Spencer Arthur Abbott (August 27, 1877 in

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

– December 18, 1951 in Washington, D.C.) was a long-time minor league baseball player and manager, as well as a minor league umpire and major league coach and scout.

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 Beavers The Portland Beavers was the name of separate minor league baseball teams, which represented Portland, Oregon, in the Pacific Coast League (PCL). The team was established in 1903, the first year of the PCL. Franchise history Many baseball teams ...

, 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 The Mendoza Line is baseball jargon for a sub-.200 batting average, the supposed minimum threshold for competence at the Major League level. It derives from light-hitting shortstop Mario Mendoza, who failed to reach .200 five times in his nine b ...

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 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 The Tulsa Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and play in the ECHL. The Oilers played their home games at the Tulsa Convention Center until 2008 when they moved into the new BOK Center. For many years, the Tuls ...

to two consecutive Western League championships, and in 1921 he led the

Memphis Chicks Memphis Chicks may refer to: *Memphis Chicks (Southern Association), a Minor League Baseball team that played from 1901 to 1960 *Memphis Chicks (Southern League) The Memphis Chicks were a Minor League Baseball team that played in the Southern Lea ...

to a

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 (1902–1935), Cl ...

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 The Charlotte Hornets are an American professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Hornets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Southeast Division, and pla ...

, in 1946. Abbott managed until he was 69 years old.

Coaching and scouting career

He coached for the Washington Senators in 1935 and scouted for them as well.

References

External links

Retrosheet.org
{{DEFAULTSORT:Abbott, Spencer 1877 births 1951 deaths Portland Beavers players Baseball players from Chicago Atlanta Crackers managers Portland Beavers managers Washington Senators (1901–1960) coaches Washington Senators (1901–60) scouts Kansas City Blues (baseball) managers