| Jim Spencer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| First baseman | |
| Born:(1947-07-30)July 30, 1947 Hanover, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| Died: February 10, 2002(2002-02-10) (aged 54) Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 7, 1968, for the California Angels | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 20, 1982, for the Oakland Athletics | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .250 |
| Home runs | 146 |
| Runs batted in | 599 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
James Lloyd Spencer (July 30, 1947 – February 10, 2002) was an AmericanMajor League Baseballfirst baseman. Born inHanover, Pennsylvania, the left-handed Spencer was recognized for his excellent fielding ability, but also served in later years as adesignated hitter.
Spencer was drafted by theCalifornia Angels in the first round (11th overall) of the1965 Major League Baseball Draft upon graduation from Andover High School inLinthicum, Maryland. Afterbatting .292 with 28home runs and 96runs batted in for theEl Paso Sun Kings in1968, Spencer earned a September call-up to the Angels. In nineteen games, he batted .191 with no home runs and five RBIs.
Spencer began the1969 season assigned to theHawaii Islanders, but with formerAll-StarDick Stuart not panning out at first base, he was back with the Angels by May. In just his second start of the season, he went four-for-five against theBaltimore Orioles.[1] For the season, he batted .254 with ten home runs and 31 RBIs.
While Spencer's offensive numbers improved in1970, his fielding improved more-so, as he led theAmerican League with 1,212 putouts at first and a .995fielding percentage to win theGold Glove award.
Injuries limited Spencer to 82 games in1972.
Spencer was dealt along withLloyd Allen from the Angels to theTexas Rangers forMike Epstein,Rich Hand andRick Stelmaszek on May 20, 1973.[2] He was batting .300 for the Rangers when he was named to theAL All-Star team. He had oneat-bat in the game, and flew out toleft field.[3] Despite the fact that Spencer committed just oneerror in 1973 and one in1974, he began seeing more time at DH withMike Hargrove assuming most of the first base duties. He regained the first base job in1975 with Hargrove shifting to left field. By the start of the following season, Hargrove was shifted back to his natural position.
Spencer was traded twice in as many days at the 1975Winter Meetings. He returned to the Angels along with $100,000 in exchange forBill Singer on December 10.[4] The reunion lasted only a day as he was sent withMorris Nettles to theChicago White Sox forBill Melton andSteve Dunning on December 11.[5] In1976, Spencer had career highs inhits (131), RBIs (70) andstolen bases (6). He played 143 games, and only had 2 errors throughout the season, turning 116double plays, good for a .998 fielding percentage.
On May 14,1977, Spencer enjoyed a two home run, eight RBI game against theCleveland Indians.[6] He followed that up with a second two home run, eight RBI game on July 2 against theMinnesota Twins.[7] For the season, he batted .247 with eighteen home runs and 69 RBIs, and won his second career Gold Glove.
Spencer was acquired along withTommy Cruz by theNew York Yankees from theWhite Sox forStan Thomas and cash on December 12, 1977. The transaction also included an exchange of minor-league right‐handed pitcher with Ed Ricks going to the White Sox and Bob Polinsky to the Yankees.[8] While backing upChris Chambliss at first base, he saw most of his playing time at DH inNew York. He reached the post-season for the first time in his career in1978. Spencer did not appear in the1978 American League Championship Series against theKansas City Royals;[9] however, he appeared in four of the six games of theWorld Series, and had two hits in twelve at-bats.[10]
Spencer's career high in home runs (23) came in1979 with the Yankees, in a year that he only got 295 at-bats. He only had 85 hits on the season, 41 of which were for extra bases, giving him a .593slugging percentage. Perhaps his most memorable at-bat of the season took place on July 13 againstNolan Ryan. Ryan had a no-hitter going when Spencer hit a drive tocenter field in the eighth inning.CenterfielderRick Miller made a diving attempt at the ball, but could not handle it. The official scorer ruled it an error.[11]Reggie Jackson officially ended Ryan's no-hit bid in the ninth.
Duringspring training1981, Spencer was dealt to thePittsburgh Pirates forJason Thompson, however the trade was nixed by CommissionerBowie Kuhn.[12]
Spencer was traded along withTom Underwood from theYankees to theOakland Athletics forDave Revering,Mike Patterson and minor-league left-handed pitcher Chuck Dougherty on May 20,1981.[13] He batted only .191 while in Oakland, and was released early in the1982 season.
In 1973, Spencer had a .999 fielding percentage, with one error in the 125 games he played at first base. The next year, he had one error in 60 games at first base for a .998 fielding percentage.
On February 10, 2002, Spencer died of aheart attack inFort Lauderdale, Florida, at the age of 54. The night before his death, Spencer played first base in a charity baseball game benefiting the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital inHollywood, Florida.[14] He was buried at the Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church Cemetery inTaneytown, Maryland.
· Baseball Almanac