I mention one Jim Thorpe story in relation to Jimmy Claxton's many attempts to integrate baseball in my book (sorry for self-promotion), here's the excerpt;

"In a demonstration of the preposterous chances of Claxton integrating Southern California baseball; the PCL's Vernon Tigers turned down an offer to acquire Olympic gold medalist Jim Thorpe. Though he had hit .330 the previous season, Vernon manager Essick shot down the trade for Thorpe because, 'He was too good', and 'figured the Indian could not be blended in his baseball machine - that he wouldn't harmonize with the pale-faces on the club, either in temperament or pigment.'" (Los Angeles Times, February 7, 1921)

Too good?