Sockalexis, Louis

1871 - Born on the 24th of October in Indian Island Old Town, Maine.

1894 - 1895 - In two seasons at Holy Cross College, he posted batting sverages of .436 and 444. Recognized as one of the best college ballplayers of all time.

1896 - 1897 - He transferred to the University of Notre Dame in December, but in early March, was expelled for drinking and destroying a local brothel after the madam refused to provide her services to a "red man." 

       - On the 9th of March, Sockalexis signed a major league contract with the Cleveland Spiders. For four months, he was a "five-tool" player with an overall career batting average of .338. He endured racial taunts from the crowds but won them over with his spectacular fielding, clutch hitting, and speed.

       - In July, he sustained a leg injury after jumping from the second story of a brothel.

1898 - 1899 - Heavy drinking led to the end of his major league career. He never regained his speed in the field and saw only limited playing time.

       - He was released from the team.

       - He finished the 99' season with a minor league Connecticut team under the careful management of former batting star Roger Conner.  

1902 - He signed with the Lowell Tigers and "spiked himself to the water cart" as the saying went, playing a complete season of 100 games.

1906 - 1913 - He organized and coached a team of Penobscot youths on Indian Island. Umpired for the Maine Leagues.

1913 - Died on the 24th of December in Burlington, Maine.

1963 - Baseball writer Lee Allen named James Madison Toy, an early American Association (19th century) catcher as the first Native American in the majors.

2006 - His biographer Ed Rice confirmed that Toy was Caucasion, therefore proving that Sockalexis was indeed the first American Indian major league player.