Spencer Abbott
Encyclopedia
Spencer Arthur Abbott was a long-time minor league baseball player and manager, as well as a minor league umpire and major league coach and scout.
, the team he was managing at the time, hitting a single. A first baseman for the majority of his career, although he pitched in a few games as well, Abbott hit below .250 with regularity, nearing the Mendoza Line
on occasion. He hit over .250 only four times in 14 seasons: 1904 (.287), 1907 (.289), 1912 (.288) and 1932 (1.000).
.
From 1903 to 1906, Abbott was a player-manager, as he was from 1910 to 1911 and 1914. He did not manage from 1907 to 1909, and 1913 was the first year in which he served as a manager without playing at all. He also did not manage from 1915 to 1918, in 1935, 1944 and 1945.
In 1919 and 1920, he led the Tulsa Oilers
to two consecutive Western League championships, and in 1921 he led the Memphis Chicks
to a Southern Association
league championship as well. In 1932, he led the Portland Beavers to a league championship. The final team he led to a league championship was the Charlotte Hornets
, in 1946.
Abbott managed until he was 69 years old.
in 1935 and scouted for them as well.
Playing career
Abbott played the majority of his career from 1901 to 1914, although he did not play in 1902 or 1913. In 1932, at the age of 54, he appeared in one game for the Portland BeaversPortland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
, the team he was managing at the time, hitting a single. A first baseman for the majority of his career, although he pitched in a few games as well, Abbott hit below .250 with regularity, nearing the Mendoza Line
Mendoza Line
The Mendoza Line is an expression in baseball in the United States, deriving from the name of shortstop Mario Mendoza, whose lifetime batting average is taken to define the threshold of incompetent hitting...
on occasion. He hit over .250 only four times in 14 seasons: 1904 (.287), 1907 (.289), 1912 (.288) and 1932 (1.000).
Umpiring career
He was an umpire for part of the 1915 season in the Western LeagueWestern League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
.
Managing career
Abbott was one of the winningest managers in minor league baseball history, compiling a record of 2,180-2,037 (.517 winning percentage) in a career that spanned from 1903 to 1947. He is fifth all-time in minor league managerial wins.From 1903 to 1906, Abbott was a player-manager, as he was from 1910 to 1911 and 1914. He did not manage from 1907 to 1909, and 1913 was the first year in which he served as a manager without playing at all. He also did not manage from 1915 to 1918, in 1935, 1944 and 1945.
In 1919 and 1920, he led the Tulsa Oilers
Tulsa Oilers (baseball)
The Tulsa Oilers, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, were a minor league baseball team that existed on-and-off in multiple leagues from 1905 to 1976. For most of their history, they played at Oiler Park, which opened on July 11, 1934, and was located on the Tulsa County Fairgrounds at 15th Street and...
to two consecutive Western League championships, and in 1921 he led the Memphis Chicks
Memphis Chicks
The Memphis Chicks were an American minor league baseball team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The Chicks were charter members of the Southern Association from 1901 until November 18, 1960, when the club folded and was transferred to Macon, Georgia for 1961.The Chicks suffered a...
to a Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
league championship as well. In 1932, he led the Portland Beavers to a league championship. The final team he led to a league championship was the Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte Hornets (baseball)
The Charlotte Hornets was the name of an American minor league baseball franchise based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The club was originally founded in 1901, and lasted in some form until 1973, capturing 11 league titles during its history...
, in 1946.
Abbott managed until he was 69 years old.
Coaching and scouting career
He coached for the Washington SenatorsMinnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
in 1935 and scouted for them as well.