DARYL SPENCER
1928-2017
Inducted – 2004
A 10-year veteran in the major leagues, Daryl Dean Spencer of Wichita hit 105 home runs in his career while playing for the New York/San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers. Spencer set the major league record for a rookie middle infielder when he hit 20 home runs for the New York Giants in 1953. He and Wes Westrum are one of 23 sets of teammates to hit back-to-back homers twice in the same game. Spencer joined the U.S. Army in 1954, and missed the Giants’ World Championship season. Spencer rejoined the Giants and was the starting shortstop when the team moved to San Francisco for the 1958 season. On Opening Day, Spencer hit the first major league home run on the West Coast against Don Drysdale of the Dodgers. He finished the season with career highs in runs batted in and batting average, and hit 17 home runs. He and Willie Mays are the only teammates in baseball history to hit two home runs each on consecutive days (May 12-13, 1958). Spencer’s final season in the major leagues was in 1963. He went on to play five years in Japan and was named an All-Star there. From, 1974-78, Spencer coached Coors of Kansas, a National Baseball Congress team. In 2002, he was named the NBC Player of the Decade for the 1950s. As a teenager, Spencer played American Legion baseball in Wichita. In 1946, he led East High School to the state championship with a 21-1 record by hitting .426. He signed his first pro contract in 1949. Born July 13, 1928 – Wichita, Kansas. Graduated Wichita (KS) East High School, 1946, Attended Wichita State University, 1946-48.