Even with an awesome lifetime batting average of .344, Tris Speaker is invariably remembered for his superb defensive skills. Speaker holds one of the most impressive defensive records with 139 double plays as an outfielder. Only Ty Cobb, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron have played in more major league games as an outfielder than the man commonly known as the "Gray Eagle."

Speaker was quickly given this dubious nickname by teammates upon their learning of his upbringing in the plains of Texas. During his nineteen full seasons in the majors, Speaker failed to bat over .300 only once, while setting a major league record with 793 doubles. He led the American League in hits twice and his .386 batting average was the best in the league. This eagle landed smoothly in the Hall of Fame in 1937.


TRIS SPEAKER'S WORDS OF WISDOM:
"If you put a baseball and other toys in front of a baby, he'll pick up a baseball in preference to the others."

"It would be useless for any player to attempt to explain successful batting."

"Luck is the great stabilizer in baseball."

"The American boy starts swinging the bat as as soon as he can lift one."

"The Babe was a great ballplayer, sure, but Cobb was even greater. Babe could knock your brains out but Cobb would drive you crazy."