Shane Spencer
Encyclopedia
Michael Shane Spencer is a former Major League Baseball
outfielder
. In Major League Baseball, he played a total of 538 games for the New York Yankees
, Texas Rangers
, Cleveland Indians
, and New York Mets
, compiling 438 hits
, 59 home run
s, and 242 RBI
. He was a replacement player during spring training
in , crossing the picket line during the 1994 Major League Baseball strike.
in only 67 at-bats, earning him a spot on the Yankees postseason roster.
Spencer was nicknamed Roy Hobbs, in reference to the protagonist in The Natural
, because he hit so many home runs and was older than most rookies when brought up to the majors. He hit a long home run in Yankee Stadium
during the Divisional Series against the Texas Rangers, and the Yankees went on to win the World Series
.
, winning three. He split the season with Texas and Cleveland and was signed as a free agent
in by the Mets. His career did not live up to expectations, though, missing much playing time due to injury and striking out too often. In he signed with the Central League
's Hanshin Tigers
in Japan
, appearing in 108 games and hitting 9 homers. In , he continued to play for the Tigers, but was cut.
Major league teams were reluctant to sign him, despite his major league experience, because of off-field trouble after leaving the Yankees. He cut his foot in a bar in Manhattan
, and then, while he was supposed to be on rehab assignment, he was arrested for drunk driving and speeding over 97 mph. He also had problems with Florida
police during spring training 2004. He and teammate Karim Garcia
were accused of hitting and kicking a pizza-delivery man in 2004, though all charges were dropped.
Most recently, in a 2009 interview, Selena Roberts
of Sports Illustrated, when speaking about her latest book 'The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez' named Spencer in connection with A-Rod in "pitch tipping" allegations when the two played together in Texas.
, the Single-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres
since .
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
. In Major League Baseball, he played a total of 538 games for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, and New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, compiling 438 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, 59 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, and 242 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
. He was a replacement player during spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in , crossing the picket line during the 1994 Major League Baseball strike.
New York Yankees (1998-2002)
The stocky, baby-faced outfielder was first called up to the major leagues in at the age of 26, in the midst of a famously dominant season by the Yankees. He first played briefly in April, then endeared himself memorably to fans in September by hitting 10 home runs, including 3 grand slamsGrand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
in only 67 at-bats, earning him a spot on the Yankees postseason roster.
Spencer was nicknamed Roy Hobbs, in reference to the protagonist in The Natural
The Natural (film)
The Natural is a 1984 film adaptation of Bernard Malamud's 1952 baseball novel of the same name, directed by Barry Levinson and starring Robert Redford, Glenn Close and Robert Duvall...
, because he hit so many home runs and was older than most rookies when brought up to the majors. He hit a long home run in Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
during the Divisional Series against the Texas Rangers, and the Yankees went on to win the World Series
1998 World Series
The 1998 World Series, the 94th edition of Major League Baseball's championship series, matched the New York Yankees against the San Diego Padres . The Yankees swept the Series in four games to capture their second championship in three years, and their 24th overall...
.
Later career (2003-2006)
Spencer was not able to maintain that level of success, but became a solid role player and stayed with the Yankees through the season, having played in four World SeriesWorld Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
, winning three. He split the season with Texas and Cleveland and was signed as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in by the Mets. His career did not live up to expectations, though, missing much playing time due to injury and striking out too often. In he signed with the Central League
Central League
The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
's Hanshin Tigers
Hanshin Tigers
The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien, Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and are in the Central League. Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd., the subsidiary of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., owns the Hanshin Tigers directly...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, appearing in 108 games and hitting 9 homers. In , he continued to play for the Tigers, but was cut.
Major league teams were reluctant to sign him, despite his major league experience, because of off-field trouble after leaving the Yankees. He cut his foot in a bar in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, and then, while he was supposed to be on rehab assignment, he was arrested for drunk driving and speeding over 97 mph. He also had problems with Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
police during spring training 2004. He and teammate Karim Garcia
Karim García
Gustavo Karim García Aguayo is an outfielder with the Hanhwa Eagles of the Korean Baseball Organization. García bats and throws left-handed, and has been nicknamed "The Latino Bambino."-Early years:...
were accused of hitting and kicking a pizza-delivery man in 2004, though all charges were dropped.
Most recently, in a 2009 interview, Selena Roberts
Selena Roberts
Selena Roberts is an American author and sportswriter, currently a senior writer for Sports Illustrated. She joined the New York Times in 1996 and became a columnist in 2002...
of Sports Illustrated, when speaking about her latest book 'The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez' named Spencer in connection with A-Rod in "pitch tipping" allegations when the two played together in Texas.
Coaching
After his playing career ended, Spencer's career turned to coaching, and he has served as the hitting coach for the Lake Elsinore StormLake Elsinore Storm
The Lake Elsinore Storm is a minor league baseball team in Lake Elsinore, California, USA. It is a Class A - Advanced team in the California League, and is a farm team of the San Diego Padres. The Storm plays its home games at Lake Elsinore Diamond...
, the Single-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
since .