Posted By:
Joe PelaezThat's a tough question for you, me, and most of the people alive today.
I was born in 1931.
Sockalexis died on Christmas eve 1913.
He played his last game 1899.
When I first read about him, was when I was a young teenager during the mid 1940's.
Can't remember the name of the book, all I can remember is that it was a sad story, and left me feeling sorry for him.
Being that I feel that it's safe to say that there's no one around that saw him play, ... the only thing that we can rely on are the words of contemporaries that played with him, against him or watched him play.
Jennings played from 1892 - 1918
Jennings played against Sockalexis 1897 - 98 - 99.
Jennings got to see Sockalexis - Wagner - Cobb during his playing, and coaching days.
What impresses me about what Jennings says, is that he's talking about an opponent that he played against. ... that's heavy.
Anthony, the only thing that I can recommend, is to dig up a good book on Sockalexis.
Any other thoughts - anyone?
Oh BTW, there was another Chief on the team, Chief Zimmer.
Chief Zimmer was around baseball for a longer period of time, but Chief Zimmer and Chief Sockalexis played together 1897/98/99 thus, The Cleveland Indians.