December 8, 1958

One of the greatest players in baseball history died while on a fishing trip in Lake Whitney, Texas. Known for going head to head with legends such as Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth, Tristram “Tris” Speaker was one of only a few Arkansas Travelers elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Starting his career at what is now Texas Wesleyan University, he eventually went on to lead the Boston Red Sox to World Series victories in both 1912 and 1915. Speaker was one of the first thirteen men selected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.