Al Spangler – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Al Spangler spent 12 years in Major League Baseball, moving between four teams from 1959 to 1971. This Philadelphia native made his mark in baseball history as a dependable player and even landed on the inaugural Houston Colt .45s roster.

Spangler played 912 games in the majors, hitting .262 with 21 home runs and 175 RBIs for the Milwaukee Braves, Houston Colt .45s/Astros, Los Angeles/California Angels, and Chicago Cubs. His journey from Duke University All-American to big leaguer really showed the kind of dedication and skill that defined players from his era.

Spangler’s career goes beyond just numbers. He played during a time when baseball was changing, with new teams, teams moving cities, and styles of play evolving. After his playing days, he jumped into coaching, passing on the knowledge he’d soaked up over the years. If you’re curious about how baseball changed in the ‘60s and early ‘70s, his story is worth a look.

Early Life and Education

Albert Donald Spangler was born July 8, 1933, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His parents cared a lot about both sports and education.

His dad, an accomplished amateur in baseball and football, inspired him early. Al’s academic work eventually led him to Duke University on a full scholarship.

Growing Up in Philadelphia

Albert Donald Spangler came into the world in Philadelphia on July 8, 1933. His parents, Alpheus C. “Al” Spangler and Doris Spangler (née Jamison), made sure he had plenty of support.

His father’s athletic past gave Al a strong foundation for sports. Al got a lot of attention from his parents and his widowed grandfather.

This family support and athletic background helped Al develop great baseball skills early on. Growing up in Philadelphia also meant he was right in the heart of baseball culture.

The city’s baseball tradition definitely influenced his passion for the game as a kid.

High School Athletics

Spangler went to Olney High School in Northeast Philadelphia and started showing off his baseball talent there. The school already had a reputation for sending players to the pros.

By the time Al showed up, Olney High had produced nine pro players, and only one hadn’t made it to the majors.

Former Phillies outfielder Del Ennis graduated from Olney High eight years before Spangler. That connection to pro baseball put some pressure on Al to keep the school’s reputation going.

He rose to the challenge and stood out on the baseball team.

During high school, Richie Ashburn played center field for the Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium, just a few miles away. People started comparing Spangler to Ashburn for his speed and hitting style.

Attending Duke University

After high school, Spangler planned to attend Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, on a full scholarship. He’d already turned down an offer from the Chicago White Sox, wanting to focus on college first.

But Duke University coach Jack Coombs, a former Philadelphia Athletics pitcher, changed Al’s mind. Coombs spotted Spangler’s talent during a clinic in Philadelphia and convinced him to head to North Carolina instead.

At Duke, Spangler did well both in the classroom and on the baseball field. He studied mathematics and became a standout for the Blue Devils.

His junior year was especially impressive—he hit .406 and earned All-American honors.

That performance really caught the eye of major league scouts. His mix of academic and athletic success made him a hot prospect.

Major League Career Overview

Al Spangler played 13 seasons in the majors from 1959 to 1971, showing up in 912 games and hitting .262 with 21 home runs and 175 RBIs. He played for four teams, but his best years came with Houston, where he helped shape the new franchise.

Debut with Milwaukee Braves

Spangler debuted in the majors on September 16, 1959, with the Milwaukee Braves at age 26. Milwaukee signed him as a free agent on June 14, 1954, after his strong college career.

Those early years with the Braves weren’t easy. The team already had stars like Hank Aaron, Bill Bruton, and Andy Pafko in the outfield.

Spangler didn’t get much playing time on that stacked roster.

In 1960 and 1961, he mostly came in as a defensive replacement or pinch-hitter. Milwaukee management wanted more power hitters, so Spangler’s lack of home run pop worked against him.

The Braves left him unprotected in the 1961 expansion draft. That actually turned out to be a good thing for his career, opening up regular playing time with a new team.

Houston Colt .45s and Houston Astros Tenure

Houston picked Spangler as a top choice in the 1961 expansion draft. This move really changed his career, finally giving him a shot at regular playing time.

Spangler made some franchise history with Houston. He got the first extra-base hit and first RBI in Colt .45s history.

