The Washington times., 1911-10-28
Where Iris Speaker
4 Got His Strange Name
By IRIS SPEAKER.

1
to be named iris. Many people, know
ing that was a native of Texas. no
doubt thought 1t was given name of
local origin.
Down In my part Of the country they
into something crisp and spicy, SO the
old English name of Tristsam was SIM
ply abbreviated to Iris. and I was
forced to be satisfied with about the
shortest prefix a young man was ever
handed out at a christening.
found there was one advantage to
the name iris; 1t absolutely prevented
the boys at school from furnishing me
with a nickname. After coming to Bos-
ton, however, I was doomed, for they
have turned Speaker into Spoke"
While I have never heard Of another
Speaker connected with baseball, T feel
quite sure am the only iris in the
game.
/ was born at Hubbard City. Tex,
and ever since I can remember was
fond of ball-not always a regulation
ball, but anything that I could throw
about, and while at grammar school
! was always anxious to get into any
stand For. ~ "'A
Why He Bats Left-Handed.
When but ten years old was thrown
from q broncho and had my collarbone
and right arm broken. I was naturally
q right-handed thrower. but was forced
to use my left hand after the accident,
and finally used my left hand for
handed batter, but found my left arm
the stronger, SO changed to batting
from the left side.
tYAs started very yong and worked
hard. by the time entered the high
have worked left-handed ever since. I
was captain Of our high school team,
and during the summer months cap
tAined the Independent team that played
weekly games In the surrounding coun-
try.
] was the pitcher of our school team.
and picked up the outcurye without a
book or a teacher; in fact, I found 1t
much easier to send in a curve than
throwing from the outfield I always al
low for a curve, as it's almost i'm
possible for left-hand thrower to send
. ball any great distance without max
ing the ball curve.
Pitched to Batters.
never paid any attention to out
fielding; all I cared for was to pitch to
the batters. and then take my turn at
the bat. ! must confess that 1 always
liked TO nit. and even to this day the
greatest satisfaction that / get out Of
Baseball Is to meet the ball clean and
see 1t travel over the outfielders' heads.
All the ball fields around Hubbard
City had skin diamonds, and the balls
would get fuzzy after playing a while.
This would give the pitchers better
chance to curve the ball. ard the aver
age player was handicapped. but 1t
never seemed to bother me, as we had
few left-hand pitchers. I suppose that
YVES one reason why I was successful
ss a pitcher.
There was no tine in the year that
We could not play tall IN Texas, and
about the only let-up that l had after
] went to, the high school was the
weeks thai l spent on relatives
ranch. Ny playing on the high school
team must have attracted the attention
Of the scouts, for was offered fine in
ducements at several small institutions
OF learning In Texas. and finally, de-
Just outside of Fort Worth, where re-
Hoined one year. playing Gn the team.
Became a Professional.
The next year, 1906 decided to take
chance with the profess sionaI end OF
the game, and wrote to several Texas
managers for a position. Doke Roberts
was handling the Clebourn club, Of the
North Texas League. and ] signed up
NTH that club for the princely salary Of
s65 per month. Clebourn won the cham
Iionship and -he league busted up.
turned to Hubbard City that fall with a
scrspbook full of clippings from the
rapers around the circuit. which prize
highly TO this Cay.
.Doke Roberts purchased the Houston
franchise, and signed up with that
club for the following season for double
the figures tfat pulled down for my
first year out, and my baseball career
really began at Houston.
u C.al GaM A..