Speaker, Tris (1888-1958), an American baseball player, was known as the “Gray Eagle” because of his gray hair and his speed in playing center field. He revolutionized outfield defense by playing close to the infield and catching balls that normally fell in for base hits. His great speed enabled him to run back and catch balls hit over his head. Speaker holds the American League record for career putouts by an outfielder with 6,788. He had a powerful throwing arm and recorded 449 career assists, more than any other major league outfielder. Speaker holds the major league record for career doubles with 792.
Tristram E. Speaker was born in Hubbard, Texas, on April 4, 1888. He played with the Boston Red Sox from 1907 to 1915 and with the Cleveland Indians (now called the Cleveland Guardians) from 1916 to 1926. He also managed the Indians from 1919 to 1926. In 1927, Speaker played for the Washington Senators, and the following year he played for the Philadelphia Athletics. He had a lifetime batting average of .345. Speaker was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937. He died on Dec. 8, 1958.
