COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) – A Maine author who wrote a biography of Penobscot Indian baseball legend Louis Sockalexis told a group at the National Baseball Hall of Fame that Sockalexis deserves further recognition and respect for his Major League baseball playing days.

Ed Rice of Orono, who wrote “Baseball’s First Indian – Louis Sockalexis: Penobscot Legend, Cleveland Indian,” spoke at the final session of the 17th Cooperstown Symposium on Baseball and American Culture, which was Wednesday through Friday.

Rice told an audience of about 30 people that Sockalexis in his time was a figure much like Jackie Robinson, who was the first black major league player and faced racism from fans and players as he broke into the big leagues. Major league managers were so impressed by Sockalexis’ abilities, Rice said, that they signed other American Indians to play.

Although Sockalexis doesn’t have the credentials to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, Rice said that he should at least be recognized as the first Indian to play in the majors. Sockalexis was stripped of that title in 1963 when a Hall of Fame historian pronounced a Sioux Indian named James Madison Toy to be the first.

“I hope to someday come to the Hall of Fame and see some sentences that celebrate the legacy of Louis Sockalexis,” Rice said.

Sockalexis, who grew up on Indian Island, was a gifted athlete whose exploits at Holy Cross and Notre Dame propelled him to the majors in 1897, where he captured the imagination of fans and emerged as perhaps the most exciting player of his time.

But Sockalexis ended up playing only 94 major league games for the Cleveland Spiders before his career was cut short from alcoholism. Still, it’s believed that he was the inspiration for the Spiders to change their name to the Indians.

The Hall of Fame currently doesn’t display any of its information on Sockalexis. The most prominent American Indian displayed is Charles “Chief” Bender, who pitched for the Philadelphia Athletics from 1903 to 1914. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1953, and his photo is included in the hall’s timeline of baseball history.

Bradford Horn, the hall’s director of public relations, said there are many former Major League players from many different backgrounds who are not represented in the Hall of Fame.

Although none of Sockalexis’ information is on display, Horn said that could change.

“Just because he’s not in the museum currently doesn’t mean that at some point he will not be,” he said.

Rice said he was hoping some Hall of Fame staff members would listen to his points about Sockalexis. Among those who were present at his talk were Hall of Fame librarian Jim Gates and director of research Tim Wiles.

“A lot of the other presenters did not have such turnout from Hall of Fame staff,” Rice said. “I feel like I’ve made my case, but now…can I stir up enough interest? My point (was) to get some recognition, and now let’s see where I can take this campaign.”