Bill Spiers

Infobox MLB retired
name=Bill Spiers
position=Utility Infielder


bgcolor1=black
bgcolor2=#95322c
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
birthdate=birth date and age|1966|6|5
bats=Left
throws=Right
debutdate=April 7
debutyear=1989
debutteam=Milwaukee Brewers
finaldate=April 8
finalyear=2001
finalteam=Houston Astros
stat1label=Games
stat2label=Hits
stat3label=Average
stat1value=1252
stat2value=922
stat3value=.271
teams=Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, Houston Astros
highlights=2007 inductee into the South Carolina Athletics Hall of FameHolds Astros team record for reaching base in the most consecutive plate appearances with 13 in 1997

William James Spiers III (born June 5 1966 in Orangeburg, South Carolina) is a former infielder in Major League Baseball who played primarily as an shortstop and third baseman from 1989-2001. He was also a punter for Clemson University. He was a first round draft pick (13th overall) in the 1987 amateur draft. He debuted in the majors two years later with the Milwaukee Brewers on April 7, 1989.

On September 24, 1999 while playing with the Houston Astros Spiers was attacked by a 23 year old man while standing in the outfield before the bottom of the 6th inning. Teammate Mike Hampton was first on the scene and delivered several kicks to the attacker. He was later quoted saying "The good thing was he didn't have a weapon... I always check right field before I deliver the first pitch. It's just a habit. I looked out there and saw the guy on Billy's back... It was a scary thing. My instincts just took over. My rage took over. I was pretty furious. I wanted to get him off my teammate." After being arrested the attacker faced two counts of battery and one count of disorderly conduct. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_19990925/ai_n10541322] Spiers wound up with a welt under his left eye, a bloody nose and whiplash. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20020921/ai_n12473064]

On May 21, 2007 Spiers was inducted into the South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame. He is now coaching both baseball and football. [http://www.thetandd.com/articles/2007/05/19/sports/doc464fa8091dab9711028683.txt]

Teams

*Milwaukee Brewers 1989-1994
*New York Mets 1995
*Houston Astros 1996-2001

Batting stats

*1,252 Games
*922 Hits
*37 Home Runs
*388 RBIs
*.271 Batting Average

External links

*baseball-reference|id=s/spierbi01