Tubby Spencer

Born: 1/26/1884 in Oil City, PA, USA

Died: 2/1/1945 in San Francisco, CA, USA

MLB Debut: 1905-07-24 | Final Game: 1918-09-01

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 215 lbs

Full name: Edward Russell Spencer

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Biography

Tubby Spencer, born in 1884, was a professional baseball player who made his mark in the Major Leagues from 1905 to 1918. Known primarily as a position player, Spencer participated in 449 games throughout his career, during which he accumulated 298 hits, 3 home runs, and 133 RBIs. His batting average stood at .225, reflecting the challenges many players faced during an era that predated the offensive explosion of the 1920s. Spencer's playing style was characterized by his gritty approach to the game, which was essential for survival in the competitive landscape of early 20th-century baseball. Spencer's career unfolded during a transformative period in baseball, as the sport began to emerge from the shadows of the deadball era and evolve into a more dynamic game. While he may not have been a standout power hitter, his contributions on the field were invaluable, especially in terms of versatility and situational play. Additionally, he recorded 13 stolen bases, showcasing a speed element that complemented his overall skill set. Tubby Spencer retired on September 1, 1918, leaving behind a legacy that, while modest in statistics, reflects the spirit of perseverance that defined many players of his time.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
449	1326	106	298	43	10	3	133	13	87	127	0.225	0.281	0.279	0.560	-2061.7

Career AVG .225 vs. league average .249 across their career seasons — 9.9% below league average.

Career OBP .281 vs. league average .312 across their career seasons — 9.9% below league average.

Career SLG .279 vs. league average .322 across their career seasons — 13.4% below league average.

Career OPS 0.560 vs. league average 0.634 across their career seasons — 11.7% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS	PIV
1905	SLA	AL	35	115	6	27	1	2	0	11	2	7	15	0.235	.248 (-5%)	.307 (-7%)	.322 (-14%)	.629 (-11%)	-185.8
1906	SLA	AL	58	188	15	33	6	1	0	17	4	7	11	0.176	.247 (-29%)	.307 (-33%)	.315 (-31%)	.622 (-32%)	-983.1
1907	SLA	AL	71	230	27	61	11	1	1	25	1	7	25	0.265	.245 (+8%)	.304 (-2%)	.308 (+8%)	.613 (+3%)	65.4
1908	SLA	AL	91	286	19	60	6	1	0	28	1	17	24	0.210	.240 (-13%)	.298 (-15%)	.306 (-22%)	.605 (-19%)	-867.2
1909	BOS	AL	28	74	6	12	1	0	0	9	2	6	6	0.162	.244 (-34%)	.306 (-27%)	.312 (-44%)	.618 (-35%)	-375.2
1911	PHI	NL	11	32	2	5	1	0	1	3	0	3	7	0.156	—	—	—	—	0.0
1916	DET	AL	19	54	7	20	1	1	1	10	2	6	6	0.370	.248 (+49%)	.314 (+41%)	.326 (+47%)	.640 (+44%)	378.4
1917	DET	AL	70	192	13	46	8	3	0	22	0	15	15	0.240	.248 (-4%)	.312 (+4%)	.323 (-3%)	.635 (avg)	56.3
1918	DET	AL	66	155	11	34	8	1	0	8	1	19	18	0.219	.255 (-14%)	.318 (-2%)	.326 (-13%)	.645 (-8%)	-150.5

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1B	1	0	0	0	0	0
C	405	240	1610	453	72	35

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year	Team	Pos	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1905	SLA	C	34	30	134	41	7	1
1906	SLA	C	54	49	226	60	20	3
1907	SLA	C	63	59	250	80	15	6
1908	SLA	C	88	80	398	109	9	9
1909	BOS	C	26	22	94	24	1	0
1911	PHI	C	11	0	47	15	5	2
1916	DET	C	19	0	58	21	1	1
1917	DET	C	62	0	250	57	7	10
1918	DET	1B	1	0	0	0	0	0
1918	DET	C	48	0	153	46	7	3