--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was a kid growing up in Cleveland…" description: "\"When I was a kid growing up in Cleveland, I believed - completely, wholeheartedly, without reservation or pause - that the Cleveland Indians were named..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/joe-posnanski-36944_19th-century_when-i-was-a-kid-growing-up-in-cleveland_2714291.png" --- # When I was a kid growing up in Cleveland, I believed… ![“When I was a kid growing up in Cleveland, I believed - completely, wholeheartedly, without reservation or pause - that the Cleveland Indians were named to honor a Native American ballplayer named Louis Sockalexis, who played for Cleveland in the late 19th Century.” quote by Joe Posnanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/joe-posnanski-36944_19th-century_when-i-was-a-kid-growing-up-in-cleveland_2714291.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/joe-posnanski-36944_19th-century_when-i-was-a-kid-growing-up-in-cleveland_2714291.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/joe-posnanski-36944_19th-century_when-i-was-a-kid-growing-up-in-cleveland_2714291.png) > “When I was a kid growing up in Cleveland, I believed - completely, wholeheartedly, without reservation or pause - that the Cleveland Indians were named to honor a Native American ballplayer named Louis Sockalexis, who played for Cleveland in the late 19th Century.” [Joe Posnanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-posnanski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator’s childhood belief about the team’s name illustrates how personal narratives can create enduring myths, even without factual basis. **In simple terms:** Kids can form lasting myths about sports teams. Key Takeaway Seek evidence before accepting stories. Themes myths identity memory Mood nostalgic inquisitive Type historical cultural When to use this quote - team loyalty - family storytelling - media consumption - historical research Key Concepts narrative construction sports culture Questions to Reflect On - What other sports myths have you encountered? - How do such stories shape fan identity? A Different Perspective Personal myths may conflict with documented history. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleveland/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Indians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indians/) [Reservation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reservation/) ## Related quotes > [“It is said that Indians were sometimes named for the first thing they saw when they were born. Makes you wonder why there aren't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/it-is-said-that-indians-were-sometimes-named-for-the-first-thing-they/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [It's nice to come into a town and be referred to as the manager of the Cleveland Indians instead of as the first black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-robinson/it-s-nice-to-come-into-a-town-and-be-referred-to-as-the-manager-of/) [Frank Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-robinson/) > [I'm now the hitting the instructor with the Cleveland Indians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-murray/i-m-now-the-hitting-the-instructor-with-the-cleveland-indians/) [Eddie Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-murray/) > [“I'm in the reservation of my mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-c-louis/i-m-in-the-reservation-of-my-mind/) Adrian C. Louis > [“ I'll be at your place tonight, seven thirty." "Does seven thirty mean our reservation is at eight?" "Eight fifteen, in case we hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/i-ll-be-at-your-place-tonight-seven-thirty-does-seven-thirty-mean-our/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [I grew up in Oregon so I grew up around reservations, so I've always kind of had this knowledge. Not a tremendous amount of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katee-sackhoff/i-grew-up-in-oregon-so-i-grew-up-around-reservations-so-i-ve-always/) [Katee Sackhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katee-sackhoff/) > [As parents know, little children are, by their nature, without guile. They speak the thoughts of their minds without reservation or hesitance as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/as-parents-know-little-children-are-by-their-nature-without-guile/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [“A job should be given to those who deserve it, not those who demand it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/a-job-should-be-given-to-those-who-deserve-it-not-those-who-demand-it/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“I really don’t have to die?” – Abigail “Are we going to be doing this all night? Should I book us a reservation at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-really-don-t-have-to-die-abigail-are-we-going-to-be-doing-this-all/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“Respect for all, reward for the worthy, reservation for none.