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RhysI have researched and collected Sockalexis memorabilia for a long time and read every book out there as well as conversated with many of the authors. It sort of bothers me that people look for reasons not to give Sockalexis his credit cite newspaper articles from 1915 without going back further to the contextual sources and origins for proof.
While playing in the mid 1890's for Cleveland the team was constantly refered to as the Indians because of Sockalexis. For about 4 months he was the darling of baseball and the name was somewhat out of respect for him but used EVERY DAY to refer to the team. During the last 1 1/2 years the nickname was still used but mostly to poke fun at his rapidly declining skills. Basically for 2 years the Cleveland team was referred to as the Indians or Red Men or something with a Native American ring to it.
They had a vote well after Sockalexis' career from people who were old enough to remember the 1890's and came to the conclusion that the "Indians" was the name to stick. They did not necessarily do it to directly honor Sockalexis but there is absolutely no doubt that he was the genesis of the name.
Rhys Yeakley