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Tristram Edgar Speaker was born on April 4, 1888, in Hubbard, Texas. As a young boy, his life took an unexpected turn when he suffered an arm injury from a horse fall, which forced him to become left-handed. His new skill set as a left-handed player set the stage for a remarkable career in baseball.
Speaker began his journey in 1905 as a pitcher for the Fort Worth Polytechnic Institute and honed his skills with the Cleburne Railroaders in the Texas League the following year. Despite a promising start, he faced familial resistance, particularly from his mother, who discouraged his ambitions in professional baseball. Despite this setback, Speaker's talent did not go unnoticed; in 1907, he was sold to the Boston Red Sox.