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/respect-for-all-reward-for-the-worthy-reservation-for-none/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [I'm from a reserve. A reservation. So I know everybody. Everybody knows me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaniehtiio-horn/i-m-from-a-reserve-a-reservation-so-i-know-everybody-everybody-knows/) [Kaniehtiio Horn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaniehtiio-horn/) > [The reality is, is that the military is full of native nomenclature. That's what we would call it. You've got Black Hawk helicopters, Apache…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-laduke/the-reality-is-is-that-the-military-is-full-of-native-nomenclature/) [Winona LaDuke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-laduke/) > [God made me an Indian, but not a reservation Indian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sitting-bull/god-made-me-an-indian-but-not-a-reservation-indian/) [Sitting Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sitting-bull/) > [When I go to Indian reservations in the West, and especially to the Pine Ridge Reservation, I sometimes feel unsure where to put my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-frazier/when-i-go-to-indian-reservations-in-the-west-and-especially-to-the/) [Ian Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-frazier/) > [Not everyone gets a reservation in the hot restaurant. You must pay your dues. Like it or not there is a pecking order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-morgan/not-everyone-gets-a-reservation-in-the-hot-restaurant-you-must-pay/) [Sonja Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-morgan/) ## More by Joe Posnanski > [I never argue with people who say baseball is boring, because baseball is boring. And then, suddenly, it isn't. And that's what makes it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-posnanski/i-never-argue-with-people-who-say-baseball-is-boring-because-baseball/) [Joe Posnanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-posnanski/) > [“You can’t be afraid to lose!” he shouted with a jolt of force, and he pointed at me. “You will not win all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-posnanski/you-can-t-be-afraid-to-lose-he-shouted-with-a-jolt-of-force-and-he/) [Joe Posnanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-posnanski/) > [Joe Paterno was a well-educated man, and he was also a man from a different time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-posnanski/joe-paterno-was-a-well-educated-man-and-he-was-also-a-man-from-a/) [Joe Posnanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-posnanski/) > [There's an old line that goes like this: An optimist is usually happy. And a pessimist is usually right. Maybe so. But which would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-posnanski/there-s-an-old-line-that-goes-like-this-an-optimist-is-usually-happy/) [Joe Posnanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-posnanski/) > [When you live around a working-class environment, you see what sports means to people. You see that it's the escape over the weekend. you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-posnanski/when-you-live-around-a-working-class-environment-you-see-what-sports/) [Joe Posnanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-posnanski/) > [I always say that, to me, it starts with reading. This is something I tell high school kids, college kids, people trying to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-posnanski/i-always-say-that-to-me-it-starts-with-reading-this-is-something-i/) [Joe Posnanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-posnanski/) > [Every time you write anything, at least half your readers are going to disagree with you. A big part of sports writing is how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-posnanski/every-time-you-write-anything-at-least-half-your-readers-are-going-to/) [Joe Posnanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-posnanski/) > [How good is Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel anyway? ... to me, Daniel's brilliance has nothing to do with the big numbers he puts up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-posnanski/how-good-is-missouri-quarterback-chase-daniel-anyway-to-me-daniel-s/) [Joe Posnanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-posnanski/) > [The fun of the Super Bowl is the week leading into it; once it's actually played, the story dies down very, very quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-posnanski/the-fun-of-the-super-bowl-is-the-week-leading-into-it-once-it-s/) [Joe Posnanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-posnanski/) > [Every day I make predictions that don't come anywhere close to the mark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-posnanski/every-day-i-make-predictions-that-don-t-come-anywhere-close-to-the/) [Joe Posnanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-posnanski/) > [Being wrong on facts, that's something you have a real responsibility to correct. But being wrong in the fun sports way is part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-posnanski/being-wrong-on-facts-that-s-something-you-have-a-real-responsibility/) [Joe Posnanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-posnanski/) [Explore all 12 Joe Posnanski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-posnanski/) ## More 19th century quotes > [Though my grandmother had picked up modern ideas in America, she still had some conflicting 19th-century Irish notions. She believed that daughters, educated though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemary-mahoney/though-my-grandmother-had-picked-up-modern-ideas-in-america-she-still/) [Rosemary Mahoney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemary-mahoney/) > [Nineteenth-century English literature I know; 19th-century sewage systems, not so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-duncan/nineteenth-century-english-literature-i-know-19th-century-sewage/) [Glen Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-duncan/) > [“Washington was no politician as we understand the word," replied Ratcliffe abruptly. "He stood outside of politics. The thing couldn't be done today. