest feet in the league. But too much drinking and an ankle injury ruined Louis's speed and fielding. He was let go after 3 seasons and drifted around the minor leagues. Occasionally he played well but he never regained his former brilliance.

Sockalexis went home to Maine and worked as a logger and ferry operator. He also stopped drinking, and earned respect as an umpire for the rough Maine leagues. "Coach Sockalexis" taught young Penobscots the game and proudly sent five of them to the New England League.

Ed Rice gives us a nice glimpse into "Sock's" later years when he was much admired by friends and colleagues. His fellow tribesmen honor him to this day as a great athlete. Enjoy this interesting bio as you count the days to spring training!

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5.0 out of 5 stars This Book's a Home Run!, Sep 1 2003

By A Customer

This is the story of Louis Sockalexis, the first Indian ballplayer who had a great college career but fizzled out in the majors. Maine author Ed Rice tells us all about this player who became a national sensation in one short season. This exciting bio is crammed with baseball lore and play-by plays of Sockalexis's games with Holy Cross and the early Cleveland Indians. Without TV or radio, the fans had to imagine Sock's sizzling throws to the plate from deep right field and hot line drives. He was so fast he could steal bases at will. He had to face war whoops and taunting crowds, but like Jackie Robinson, he just quietly played the game. Sadly, drinking cut his career short but he holds a special place in baseball history as a pioneer and great player who could have become a champion if he'd lasted long enough. This book makes great reading during baseball season!

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars This One's a Hit!
This has been a remarkable year for books about Louis Sockalexis, the long-forgotten nineteenth century Penobscot outfielder. Lisez davantage

Published on Aug 16 2003 by S. Stroshane

5.0 out of 5 stars A Baseball Pioneer
For years, Louis Sockalexis wasn't much more than a trivia question: who were the Cleveland Indians named for? Now there are THREE new books about him. Lisez davantage

Published on Aug 12 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars An Angel in the Outfield
For part of one magical season in 1897, Louis Sockalexis, "Baseball's First Indian," had wings on his feet in the outfield. Lisez davantage

Published on Aug 12 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars A New Baseball Classic
Who remembers Louis Sockalexis, who played right field for the Cleveland Indians way back when they were called the Spiders? Lisez davantage

Published on Aug 7 2003