Bill Spiers
One of the dumbest questions I've ever heard asked, I think by a fan who wrote into a newspaper, was whether Bill Spiers was related to Chris Speier. Really? REALLY? I wonder if that person also thought that U2 lead singer Bono was related to Sunny Bono.
PHOTO: Spiers' fingers on his dangling hand look abnormally long. His wife must be very happy.
STAT: Spiers nearly tied for the lead in most seasons with exactly 4 HR but he's not the only guy to have exactly 4 homers each year in 1997, 1998, and 1999.
ANAGRAM: Billy Spiers = Prissy libel
CAREER: 4/10
Spiers was a decent player who appeared in 13 seasons although never more than 132 games in any single season. He was a little below-average offensively and defensively which made it tough for him to stick as either a SS or a 3B, playing over 400 games at both positions. He played in 3 straight division series for the Astros 1997-1999, hitting well especially in 1998 with 3 doubles, 2 runs scored, and 1 RBI in 4 games.
Also worth noting- his actual 1990 Topps card had George Canale's photo and was never corrected, and during one of his return trips to County Stadium (with the Astros, I think), a "fan" jumped out of the bleachers and tackled him in right field.
ReplyDeleteSonny Bono even.
ReplyDeleteAnd Prissy Libel is the name of my new unlta-conserviative newsletter (or punk band, I haven't decided which).