Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 238, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 October 1919 — TRIS SPEAKER LONG IDOL OF BASEBALL FANS AROUND AMERICAN LEAGUE CIRCUIT [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TRIS SPEAKER LONG IDOL OF BASEBALL FANS AROUND AMERICAN LEAGUE CIRCUIT

News of the appointment of Tris Speaker as manager of the Cleveland Indians was welcomed by baseball fans all around the American League circuit, with whom he was long a basebaU idol. He began his career in the North Texas league—he was born in Hubbard City, Tex.—and later played with the Houston team of the Texas league. Speaker first joined the Boston team late ip 1907, playing his .first game. In Philadelphia and batting .240 for the three weeks he was with the team. With Little Rock in 1908. - He was sent to Little Rock in 1908, rejoining the Red Sox at the end of the season. The next year he joined the ranks of the real stars and since then has been a consistent hitter and has been recognized as perhaps the greatest outfielder in baseball. It was in a post-season series with the Giants in 1909 that Speaker gave Boston fans striking proof of his wonderful ability. Boston won the series,

4 games to 1, and It was largely through his fine batting and fielding. “In the World’s Series of 1912 Speaker again played a prominent part. It was his long drive in the eleventh inning of the second game of the series, the return of which was muffed byWilson at the plate, which enabled the Red Sox to tie the Giants, 6 to 6, in that game, and it was his single in the memorable tenth inning of the eighth and deciding game ofthat series which put the Red Sox in position to, wfn the game and the world’s championship. Continued Fine Work. He played in the World’s Championship 191. T team when it beat Philadelphia, and, after going to Cleveland the next season, continued his fine work at bat and in the field. He has been a .300 hitter .throughout his career as a regular and 4ed the league in batting once, in 1916, when he had an average of .386. As a ground coverer, thrower andquick thinker he has had few equals and probably no superiors.

“Gavvy” Cravath of the Philadelphia National League Team, Who Was Recently Appointed to Succeed Jack Coombs, is Seen Congratulating Tris Speaker, Who Has Just Been Made Manager of the Cleveland Indians.