Stan Spence
Born: 3/20/1915 in South Portsmouth, KY, USA
Died: 1/9/1983 in Kinston, NC, USA
MLB Debut: 1940-06-08 | Final Game: 1949-10-02
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: Stanley Orville Spence
Biography
Stan Spence, born in 1915, was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball who made his mark from 1940 until 1949. Spence played in 1,112 games during his career, compiling an impressive batting average of .282. He recorded 1,090 hits, which included 95 home runs and 575 RBIs, illustrating his ability as a consistent offensive contributor. Known for his speed on the base paths, he also tallied 21 stolen bases over his career. Spence's achievements earned him four selections to the All-Star Game, highlighting his status as one of the era's notable players.
Spence played during a transformative period in baseball, navigating the challenges of World War II and the evolving dynamics of the league. His playing style combined power with a strong batting average, making him a well-rounded threat at the plate. As a member of the post-war generation of players, Spence contributed to the revitalization of Major League Baseball, bringing excitement and competitiveness to the game in the years following the war. His legacy remains as a skilled hitter and an integral part of the fabric of baseball history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1112 | 3871 | 541 | 1090 | 196 | 60 | 95 | 575 | 21 | 520 | 248 | 0.282 | 0.369 | 0.437 | 0.806 | 12902.9 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | BOS | AL | 51 | 68 | 5 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 0.279 | 16.6 |
| 1941 | BOS | AL | 86 | 203 | 22 | 47 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 28 | 1 | 18 | 14 | 0.232 | -364.0 |
| 1942 | WSN | AL | 149 | 629 | 94 | 203 | 27 | 15 | 4 | 79 | 5 | 62 | 16 | 0.323 | 2552.2 |
| 1943 | WSN | AL | 149 | 570 | 72 | 152 | 23 | 10 | 12 | 88 | 8 | 84 | 39 | 0.267 | 1872.3 |
| 1944 | WSN | AL | 153 | 592 | 83 | 187 | 31 | 8 | 18 | 100 | 3 | 69 | 28 | 0.316 | 3362.1 |
| 1946 | WSN | AL | 152 | 578 | 83 | 169 | 50 | 10 | 16 | 87 | 1 | 62 | 31 | 0.292 | 2699.2 |
| 1947 | WSN | AL | 147 | 506 | 62 | 141 | 22 | 6 | 16 | 73 | 2 | 81 | 41 | 0.279 | 1665.5 |
| 1948 | BOS | AL | 114 | 391 | 71 | 92 | 17 | 4 | 12 | 61 | 0 | 82 | 33 | 0.235 | 572.0 |
| 1949 | BOS | AL | 7 | 20 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0.150 | 0.0 |
| 1949 | SLA | AL | 104 | 314 | 46 | 77 | 13 | 3 | 13 | 45 | 1 | 52 | 36 | 0.245 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 19 | 0 | 132 | 6 | 2 | 6 |
| OF | 990 | 0 | 2582 | 96 | 44 | 21 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | BOS | OF | 15 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1941 | BOS | 1B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1941 | BOS | OF | 52 | 0 | 97 | 6 | 0 | 2 |
| 1942 | WS1 | OF | 149 | 0 | 395 | 7 | 11 | 0 |
| 1943 | WS1 | OF | 148 | 0 | 396 | 12 | 7 | 1 |
| 1944 | WS1 | 1B | 3 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1944 | WS1 | OF | 150 | 0 | 434 | 29 | 5 | 9 |
| 1946 | WS1 | OF | 150 | 0 | 412 | 15 | 8 | 3 |
| 1947 | WS1 | OF | 142 | 0 | 408 | 12 | 7 | 3 |
| 1948 | BOS | 1B | 14 | 0 | 110 | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| 1948 | BOS | OF | 92 | 0 | 206 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
| 1949 | BOS | OF | 5 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1949 | SLA | 1B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1949 | SLA | OF | 87 | 0 | 205 | 10 | 1 | 2 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 19 |
| Left Field | 91 |
| Center Field | 800 |
| Right Field | 106 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1944 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | CF |
| 1943 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | CF |
| 1942 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | RF |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 19th | 9.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1946 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 23th | 4.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1944 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 8th | 56.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1942 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 8th | 65.0 | 336 | 0 |