Louis Sockalexis

Written by William Wise · Illustrated by Bill Farnsworth

A Native American baseball player defies racism to prove his worth on the field.

3.7/5 Goodreads · 53 ratings

32 pages· 2,283 words· Est. 26 min read

$11.95Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

In 1884, young Louis Sockalexis, a Penobscot Indian, dreams of playing professional baseball. Despite facing racism and familial pressure, he joins the Cleveland Spiders. In 1897, at New York's Polo Grounds, he confronts the sport's fiercest pitcher, challenging prejudice and proving his place in the game. Will his courage and skill break barriers and change perceptions forever?

From the publisher

A biography of Louis Sockalexis, Penobscot Indian and the first Native American to play professional baseball, focusing on his formative years and culminating in an historic game at New York’s Polo Grounds in 1897.On a Maine summer day in 1884, twelve-year-old Penobscot Indian Louis Sockalexis first fell in love with baseball. As he grew up, Louis honed his skills and dreamed of one day joining a major league team. Louis encountered opposition at every turn-from the jeers of teammates and the taunts of spectators who thought he had no place in a “white man’s sport” to the disapproval of his father, who wanted Louis to focus on tribal life. Louis finally made it to the major league Cleveland Spiders, but racism followed him, until one momentous day in June 1897 at New York’s Polo Grounds. Facing off against the most feared pitcher in baseball, Louis proved he belonged in the sport. Here is the inspiring story of a boy who dared to make his dream a reality. With determination, courage, and quiet dignity, Louis Sockalexis smashed racial barriers and home runs, leaving an indelible mark on America’s favorite sport.

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