Shane Spencer
This next guy was actually born in Key West, FL and seems to have lived in Florida during his playing days, but he found himself on the opposite end of the country in sunny East County San Diego when he was a teen. He was drafted out of high school in the 28th round, and after leaving Granite Hills, went on play on the biggest stage in baseball and become the first and so far only GHHS Eagle to ever be part of a team that won the World Series.
Shane Spencer put together a decent 7-year major league career as a "4th outfielder" type of player. His best year was his first in the league, 1998. Despite only playing in 27 regular-season games, he was a powerful secret weapon for the Yankees down the stretch, putting up an incredible slash line of .373/.411/.910 with 10 home runs, endearing himself to the Bronx faithful and earning the nickname Shane Spencer, the Home Run Dispenser. He was especially on fire in September, dispensing 3 grand slams in 42 plate appearances. He kept it going in the ALDS, hitting 2 key home runs for New York. In the World Series against San Diego, he played in 1 game, getting a hit in 3 at-bats as the Yankees swept the Padres.
He stuck around New York as a part-time player for a few more years, though he couldn't replicate that rookie magic, averaging .263 over his 5 years in pinstripes, picking up a couple more rings along the way. Toward the end of his career, he played a few games with the Indians, Rangers, and Mets, ending his MLB career after the 2004 season. After a couple years in Japan with the Hanshin Tigers (coincidentally the same team fellow Granite Hills alum Mike Reinbach played for in the late 70s), he hung up his cleats after 2006 and these days he's coaching in the minors.
In summation, the '98 baseball season may have ended in heartbreak for me (being a Padres fan), but in a silver lining, at least Granite Hills had a presence on a World Series Champion. So that's something for me and other Eagles to be proud of. You done good, Shane! Though I missed going to school with him by a couple years, it's cool that someone from my high school won the World Series, even if it was sadly at the expense of our hometown Padres.
CARDS
Though he was never a super hot prospect (was 26 by the time he got called up) and was never really an everyday player, Shane's got several cards out there. I've got a few of them.
o 1990 Tampa Yankees Diamond #25 Shane Spencer
o 1992 Greensboro Hornets Classic/Best #4 Shane Spencer
o 1992 Greensboro Hornets Fleer/ProCards #795 Shane Spencer
o 1992 Tampa Yankees Team Issue #29 Shane Spencer
o 1993 Greensboro Hornets Classic/Best #21 Shane Spencer
o 1993 Greensboro Hornets Fleer/ProCards #900 Shane Spencer
o 1994 Tampa Yankees Classic #24 Shane Spencer
o 1994 Tampa Yankees Fleer/ProCards #2398 Shane Spencer
o 1995 SP Top Prospects #121 Shane Spencer
o 1995 Tampa Yankees Team Issue #26 Shane Spencer
o 1996 Bowman #251 Shane Spencer
x 1996 Bowman Foil #251 Shane Spencer
x 1996 Excel #93 Shane Spencer
o 1996 Excel Season Crowns #10 Shane Spencer
o 1996 Norwich Navigators Best #25 Shane Spencer
x 1996 Topps #436 Shane Spencer
o 1997 Columbus Clippers Best #28 Shane Spencer
o 1997 Columbus Clippers D.A.R.E. #26 Shane Spencer
o 1998 Columbus Clippers Multi-Ad #29 Shane Spencer
o 1998 Columbus Clippers Police #24 Shane Spencer
o 2000-01 Lineup Venezuela #131 Shane Spencer
x 2001 Bowman Heritage #126 Shane Spencer
o 2001 Columbus Clippers Choice #21 Shane Spencer
o 2001 Stadium Club #77 Shane Spencer
x 2001 Topps #460 Shane Spencer
o 2001 Topps Chrome #560 Shane Spencer
o 2001 Topps Chrome Retrofractors #560 Shane Spencer
o 2001 Topps Employee #460 Shane Spencer
o 2001 Topps Gold #460 Shane Spencer
o 2001 Topps Home Team Advantage #460 Shane Spencer
o 2001 Topps Limited #460 Shane Spencer
o 2002 Topps Total #658 Shane Spencer
o 2003 Indians Postcards #59 Shane Spencer
o 2003 Topps #496 Shane Spencer
o 2003 Topps Black #496 Shane Spencer
o 2003 Topps Gold #496 Shane Spencer
x 2003 Topps Home Team Advantage #496 Shane Spencer
o 2003 Topps Traded Transactions Bat Relics #SS Shane Spencer
x 2004 Topps #428 Shane Spencer
o 2004 Topps 1st Edition #428 Shane Spencer
o 2004 Topps Black #428 Shane Spencer
o 2004 Topps Gold #428 Shane Spencer
x 2004 Topps Heritage #363 Shane Spencer
o 2004 Topps Total #693 Shane Spencer
o 2004 Topps Total Press Plates Black #693 Shane Spencer
o 2004 Topps Total Press Plates Cyan #693 Shane Spencer
o 2004 Topps Total Press Plates Magenta #693 Shane Spencer
o 2004 Topps Total Press Plates Yellow #693 Shane Spencer
o 2004 Topps Total Silver #693 Shane Spencer
o 2013 TriStar Signa Cuts Bronx Edition Shane Spencer CUT AUTO gold /25
o 2013 TriStar Signa Cuts Bronx Edition Shane Spencer CUT AUTO green /10
x 2013 TriStar Signa Cuts Bronx Edition Shane Spencer CUT AUTO red /5
AUTOGRAPH
Spencer doesn't have any real pack-certified autos, but I've picked up a couple semi-certified autographs.
Next up is a guy I went to school with-- in the same class as me and all that! It'll be a good one.
Guys From Granite countdown
8. Preface (minor leaguers)
7. Mike Reinbach
6. John Barnes
5. Chris Jones
4. Tom Fordham
3. Shane Spencer
2. (coming soon)
1. (coming soon)
I've got a nice Shane Spencer game used bat memorabilia card. If your interested,drop me an E-Mail.
ReplyDeleteNice! I always liked him.
ReplyDeleteAt some point during the 1980's, a scout sat down with Shane Spencer's family and laid it all out for them... He's got some talent, but if he's going to make any kind of career out of baseball, the first step is to move across the country and get him into Granite Hills HS. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'd completely forgotten about his 3/4 of a season with the Mets... and I have that 2004 card, I just haven't seen it in a while.
FYI, it looks like Mr. Spencer might have some cards from his time in Japan. I wasn't able to find any images, but there are some hits that show up in a Google search on "BBM Shane Spencer".