John Spencer got taste of show at Hall, saw 3 seasons
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Elmira hitter John Spencer and some of his teammates got an early shot at playing with big leaguers in July 1989, in the annual Cooperstown Hall of Fame Game scrimmage, The Elmira Star-Gazette wrote.
Spencer took advantage, going 2-for-3 and factoring in to the game-tying run, The Star-Gazette wrote.
"We didn't find out about the Hall of Fame Game until a couple days ago when we were having dinner in Canada," Spencer told The Star-Gazette afterward. "When (the manager) brought it up, we thought he was kidding. But here we are. It's a little taste of the show."
Spencer got that taste in his second pro season. He went on to see one more. He topped out at high-A.
Spencer's career began in 1988, taken by the Red Sox in the 29th round of the draft out of the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Spencer started with the Red Sox at short-season Elmira. He got into 70 games and hit .196. That July, he spoke to The Star-Gazette about being ready for certain pitches.
"You try to watch the pitcher's release and pick up the spin on the ball, then wait if it's a breaking ball," Spencer told The Star-Gazette.
Spencer returned to Elmira for 1989. He saw 54 games that summer and hit .267. He moved up for 1990, but only briefly. He saw seven games at high-A Lynchburg to end his career.
- Elmira Star-Gazette, July 10, 1988: Life in the pros throws some a curve
- Elmira Star-Gazette, July 25, 1989: Pioneers get taste of Fame
Made the Majors:1,482-31.5%
Never Made Majors:3,220-68.5%-X