Chief Sockalexis Essentials Positions: Bats: L Throws: R 71 Weight: 185 Born: 10 24, 1871 in Indian Island, ME USA Died: 12 24 1913 in Burlington, ME USA Debut: 1897-04-22 Last Game: 1899-05-13 Full Name: Louis Francis Sockalexis
1915 – According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the American League hometown franchise will now be known as the Indians replacing the nickname the Naps – a change due to Napoleon Lajoie, the player-manager for whom the team is presently named, leaving for the Philadelphia Athletics. Team owner Charles W. Somers asked the city’s baseball writers, who in turn asked their readers for suggestions. A false rumor claims that the origin of the name was former Cleveland Spiders outfielder, Chief Sockalexis.
On December 24, 1913, former outfielder Louis “Chief” Sockalexis dies from tuberculosis in Burlington, Maine. Sockalexis spent three seasons in the majors and was one of the first, if not the first, Native American to play professionally.
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