Tris Speaker

Called the "Grey Eagle" because his hair turned grey prematurely.

Career stats:
.345/.428/.500/.928__1882 R__3514 H__792 2B__222 3B__117 HR__1529 RBI__158 OPS+
1 MVP award (1912)


Tristram E. Speaker was born on April 4, 1888 in Hubbard, Texas. As a boy, he was involved in a horse-riding accident in which he broke his right arm. As a result, he tried throwing with his left hand and became so comfortable with it that he began throwing left-handed, even when his arm healed. Later during his college career, he broke his left arm while playing football. The doctors suggested that his arm be amputated because of the severity of the injury. Speaker, however in a House-like move, refused.

His early career was unsuccessful, but in 1909, he won the Boston Red Sox starting center fielder job and never looked back. Along with Harry Hooper and Duffy Lewis, the threesome would be known as the "Million Dollar Trio" because they were one of the best outfields in the majors. His best season would be 1912 when he led the league in doubles (53), home runs (10), and had three hitting streaks of 20+ (30, 23, 22), which is still a major-league record for one season.

After the 1915 season, Speaker and the Boston owner had a falling out. The owner wanted Speaker to take a pay cut because his batting average fell to .322. Speaker, of course, declined, and he was traded to the Cleveland Indians. Angry with Boston, Speaker demanded and ultimately received $10,000 of the $50,000 sent to Boston, and the trade is still considered one of the most lop-sided in history. In 1917 while trying to steal home, the batter lined the ball of his face. The opposing team allowed Speaker to sit out the next inning while having his face sewn up, and he went back out the inning after.

Like several players in the day, Speaker became a player-manager, but unlike many, he actually led the team to a World Series victory in 1920. However, Speaker was forced to retire from managing after a betting scandal between Speaker and Cobb, but most believe it was Dutch Leonard's anger over being kicked out of organized baseball that started all of it. Ultimately, it failed to kick either player out of baseball.

One of the best center fielders of history, Speaker was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1937 with 165 of the 201 votes.