In 1916, The Newspaper Enterprise Association ran a series of brief articles called “One Minute Talks with Ballplayers.”
Edward “Tubby” Spencer, Detroit Tigers catcher:
“Most ballplayers can tell you to a fraction just what their batting average is any time you ask them. I can’t, though. In fact, I don’t know what my average was in any year that I was in the majors.
“When I was with St. Louis and Boston I never bothered about my hitting. I tried to drive in runs when I got a chance, of course, but I wasn’t figuring on a base hit or my average.
“Now that I’ve got some sense it’s different. I want those blows as much as anyone. I’m going to try to get them. No more fooling for Tubby. I only wish I had started sooner.”
Tubby Spencer
Spencer, in his first six major league seasons, from 1905-1909, and 1911 With the St. Louis Browns, Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies, hit just .214.
In 1916, when there was “No more fooling for Tubby,” he hit .370 in 54 at-bats for the Tigers. Spencer apparently reverted to his old form after that, hitting .240 and .219 in his final two major league seasons.
Baseball History Daily 
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