Posnanski: Cleveland Indians, Louis Sockalexis, and The Name
From SABR member Joe Posnanski at Hardball Talk on March 18, 2014:
When I was a kid growing up in Cleveland, I believed — completely, wholeheartedly, without reservation or pause — that the Cleveland Indians were named to honor a Native American ballplayer named Louis Sockalexis, who played for Cleveland in the late 19th Century.
When I became an adult and a sportswriter, I believed — completely, wholeheartedly, without reservation or pause — that the Sockalexis story was entirely untrue, a bit of state-funded propaganda to conceal the obvious fact the Cleveland team was named the Indians only to capitalize on the many racist cliches that could be used to promote the team. It had nothing at all to do with Sockalexis.
If there is one thing I have learned in my life, it is this:
Things are always more complicated than you think.
Read the full article here: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/18/the-cleveland-indians-louis-sockalexis-and-the-name/
Originally published: March 18, 2014. Last Updated: March 18, 2014.