Al Spangler


Albert Donald "Spanky" Spangler is a retired American Major League Baseball outfielder.

High school

Spangler attended Olney High School in Philadelphia PA.

College career

After turning down an offer from the Chicago White Sox, Spangler was slated to attend Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, with a full scholarship. Spangler decided to attend Duke University. He was an All-American college selection after his junior year, due to a.406 batting average.

Professional career

He was signed as a free agent by the Milwaukee Braves on June 14, 1954. He made his debut on September 16, 1959, and would go on to play his final game on September 11, 1971.
Spangler was drafted by the Houston Colt.45s as a premium selection in the 1961 Major League Baseball expansion draft and led the.45's in hitting their first two seasons. In the Colt.45s' first game against the Chicago Cubs, Spangler drove in the first run in Houston baseball history with a RBI triple in the bottom of the 1st inning off Cubs starter Don Cardwell, driving in teammate Bob Aspromonte.
On June 12, 1969, Spangler hit two home runs and drove in four runs to help lift his Cubs to a 12 to 6 victory over the Atlanta Braves.
Spangler was traded by Houston to the Los Angeles Angels on June 1, 1965. He signed with the Chicago Cubs as a free agent prior to the 1967 season, playing for that team through 1971.
Following his active career, he was a coach and minor league manager for the Chicago Cubs.