Bill Spiers
Encyclopedia
William James Spiers III (born June 5, 1966 in Orangeburg, South Carolina
) is a former infielder in Major League Baseball
who played primarily as a 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
Orangeburg, South Carolina
Orangeburg, also known as "The Garden City," is the principal city in and the county seat of Orangeburg County, South Carolina, United States. The city is also the fifth oldest city in the state of South Carolina. The city population was 12,765 at the 2000 census, within a Greater Orangeburg...
) is a former infielder in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played primarily as a shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
and third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
from 1989-2001. He was also a punter
Punter (football position)
A punter in American or Canadian football is a special teams player who receives the snapped ball directly from the line of scrimmage and then punts the football to the opposing team so as to limit any field position advantage. This generally happens on a fourth down in American football and a...
for Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
. He was a first round draft pick (13th overall) in the 1987 amateur draft
1987 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1987 Major League Baseball draft.-Supplemental First Round Selections:-External links:*...
. He debuted in the majors two years later with the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
on April 7, 1989.
On September 24, 1999, while playing with the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, Spiers was attacked by a 23 year old man while standing in the outfield before the bottom of the 6th inning. Teammate Mike Hampton
Mike Hampton
Michael William Hampton is a left-handed former Major League Baseball pitcher. During his career, Hampton was well known for being one of the best hitting pitchers of his time, as well as for his large contract and frequent injuries.-Early career:Mike Hampton was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in...
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