by Anne on October 24, 2010
Louis Sockalexis, athlete
Oct. 24, 1871-Dec. 24, 1913
Louis Sockalexis: Native American Baseball Pioneer by Bill Wise, illustrated by Bill Farnsworth (Lee & Low, 2007)
Sockalexis, the first Native American major league baseball player, won the hearts of fans with his incredible skill, but the prejudice he faced on the field and off was intense. A note in the Afterword mentions that almost fifty years after Sockalexis’ rookie year, African American Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in the major leagues.
Visit the Official Site of the Cleveland Indians, Sockalexis’ team, then known as the Cleveland Spiders.
by Anne on October 23, 2010
Victoria Woodhull, politician
Oct. 23, 1838-June 9, 1927
Woman for President: The Story of Virginia Woodhull by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Jane Dyer (Walker, 2006 reprint)
Woodhull’s run for president in 1872 is a fascinating part of American history. In this race, women’s rights were raised to a new level. Her eclectic background: fortune-teller, newspaper owner and investment business owner, to name only a few of her talents also make Woodhull a woman to be remembered.
“Who is Victoria Woodhull?” offers more information about this political pioneer.
by Anne on October 23, 2010
Pele, athlete
Oct. 23, 1940-
Young Pele: Soccer’s First Star by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by James E. Ransome (Schwartz & Wade Books, 2007)
Soccer was Pele’s passion from an early age. He played and dreamed and dreamed and played, all the while honing his skills and talent. When he finally had the opportunity to play in a youth soccer tournament, he saw that it would be possible for him, a child from humble means, to achieve his goal.
ESPN posts a biography of the “King of Futbol” on their site.
by Anne on October 23, 2010
Gertrude Ederle, athlete
Oct. 23, 1906-Nov. 30, 2003
America’s Champion Swimmer: Gertrude Ederle by David A. Adler, illustrated by Terry Widener (Harcourt, 2000, Voyager, 2005 reprint)
It’s twenty-one miles across the English Channel and in 1926, an American named Gertrude Ederle was the first woman to successfully swim across it. In the process she beat the men’s record by almost two hours.
Sports Illustrated for Women named Ederle one of the Top 100 Women Athletes.
by Anne on October 21, 2010
Ursula Le Guin, author
Oct. 21, 1929-
Amelia to Zora: Twenty-Six Women Who Changed the World by Cynthia Chin-Lee, illustrated by Megan Halsey and Sean Addy (Charlesbridge, 2005)
Best known for her Earthsea fantasy series, Le Guin is featured as “U” in this collective biography of women.
Visit Ursula Le Guin’s web site to read more about the Earthsea series, current work and other facts.
