April 7, 1987 Hubbard, Tx
Tris Speaker (1888-1958 born Hubbard, Texas) is considered to be one of the best offensive and defensive centerfielders, compiling a career batting ave of .345. 3,514 hits, 792 doubles. His 449 outfield assists gave rise to his glove being known as the place where triples go to die!
After playing in the minors in Texas and Arkansas, Speaker would premiere with the Boston Americans (Red Sox) 1907-1915. He would go on to play for the Cleveland Indians (1916-1926) Washington Senators (1927) and Philadelphia Athletics (1928)
Career highlights -
- 3-time World Series champion
- AL MVP - 1912
- AL batting champ - 1916
- Baseball Hall of Fame - 1937
- Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame - 1951
- Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame - 1995
Tris Speaker signature on envelope. Having seen many of these on auction sites, I can image the collector would receive the signature and then have the envelope postmarked at the location to signature was obtained. The postmark is Aug 4, 1954 Minneapolis, Mn. The reverse has the return address of Sigurd Burg, Minneapolis, Mn
Speaker was featured along with Babe Ruth, George Alexander, Everett Scott on a set of transfers (the image is reversed) produced in Germany 1923
1927 Rinkydink stamps - printed as part of the Winnie Winkle comic strip. The family's adopted son Perry and his friends were known as Rinkydinks, therefore the Sunday color comics featured the set of Rinkydink Stamps
The Rinkydink stamp would be printed within the comics banner
Tris Speaker was also featured as one of the stamps issued in 1939 as part of the Baseball Centennial celebration. The set included 25 stamps (15 portraits and 10 key events) along with a 36-page album
Speaker would also be honored as part of the USPS 2000 Legends of Baseball issue