Stan Spence

Infobox MLB retired
name=Stan Spence
position=Outfielder


bgcolor1=#af0039
bgcolor2=#af0039
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
birthdate=March 20, 1915
city-state|South Portsmouth|Kentucky
deathdate=death date and age|1983|1|9|1915|3|20
city-state|Kinston|North Carolina
bats=Left
throws=Left
debutdate=June 8
debutyear=1940
debutteam=Boston Red Sox
finaldate=October 2
finalyear=1949
finalteam=St. Louis Browns
stat1label=Batting average
stat2label=Hits
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat1value=.282
stat2value=1090
stat3value=575
teams=
*Boston Red Sox (1940-1941, 1948-1949)
*Washington Senators (1942-1944, 1946-1947)
*St. Louis Browns (1949)
highlights=

Stanley Orville Spence (March 20, 1915 - January 9, 1983 ) was a Major League Baseball center fielder who played from by|1940 through by|1949 for the Boston Red Sox (1940-41,1948-49), Washington Senators (1942-47) and St. Louis Browns (1949). Spence batted and threw left handed. He was born in South Portsmouth, Kentucky.

A part-time player for the Boston Red Sox during two years, Spence played his first full-season for the Washington Senators in 1942 and he responded ending third in the American League batting race with a .323 average behind Ted Williams (.356) and Johnny Pesky (.331). His most productive season came in 1944, when he hit .316 and posted career-highs with 18 home runs and 100 runs batted in. After serving in World War II in 1945, he returned to the Senators a year later and hit a career-high 50 doubles with 10 triples and 16 home runs. Spence did a second stint with Boston and ended his majors career with the St. Louis Browns. A four-time All-Star in 1942, 1944, 1946 and 1947, he also was considered in the MVP vote in 1942 and from 1945-47.

Spence hit a pivotal single in the 1947 Major League All-Star Game at Wrigley Field. Prior to his at-bat, former teammate Bobby Doerr singled, stole second, and then took third on pitcher Johnny Sain's errant pickoff attempt. Spence's pinch single resulted in the final margin of 2-1.

In a nine-season career, Spence was a .282 hitter with 95 home runs and 575 RBI in 1112 games.

In 1983, Spence was one of the initial four inductees in the Kinston Professional Baseball Hall of Fame. Pat Crawford, Charlie Keller and George Suggs were the others.

Spence died in Kinston, North Carolina, at age 67.

ee also

*List of Major League Baseball triples champions
*Boston Red Sox all-time roster

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/spencst01.shtml Baseball Reference]
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Stan_Spence BR Bullpen]