Leading off our NDN All-Stars “FIRSTS” mini-series, I want to talk a little about NDN All-Star #4 Louis Sockalexis (Penobscot). “Sock” broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball a full 50 years before the more celebrated Jackie Robinson, when he played his first Major League game on April 22, 1897.
Sockalexis was a true baseball phenom – hitting, running, fielding – he could do it all better than anyone at that time! After a stellar career in college at Holy Cross and Notre Dame, Sockalexis signed with the Cleveland Spiders.
Sockalexis played brilliantly during his first season and was quickly became a media darling as he traveled around the country, attracting sportswriters and fans wherever he went. However, he also had to endure racist barbs from the opposing teams and the fans in the stands. Despite non-stop heckling and taunts and harassment, “Sock” seemed to take it all with grace and good humor; so much so that after a while, even many of the opposing team’s fans were won over. Through it all, Sockalexis continued to astound baseball fans with his on field accomplishments.
The story of Louis Sockalexis’ baseball career doesn’t end in glory, however. Unfortunately, Sockalexis fell prey to alcoholism, and ended up only playing parts of three major league seasons. After he was released from his major league contract, he played a few more seasons in minor and independent leagues. His last game in organized baseball was for the Lowell Tigers in 1907.
Our first “FIRST” – NDN All-Star #4 Louis Sockalexis was a baseball player like no other, and a true baseball pioneer!
Thanks, “Sock” for making it possible for the rest of the Native Baseball Players to play the game they love at the highest level! Here are some of the NDN All-Stars who have followed NDN All-Star #4 Louis Sockalexis and played baseball in the Majors:
Charles Bender, Ojjibwe
Johnny Bench, Choctaw
Jim Thorpe, Sac & Fox
John Tortes Meyers, Cahuilla
Early Wynn, Cherokee
Zach Wheat, Cherokee
Pepper Martin, Osage
Allie Reynolds, Creek
Jacoby Ellsbury, Navajo
Joba Chamberlin, Winnebago
Kyle Lohse, Nomlaki
“””Indian”” Bob Johnson”, Cherokee
Bobby Madritsch, Lakota
Roy Johnson, Cherokee
Lane Adams, Choctaw
Koda Glover, Cherokee
Moses Yellow Horse, Pawnee
Rudy York, Cherokee
Ed Summers, Kickapoo
“Elon “”Chief”” Hogsett”, Cherokee
Dwight Lowry, Lumbee
Adrian Houser, Cherokee
Ryan Helsley, Cherokee
Dylan Bundy, Cherokee
Jon Gray, Cherokee
Vallie Eaves, Cherokee
Brandon Bailey, Chickasaw
Robbie Ray, Cherokee
Bucky Dent, Cherokee
Gene Locklear, Lumbee
Jayhawk Owens, Cherokee
Euel Moore, Chickasaw
Louis Bruce, Mohawk
Louis Leroy, Mohican
Anthony Seigler, Navajo
Darrell Evans, Yavapai
Jim Bluejacket, Cherokee
#ndnallstars #louissockalexis #baseball #MLB #cleveland #Penobscot #FIRSTS
If you enjoy the content here and would like to help support our mission of celebrating great Native athletes of the past and present, please take a look at our NDN All-Stars Shop. Proceeds from every purchase help us continue to retell these stories. Also, if you would like to donate to this effort, please visit our Patreon page.
Thank you for your support!