Tris Speaker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tris Speaker
Center fielder / Manager
Born: (1888-04-04)April 4, 1888 Hubbard, Texas, U.S.
Died: December 8, 1958(1958-12-08) (aged 70) Whitney, Texas, U.S.
Batted: Left Threw: Left
debut
September 14, 1907, for the Boston Americans
Last appearance
August 30, 1928, for the Philadelphia Athletics
MLB statistics
Batting average	.345
Hits	3,514
Home runs	117
Runs batted in	1,529
Doubles	792
Managerial record	617–520
Winning %	.543
Teams
As player Boston Americans / Red Sox (1907–1915) Cleveland Indians (1916–1926) Washington Senators (1927) Philadelphia Athletics (1928) As manager Cleveland Indians (1919–1926)
Career highlights and awards
3× World Series champion (1912, 1915, 1920) AL MVP (1912) AL batting champion (1916) AL home run leader (1912) AL RBI leader (1923) Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame Cleveland Guardians Hall of Fame MLB Records 792 career doubles 449 career outfield assists
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	1937
Vote	82.1% (second ballot)

Tristram Edgar Speaker (born April 4, 1888 – died December 8, 1958) was an amazing American baseball player. People called him "the Gray Eagle" because of how he played. Many think he was one of the best players ever in Major League Baseball (MLB).

He had a career batting average of .345, which is the sixth highest of all time! Tris Speaker also holds the MLB record for the most doubles with 792. He is fifth on the all-time hits list with 3,514 hits.

Speaker was also incredible at defense. He holds records for assists, double plays, and unassisted double plays by an outfielder. People used to say his glove was "where triples go to die." This meant he was so good that he would catch balls that usually would be triples.

After playing in smaller leagues, Speaker joined the Boston Red Sox in 1907. He became their main center fielder by 1909. He helped the Red Sox win the World Series in 1912 and 1915. Later, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians. As a player and manager for Cleveland, he led them to their first World Series title in 1920.

Speaker played his last seasons with the Washington Senators in 1927 and the Philadelphia Athletics in 1928. He was later voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937.

Early Life and Baseball Start

Tris Speaker was born in Hubbard, Texas, on April 4, 1888. When he was young, he broke his arm falling from a horse. This injury made him become left-handed. In 1905, he played college baseball for Fort Worth Polytechnic Institute.

Before becoming a pro, Speaker worked on a ranch. His baseball skills caught the eye of Doak Roberts, who owned the Cleburne Railroaders. Speaker started as a pitcher but then became an outfielder. He was very good, batting .318 for the Railroaders.

In 1907, he played well for the Houston Buffaloes. Then, he was sold to the Boston Americans for about $750. He played a few games for them that year. In 1908, the team changed its name to the Boston Red Sox. Speaker was traded to the Little Rock Travelers but was bought back by the Red Sox later that year.

Becoming a Star Player

Tris Speaker in his early years

In 1909, Tris Speaker became the main center fielder for the Boston Red Sox. He hit .309 in 143 games. He also helped with 12 double plays, which was the most for an outfielder in the league.

In 1910, the Red Sox added Duffy Lewis as a left fielder. Speaker, Lewis, and Harry Hooper became known as Boston's "Million-Dollar Outfield." They were one of the best outfield groups in baseball history. Speaker was the biggest star of this group. He was so fast that he could play very close to second base, almost like an extra infielder. But he could still catch balls hit far into center field!

Amazing Records

Speaker had his best season in 1912. He played every game and led the American League (AL) in doubles (53) and home runs (10). He also had personal bests with 222 hits, 136 runs, and 52 stolen bases. His stolen base record lasted until 1973 for the team.

He batted an amazing .383 that year. Speaker also set a major league record by having three hitting streaks of 20 or more games in one season. He was the first player to hit 50 doubles and steal 50 bases in the same year. In 1912, the Red Sox won the AL pennant and then beat the New York Giants in the 1912 World Series. Speaker was named the AL Most Valuable Player for 1912.

In 1915, the Red Sox won another World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. This team had a young pitcher named Babe Ruth, who was playing his first full season.

Leading the Cleveland Indians

(Left to right) Duffy Lewis, Tris Speaker and Harry Hooper, members of Boston's "Million-Dollar Outfield"

After the 1915 season, the Red Sox wanted Speaker to take a pay cut. He refused, and so he was traded to the Cleveland Indians in April 1916. This trade was a big deal at the time. Many people thought it was one of the worst trades in Red Sox history.

With the Indians, Speaker earned $40,000 a year, making him the highest-paid player in baseball. In nine of his eleven years with Cleveland, he batted over .350. In 1916, he led the league in hits, doubles, batting average, and other stats. He even beat Ty Cobb for the batting title that year!

Speaker played so shallow in the outfield that he made six unassisted double plays at second base. He would catch a low line drive and then beat the runner to the base. He was known for coming in behind second base on a bunt to tag out a runner.

In 1919, Tris Speaker became the manager of the Cleveland Indians while still playing. He led the 1920 Indians to their first World Series win! In a key game, he made an amazing catch, running into a concrete wall to get the final out. He was knocked out but still held the ball.

During this championship season, Speaker also started using the platoon system. This meant he would try to have right-handed batters face left-handed pitchers, and vice versa. This was a new idea in baseball at the time.

On May 17, 1925, Speaker got his 3,000th hit, becoming only the fifth player to reach that milestone. In 1926, Speaker and Ty Cobb faced some accusations about fixing games. Both men were later cleared of any wrongdoing. Speaker then left his role as Cleveland's manager. He finished his managing career with 617 wins and 520 losses.

Later Years and Legacy

Lou Gehrig, Speaker, Ty Cobb, and Babe Ruth, 1928

After leaving Cleveland, Speaker played for the Washington Senators in 1927 and the Philadelphia Athletics in 1928. His major league playing career ended after 1928. He retired with 792 doubles, which is still an all-time record. He also holds records for assists and double plays as an outfielder. He is the last player to hit 200 triples in his career.

In 1929, Speaker became the manager of the Newark Bears in a minor league. He also played in some games for them.

Speaker's 1933 Goudey Gum Company baseball card

In 1937, Tris Speaker was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was honored at the first induction ceremony in 1939.

After his playing and managing days, Speaker was involved in different businesses. He also chaired Cleveland's boxing commission for several years. In 1947, he returned to baseball to help the Cleveland Indians as an "ambassador of good will." He advised and coached players, including Larry Doby, who was the first black player in the American League. Speaker worked closely with Doby to help him adjust to playing in the major leagues.

Tris Speaker died from a heart attack on December 8, 1958, at age 70. He was fishing with a friend when he collapsed. He was buried in Hubbard, Texas.

After he passed away, many famous baseball players shared their admiration for him. Ty Cobb said he greatly admired Speaker. Nap Lajoie called him "one of the greatest fellows I ever knew." His former teammate Duffy Lewis said Speaker was a true "team player."

In 1999, Sporting News ranked Tris Speaker number 27 on its list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players. He was also named to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

Regular Season Statistics

Managerial Record

See also

In Spanish: Tris Speaker para niños