Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 94, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 April 1915 — SPEAKER MADE DOUBLE PLAY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SPEAKER MADE DOUBLE PLAY

Boston Red Sox Outfielder on Two Occasions Last Year Retired Players Without Assistance. Tris Speaker is the only major league outfielder who last year executed a double play without assistance from anyone. Not once, but twice, has Boston’s high-salaried star turned this trick. The first time Speaker made an unassisted double play was on April 21, in the game with the Athletics. On August 8, in a contest with the Tigers, Tris Speaker repeated his earlier performance. Speaker was born in Hubbard City, Tex., April 4, 1888. He became a professional ball player in 1906, when he joined the Cleburne, Tex,, team.

In 1907 he played with Houston. At the close of the season he was purchased by Boston and turned over to Little Rock the following spring as ground rent man, the Red Sox having trained on the Little Rock grounds. At the close of the Southern league season Speaker was repurchased by Boston for SSOO and joined the Red Sox late in the season of 1908. Speaker is one of the greatest hitters in baseball, having had a batting average of .SOO or better each season since leaving Cleburne.

Tria Speaker of Boston Red Sox.