Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-03-12
SOCKALEXIS IS A SHADOW.
Once Famous Indian Player Wasting
AWAY in OldtoWn.

49,
graceful ball player, unable to play
the game as he did when his name
was on the lips of every fan in the
country, Louis p. Sookalexis, the
chief of all Indian ball players, the
quondam idol OF the boys of Holy
Cross and Notre Dame colleges and
later OF the enthusiasts who attend
ed the games Of the Waterbury, Cleve-
land and Hartford teams, lies help
less victim of dissipation at his faith
er's home in Oldtown, Me-, where the
elder Sockafexis is chief of the few
remaining Penobscots.
The downfall of Sockalexis is a
warning to every aspiring athlete
and shows that dissipation will rot
the strongest of those powers that
win money and laurels for the pos
SCISSOR. Had he not fallen a victim to
tho red mans burden there is no
question that Sockalexis would still
be among the stars of the big leagues.
1t was in the early eos that SoN
first attracted attention. He had been
playing on the Oldtown summer nine.
lie was induced to enter Holy Cross
college He made the Holy Cross
nine in 1895 and that was the best
aggregation of college ball tossers in
that section. Jack Papalau, now
with Rochester, was pitcher Mike
Powers of the Athletics was catcher.
John McTlgue. now professor at
Fordham, covered first and Walter
Curley, later with the White Sox, was
on second. Bill Fox, for years with
Minneapolis, was at short and his
namesake, known as Big Bill, now
Rev William Fox, of this city, who Is
located In Derby, was at third. Frank
Selee. then with the Bostons. consid-
cred Big Bill one of the finest third
sackers he had ever seen. He refused
TO become professional and entered
the priesthood. In the outfield was
Gaffney McAllister, now in the New
York state league. Sox covered CEN
ter and left field at different illness
The Indian was the star Of the
team. One of his greatest feats was
performed against Georgetown, when
from center he threw Billy MaloneyI
out at the plate and saved the day for
his team.
The game was one of the prettiestI
ever played in Worcester between the
Purple representatives and the nine
defending the Blue and the Gray. In
the ninth inning the score stood tcI
2 in favor of Holy Cross. When their
last turn at the bat came the George
town boys resolved to tie the score.
The first man up flied to Curley at
second. Then Billy Maloney, now the
fleet footed center fielder OF the!
Brooklyn National league team
sauntered to the plate. Billy waited
until four wide ones passed and walk
ed to first.
Even in those days Maloney was
f1eet-footed and he stole second on
Mike Powers. A short passed ball
placed him on third and Big
George" Mahoney. the twirler for the
Blue and the Gray. now policeman
in Boston, was at the bat.
Mahoney. when he hit them on the
nose, generally sent them mile and
the Holy Cross fielders were playingl
deep for him. Papalau fooled the
slugger on two straight balls and I'll
looked bad for Georgetown. But Ma
honey had his nerve with him and
refused to bite at the next three halls
all being wide. II was three and two
and Papalau had 10 put one over.
He did so, but it never passed the
plate. Mahoney hit il waist high
and put all his strength against the
horsehide. He met 1t on the seam and
away Il went on a line for the flag
pole In deep center.
II looked like a home run to the
Georgetown player. but he forgos /
that sock" was racing with the ball
Yard after yard was covered by thct
speedy Indian. and as the ball starte.il
80 descend be was waiting for IL in
POSITION for a perfect throw to the
plate.
Thud vent the ball into sock'rl
glove and toward the plate IeeFei
Mslouey. Who had been hugging third
waiting for the bail TO Be caught OF
mufed Seeks throw vas a BEAUTY
Tie threw the ball on a dead Iine-af,
no tine more than ten feet in the air
the waiting hands Of Mike
Powers. and Billy Nsiousy. one Of ths
fsstexf men PLAYING the game. was
nsiIsd two feet from the plate The
side vas out and the dsy had been
szveH 10 Holy Gross Sock was car
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