Louis Sockalexis was a Native America Indian of the Penobscot tribe, born on the Penobscot Indian Island Reservation in Maine on October 24, 1871, and was known as the "Deerfoot of the Diamond".

He was the first Native American to play Major League Baseball, and signed with the National League's Cleveland Spiders in 1897 (eventually they became the Cleveland Indians). He had a horrible alcohol problem and injured his leg when he jumped out of the second story of a brothel. Although a great hitter (.338 batting average), his fielding ability was hampered by his injury. The fans still loved him and chanted war hoops and Indian yells whenever he appeared. In 1899, the owners of the Spiders split the team and sent the best players to St. Louis so they could win the pennant.Unfortunately, the Spiders released him in 1899, and sent him to the minors. He finished his career in 1901.

When Cleveland changed their name in 1915 to the Cleveland Indians, they did so to honor the memory of Louis Sockalexis, and chose a Native American as their insignia on the left sleeve of their uniform. Sockalexis had died of tuberculosis two years before.

Sockalexis was inducted into the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org