His 1962 season was his best—he hit .285 and almost won the team batting title, missing it on the last day.

Key Houston Statistics:

• 1962: .285 average, led team in several categories
• 1963: .281 average, led team in doubles (25) and runs scored (52)
• Hit .403 in August 1963, leading the National League that month

His most memorable game came on September 25, 1962, against the Dodgers. He scored the first run, tripled in the second, and hit a homer in extra innings to win it.

That win helped knock the Dodgers out of the pennant race. On May 17, 1963, Spangler also made a key catch to secure the final out of Don Nottebart’s no-hitter.

California Angels Years

Spangler joined the California Angels and kept doing what he did best—playing solid outfield. Details about his stats there are a bit thin, but he stayed reliable.

The Angels let him keep contributing at the big league level. He built a reputation as a solid defensive player and a contact hitter.

His experience from Houston helped the Angels as they were building their own identity. Spangler’s veteran presence added depth to their outfield.

Chicago Cubs Final Seasons

Spangler finished his MLB career with the Chicago Cubs, playing his last game on September 11, 1971. By then, he was shifting toward coaching.

The Cubs leaned on his experience and baseball smarts in those final seasons. He moved from regular player to more of a mentor for younger guys.

After hanging up his spikes, Spangler stayed in the game as a coach and later managed in the minors. Baseball stayed a big part of his life for nearly two decades.

He wrapped up his 13-year career with 912 games, a .262 average, and 175 RBIs across four teams.

Playing Style and Positions

Al Spangler could play all three outfield spots and did so for 13 years. He became a reliable backup and pinch-hitter, especially with the Cubs in his later years.

Outfielder Role and Responsibilities

Spangler mostly played left field, but he could cover center and right when needed. That flexibility made him valuable to every team he joined.

He stood 6 feet tall, weighed 175 pounds, and threw and batted left-handed. That gave him an edge against right-handed pitchers, who were everywhere back then.

He started out as a backup with the Braves in 1959. After playing 101 games in 1960 with stars like Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews, Spangler settled into his role as a dependable reserve.

Houston picked him in the 1962 expansion draft, finally giving him a shot at regular starting time. He quickly became one of their better hitters.

His .281 average in 1963 was impressive on a Houston team that only hit .220 as a group. In Chicago, he shifted into a pinch-hitting and backup role.

Notable Games and Highlights

On June 12, 1969, Spangler had a huge game against the Braves, hitting two home runs and driving in four runs. The Cubs won 12-6.

His 1959 debut with Milwaukee was solid—he went 5-for-12 in limited chances, earning more playing time the next year.

In 1968, Spangler hit .271 for the Cubs, which was well above the league average of .243 at the time.

His last season in 1971 showed his staying power. At 38, he was one of the oldest players in the league and went 2-for-5 in his final games.

The Cubs bounced him between the active roster and a coaching role in 1971. That move showed how much they respected his baseball IQ.

Batting and Fielding Statistics

Al Spangler finished with a .262 career batting average, 21 home runs, and 175 RBIs over 912 games from 1959 to 1971. He collected 594 hits, showing he could make contact, and his best years came with the Houston Colt .45s.

Career Batting Average

Spangler hit .262 for his MLB career. His top season was 1959 with the Braves, when he hit .417 in just 6 games.

During his best stretch with Houston from 1962 to 1964, he posted averages of .285, .281, and .245. In 1962, he played a career-high 129 games.

His average bounced around between teams. With Milwaukee, he hit .276 over 175 games. In Houston, he had a .265 average in 422 games.

With the Cubs, his average dropped to .241 over five seasons. His last game came on September 11, 1971, capping his career at .262.

Home Runs and RBI

Spangler hit 21 homers and drove in 175 runs during his time in the majors. He didn’t hit for much power, working mostly as a utility outfielder and pinch hitter.

His best RBI season was 1964 in Houston, when he drove in 38 runs. In 1963, he matched his career high with 27 RBIs in 120 games.

He hit 5 home runs in 1962, his top mark. He added 4 homers in both 1963 and 1964, making that his most consistent power stretch.

