The Washington times., 1928-01-25
iris LANDS
HIS FULL
RELEASE
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Montreal Internationals, visited
President Griffith here last week
and asked all the details of Speakers
position. 1t is possible that the vet
eran may go to Montreal.
However, the Boston Braves are
IN the field for q capable gardener
and signing Speaker, big favorite
in Boston, might prove fine bit OF
business. They are already gambling
on obtaining the high-salaried Rogers
Hornsby and might be able to go
the limit by putting Speaker in CEN
ter field.
Speaker hit for 1927 in 141 games
with the Griffmen last season, run
ming second to Goose Goslin. VINO
hit for .S34 His III hits included
az two-baggers. six triples and two
home runs. He drove in 70 runs,
once more running second to Cos
lin, who accounted for 40 runs.
In 121 games in the outfield he
had I'll putouts, 10 assists and 10
errors. averaging 957. Goslin's
mark was .955 for 14S games. The
veteran played II games at first
base, handling 145 putouts and ~
assists with but two errors for
mark Of 1877.
Iris Speaker came to the Wash
1nRtor club last winter in the
glorious sunset of his major league
career. Tarred by the evil brush of
Dutch Leonard, he had been
cleared of all symptoms of crooked
ness by no less an authority than
Judge Kenesaw Mountain Lands.
He had been released outright by the
Cleveland club after IL years of
leadership, but demanded the right
to play again. Clark Griffith
granted his wish and the famous out
fielder signed with the Washington
club, reporting at Tampa in March.
Subbed for Judge
"Spoke," as most players call him.
worked hard and honestly. He did
his best to deliver the goods. Yet,
somehow, he took long time to get
started, and then, when apparently
moving at top speed, he was injured.
His aggressiveness was of great use
to the team, and he was the first to
volunteer as substitute to Judge
when the star first-sacker was hurt.
Long before the season ended whis-
pers were heard that he would not
De back another year.
TO 1927 Speaker earned the honor OF
being known as the greatest out.
fielder in the majors" Few in the
games history could cover as much
ground. especially going back. Few
could throw more unerringly.
The Boston Red Sox paid $500 for
him in 1907. buying him from Hous-
ton, in the Texas League, and used
him in seven games that September.
He was farnled to Little Rock. in the
Southern Association, and bought
back again for $500 in September,
1908. after he had hit for $50 In 127
games with the Travellers.
Beginning on Labor Day, 1908,
Speaker finished the season with
the Red Sox. playing in thirty-one
games. From that time on he
rapidly forged to the front and only
once, when handicapped by injuries
in 1919, did he fall below the 800
Hit 1893 in 1925
In 1925, his second last year with
Cleveland, he reached his top mark,
asa. IN nine different seasons
speaker hit for more than $50 and
was .SSO or better in five OF them.
On April IL, 1915. Speaker was
traded to Cleveland by Harry Fra
zee for Thomas. infielder, and Sam
Jones, pitcher, and enough money
10 make the deal worth $4,000.
In July, 1919, Lee Foil suddenly
resigned as manager of the Indians
and Speaker succeeded him. The
following year saw him hitting for
1888. leading his team to its first
American League pennant and to
a world series triumph over the
Brooklyn Robins.
Like all pennant-winners, the
Cleveland Club slowly disintegrated,
though Spoke" kept up his own
fine work in batting and fielding.
The fans were riding" him late in
1925 for not doing better and then
came the scandal resulting in his
coming to the Washington club.