On a Maine summer day in 1884, twelve-year-old Penobscot Indian Louis Sockalexis, first fell in love with baseball. As he grew up, Louis honed his skills and dreamed of one day joining a major league team.
Louis encountered opposition at every turn-from the jeers of teammates and the taunts of spectators who thought he had no place in a "white man's sport" to the disapproval of his father, who wanted Louis to focus on tribal life. Louis finally made it to the major league Cleveland Spiders, but racism followed him, until one momentous day in June 1897 at New Yorks Polo Grounds. Facing off against the most feared pitcher in baseball, Louis proved he belonged in the sport.
Here is the inspiring story of a boy who dared make his dream a reality. With determination, courage, and quiet dignity, Louis Sockalexis smashed racial barriers and home runs, leaving an indelible mark on America's favorite sport.
Bill Farnsworth is the illustrator of more than fifty children's books. His work includes images for the Kaya books in the American Girl Series, and he has received numerous awards and honors, including Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, American Bookseller Pick of the Lists, and selection for the Society of Illustrator's Original Art Show.
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