He never hit more than 5 home runs in a season. Most of his 175 RBIs came with Houston—he drove in 107 runs there from 1962 through 1965.

Runs and On-Base Performance

Spangler scored 307 runs in his 13-year career and posted a .347 on-base percentage. In 1963, he scored 52 runs for Houston, his best season in that category.

He got on base more with patience than power. Spangler drew 295 walks and struck out 234 times, showing solid plate discipline.

He stole 37 bases in his MLB career, with his best year coming in 1959 when he swiped 6 bags for Milwaukee.

Spangler’s 594 hits included 87 doubles and 26 triples. He picked up 134 extra-base hits, nearly 23% of his total, so he could find the gaps sometimes even if he wasn’t a slugger.

Legacy and Post-Retirement Activities

Al Spangler’s baseball life didn’t end when he stopped playing. He moved into coaching and helped develop young players. His experience with expansion teams and steady glove earned him respect in baseball circles.

Coaching and Minor League Management

The Chicago Cubs kept Spangler on after he wrapped up his playing days in 1971. They brought him onto manager Leo Durocher’s coaching staff for that season.

Spangler used his coaching experience to help develop outfielders. With 13 years in the majors, he had plenty of practical know-how about defensive positioning and base running.

He worked closely with the Cubs organization, connecting veteran leadership with younger players. Spangler knew all about fighting for roster spots and figuring out different team systems.

Switching from player to coach gave Spangler a chance to pass his knowledge to the next wave of baseball talent. His patient style and deep understanding of the game really made him stand out as an instructor.

Influence on Expansion Teams

Spangler played a big part in the early days of the Houston Colt .45s. He actually notched the first extra-base hit and RBI in team history during their first season in 1962.

His .285 batting average that year set a strong example for the new franchise. He came close to winning the team’s batting title, missing it only on the final day.

Spangler’s steady play gave Houston some much-needed credibility in those early years. His professional attitude and reliable performance helped the team build its identity.

He brought experience from different organizations, which helped the Colt .45s handle their early struggles. Spangler knew how to adjust to new systems and keep his game sharp.

Recognition in Baseball

Baseball historians still talk about what Spangler did during the expansion era. His work in launching the Houston franchise earned him a spot in their early story.

People often compared Spangler’s defense and speed to Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn. Even though he didn’t have much power, that kind of praise said a lot about his skills.

He played in 912 big league games over 13 seasons, which is a pretty long run for a reserve. Spangler’s steady approach kept him in the majors longer than a lot of everyday players.

Teammates and opponents respected him for his work ethic and commitment. Honestly, his dedication set a solid example for the younger guys coming up.

Personal Life and Net Worth

Al Spangler managed to build a stable family life during his baseball years, then moved into education after he retired. His playing salary was modest, which wasn’t unusual for role players back then.

Life After Baseball

Spangler finished his undergraduate degree in mathematics at Duke University while he was still playing. He married Patricia Tarleton, who was from North Carolina, in February 1955 after meeting her during his sophomore year at Duke.

By 2013, they had celebrated 58 years of marriage. They raised two kids, David Alan and Laura Ann Hicks, and had three grandchildren.

After he retired from baseball in 1971, Spangler leaned on his math background and started working in education. He taught and coached, passing on his baseball knowledge to younger generations.

Spangler stayed involved with the baseball world even after his playing days ended. Sometimes he showed up at alumni events and kept in touch with old teammates from his 13-year major league career.

Net Worth Details

Spangler’s net worth pretty much matched what most reserve players made in the 1960s and early ’70s. Back then, major league salaries were way lower than what players get now.

Guys like Spangler usually took home somewhere between $7,000 and $15,000 a year at the height of their careers. I’d guess his time with the Houston Colt .45s gave him the steadiest paycheck.

Baseball didn’t offer much in the way of pensions during Spangler’s playing days. Players had to put in 10 years to get a full pension, and Spangler actually hit that mark with his 13-year run.

After baseball, he switched over to teaching, which brought in a regular income, though nothing flashy. Public school teachers in the ’70s and ’80s usually earned between $8,000 and $20,000 a year, so it was enough to get by but not exactly a windfall.