Tris Speaker photo taken by Brown Brothers. The stadium backdrop, particularly the transoms at the back edge of the stadium roofing, indicate this is the Hilltop Park in New York, home of the Highlanders. Speaker is standing to the side of the batting practice cage. Speaker did not play in New York in his abbreviated 1907 and 1908 campaigns so 1909 is the most likely year given his solid dark socks and string tied collar. By 1910 the Red Sox were using striped socks.

Another helpful fact to determine the year is the handwritten text on the back of the photo.

1909 was Speaker’s breakout year when he became a “heavy hitting outfielder” which would coincide with the above caption. This makes this photo likely from Speaker’s first full year in the Majors.