Tuesday, April 01, 2008

Time Flies, and Baseball is Here

Wow, almost a month, huh? Well, since my beloved Sawx are back in action tonight against the Athletics, why not a shout out to the Library of Congress and their History of Baseball web site? It includes a section on baseball cards (before they became "investments"). Ahhh, that cardboard tasting gum. MMMM.

And "history of baseball" reminds me of Louis Sockalexis, a Penobscot Indian from Maine (where I grew up) who was the first recognized American Indian to play in the big leagues and was the supposed "inspiration" for the Cleveland Indians mascot and logo. (More on Sockalexis' historical importance and the controversy surrounding the Indian's here).
"I don't remember ever seeing a quicker bat or a stronger arm. Among the moderns, possibly one player worthy of comparison is that young man Joe DiMaggio. He has a trace of Sockalexis's stuff, but I don't believe he can run or throw with the Indian." - Red Sox Manager Bill Carrigan
{source}

2 comments:

Tim Lacy said...

If you hadn't produced a credible link, I would've said you made up Sockalexis to have someone with a Sawx-sounding name. ...And doesn't Sock-a-lexis sound like a nickname made up for a fast, reliable, sleek 1990s-era player---considering the automotive allusion? - TL

Marc said...

Ha! I love some of those Ol' time baseball names. Triss Speaker, Shoeless Joe, Honus, etc. Of course, "Coco" Crisp is pretty good, too!