Bill Speas

William John Speas Sr.

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 155 lb.

• Born August 17, 1887 in Toledo, OH USA
• Died January 13, 1969 in Tyler, TX USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Outfielder Bill Speas played in the minor leagues from 1906 to 1927.

Speas began his professional career as an 18-year-old in 1906, suiting up for the Mansfield Giants of the Ohio-Pennsylvania League. He remained in that league until 1908, moving to the Pacific Coast League for the first time in 1909, playing for the Portland Beavers. Moving to the Northwestern League in 1911, Speas remained there until partway through the 1913 campaign, when he returned to Portland and the PCL, where he remained until 1916. He also spent part of 1916 with the PCL's San Francisco Seals. During the height of his career, Speas was considered one of the best fielders in the Pacific Coast League and was once said to have had the best throwing arm in the league.

He bounced around the Central League, Pacific Coast International League, PCL, Western Canada League and Western League from 1917 to 1921, finally settling down in the Mississippi Valley League, where he remained for the rest of his playing career, until 1927. It was in the Mississippi Valley League that Speas posted the best offensive statistics of his career. From 1921 to 1924, he never hit below .326, and in 1922 and 1923, he hit .382 and .363, respectively. He finished second in the league in batting average in 1922 (trailing Freddy Leach by only a single point) and he led the league in 1923. He led the Western Canada League with a .350 batting average in 1921, as well.

Speas finished his career with a .284 batting average. He had 2,490 hits in 2,430 games.

His son, William Speas, played in the minor leagues in the 1930s and 1940s.

Year-by-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Playoffs
1918	Tacoma Tigers	Pacific Coast International League	13-9	--	Team disbanded May 26
1919	Regina Senators	Western Canada League	43-60	3rd
1920	Regina Senators	Western Canada League	72-41	2nd	Lost League Finals
1921	Regina Senators	Western Canada League	37-43	--	Team disbanded August 10
1922	Cedar Rapids Bunnies	Mississippi Valley League	92-37	1st	none League Champs
1923	Cedar Rapids Bunnies	Mississippi Valley League	69-56	3rd	none
1924	Cedar Rapids Bunnies	Mississippi Valley League	54-67	7th	none
1925	Cedar Rapids Bunnies	Mississippi Valley League	74-51	1st	none League Champs
1926	Dubuque Speasmen	Mississippi Valley League	56-63	6th	none
1927	Dubuque Dubs	Mississippi Valley League	66-41	1st	none League Champs
1928	Dubuque Dubs	Mississippi Valley League		--	--	replaced by John Armstrong on June 14
	Ottumwa Packers	Mississippi Valley League		7th	none	replaced Preston Gray
1929	Cedar Rapids Bunnies	Mississippi Valley League		--	--	replaced by Tibb Serre