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/washington-was-no-politician-as-we-understand-the-word-replied/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [Then years back, when I moved to California, I happened to see a book about fashions of 19th-century Victorian England, only four pages of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/then-years-back-when-i-moved-to-california-i-happened-to-see-a-book/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Like the railroads that brought us together in the 19th century, these trails will bring us together in the 20th and 21st centuries. (at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/like-the-railroads-that-brought-us-together-in-the-19th-century-these/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [By tracing the careers of the four members of the Philosophical Breakfast Club, Laura Snyder has found a wonderful way not just to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-standage/by-tracing-the-careers-of-the-four-members-of-the-philosophical/) [Tom Standage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-standage/) > [If you look back on the history of the 20th century, the 19th century or even to the ancien régime of the 18th, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/if-you-look-back-on-the-history-of-the-20th-century-the-19th-century/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [If you look at that incredible burst of fantastic characters that emerged in the late 19th century/early 20th century, you can see so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/if-you-look-at-that-incredible-burst-of-fantastic-characters-that/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [ . . . Luddites were those frenzied traditionalists of the early 19th century who toured \[England\] wrecking new weaving machines on the theory that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/luddites-were-those-frenzied-traditionalists-of-the-early-19th/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [“The Victorian era was an age of superlatives and larger-than-life characters, and as far as that goes, Dr. Wildman Whitehouse fit right in: what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/the-victorian-era-was-an-age-of-superlatives-and-larger-than-life/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [Take any writer you want in the 19th century: they wrote with quill pens, dipping a piece of goose feather in ink and writing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-murch/take-any-writer-you-want-in-the-19th-century-they-wrote-with-quill/) [Walter Murch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-murch/) > [There are real issues that the president Donald Trump and particularly Steve Bannon, his political adviser, are pushing. It's a vision, a rather dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-franklin-jeffrey/there-are-real-issues-that-the-president-donald-trump-and/) [James Franklin Jeffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-franklin-jeffrey/) > [While every historical era has its unique appeal as a setting for tales of crime and detection, the 19th century is exceptional - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-weinman/while-every-historical-era-has-its-unique-appeal-as-a-setting-for/) [Sarah Weinman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-weinman/) > [Adolescence was invented in the 19th century to enable middle-class families to keep their children out of sweatshops. But it has degenerated into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/adolescence-was-invented-in-the-19th-century-to-enable-middle-class/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [An ethic of maternalism was central to the utopianism of 19th century feminists. I don't think that today's women see motherhood as a source…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-wright/an-ethic-of-maternalism-was-central-to-the-utopianism-of-19th-century/) Clare Wright Browse all 383 19th century quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was a kid growing up in Cleveland, I believed - completely, wholeheartedly, without reservation or pause - that the Cleveland Indians were named to honor a Native American ballplayer named Louis Sockalexis, who played for Cleveland in the late 19th Century.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joe Posnanski" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-posnanski/when-i-was-a-kid-growing-up-in-cleveland-i-believed-completely/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "19th century" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-posnanski/when-i-was-a-kid-growing-up-in-cleveland-i-believed-completely/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/joe-posnanski-36944_19th-century_when-i-was-a-kid-growing-up-in-cleveland_2714291.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/joe-posnanski-36944_19th-century_when-i-was-a-kid-growing-up-in-cleveland_2714291.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/joe-posnanski-36944_19th-century_when-i-was-a-kid-growing-up-in-cleveland_2714291.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I was a kid growing up in Cleveland, I believed - completely, wholeheartedly, without reservation or…” — Joe Posnanski", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Joe Posnanski", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-posnanski/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I was a kid growing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-posnanski/when-i-was-a-kid-growing-up-in-cleveland-i-believed-completely/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-posnanski/when-i-was-a-kid-growing-up-in-cleveland-i-believed-completely/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```