Tristram Speaker was born on April 4th, 1888 in Hubbard, TX. He is considered one of the great offensive and defensive centerfielders to ever play the game. He was elected with the second group of hall of famers in 1937. Just the seventh member to enter the hall at that point.
Tris' first full season on the junior circuit began in 1909 and he batted a respectable .309 for the 3rd place Red Sox. The next season saw Boston sign Duffy Lewis to play in the outfield with Speaker and Harry Hooper. This became known as the million dollar outfield as one of the best outfields in the history of the game. (All three members of the hall of fame)
Speaker’s best season came in 1912. The Red Sox opened the newly built Fenway Park on April 20, 1912. Speaker played in every one of the Red Sox' 153 games, leading the American League in doubles with 53, and home runs with 10. He set a career high with 222 hits, 136 runs, 580 at-bats, and 52 steals. He was at the top of his game. He batted .383, a mark he would surpass three times in his career, but his .567 slugging percentage was the highest of his dead ball days. Speaker set a major league record when he had three batting streaks of 20 (30, 23, 22) or more games during the season. In center field he helped the Red Sox pitching staff by stabbing line drives and throwing out greedy base runners. The Red Sox won the pennant by finishing 14 games ahead of the Washington Senators and 15 games ahead of the Philadelphia A’s.
Speaker's career accomplishments sit along side the best who have ever played the game. As he finished his career with 3514 hits for a jaw dropping .345 lifetime batting average.
* World Series champion: 1912, 1915, 1920
* Most career doubles (792)
* Most career outfield assists (449)
* Fifth highest lifetime major-league batting average (.345)
* Fifth in career hits
* Sixth in career triples
* Eighth in career runs
* Led American League in batting 1 time
* Led American League in slugging percentage 1 time
* Led American League in on base percentage 4 times
* Led American League in hits 1 time
* Led American League in total bases 1 time
* Led American League in doubles 8 times
* Led American League in home runs 1 time
* Led American League outfielders in putouts 7 times
* Led American League outfielders in double plays 6 times
* Led American League outfielders in assists 3 times
* Led American League outfielders in fielding average 2 times
* Batted over .380 five times
* Struck out only 220 times in 10,195 at-bats
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