Father & Son Italian/ American MLB Players: Ed Spiezio (1964-1972) & Scott Spiezio (1996-2007)

Edward Wayne Spiezio was born on Halloween October 31st, 1941 in Joliet, Illinois. The five foot eleven infielder was signed out of college in 1963 by the St. Louis Cardinals. 

He made the team the next year during their 1964 Championship season playing in 12 brief games batting .333. Spezio played five seasons in St. Louis, mostly as a backup third baseman to Mike Shannon getting to three World Series. He hit .210 with three HRs & ten RBIs playing in 55 games in the Cards 1967 Championship season.

Post Season: He went 0-1 in the 1967 World Series against the Boston Red Sox. In the 1968 Fall Classic against the Detroit Tigers he got a hit in Game #5 off Mickey Lolich in the 5-3 Tiger win. In the off season he was traded to the expansion San Diego Padres with three other players for pitcher Dave Giusti.

Trivia: On April 8th 1969, Spezio made Padres history, getting the teams first hit & hitting the franchise’s first ever HR off pitcher Houston Astros pitcher Don Wilson.

He was the teams main third baseman their first two seasons, having his best year in 1970 batting .285 with 12 HRs & 42 RBIs. In 1971 he posted the second best fielding percentage of all NL third baseman (.962) although he saw less playing time (97 games). In 1972 he ended his playing career with the Chicago White Sox batting .238 in 74 games behind slugger Bill Melton.

In a nine year career he hit .238 with 367 hits 39 HRs 56 doubles 174 RBIs & a .303 on base %. 

Trivia: When his son Scott became a member of the St. Louis Cards in 2006, they were the third father & son combo to play for the St. Louis franchise. Both father & son Spezio have been on two World Series winning teams.

Scott Edward Spiezio was born September 21, 1972 in Joliet, Illinois. He was drafted in the 6th round in 1993 by the Oakland Athletics. He came up with the A’s in 1996 and was their main second baseman for 1997 & 1998. 

He was a fine defensive player leading the league in fielding percentage at second base with Oakland in 1997 (.990). He hit 14 HRs with 65 RBIs but only batted .243 in 1997. The versatile Spezio also played DH, first base, & third base.

For the 2000 season he signed on with the Anaheim Angels, and enjoyed the most success of his career. He hit a career high 17 HRs his first season, and became the clubs main first baseman for the next three seasons.

In the Angels 2002 Championship season he led all AL first baseman in fielding percentage for the first of two straight seasons. He also hit a career high .285 with 12 HRs 34 doubles & 82 RBIs.

Post Season: He had a big post season, starting out batting .400 with a HR & 6 RBIs in the NLDS. In the ALCS he hit a HR with 3 hits & three RBIs in Game #5 as the Angels rolled to a 13-5 victory on their way to their first World Series. Overall he batted .353 in the ALCS with a HR & 5 RBIs.

In the World Series he drove in 8 runs, having a big Game #3 with 2 hits & 3 RBIs. In Game #6 with the Angels trailing the Giants 5-0 down three games to two in the Series, Spezio blasted a three run HR off Felix Rodriguez bringing his team back in the game. The Angels rallied & went on to win the Series in seven games.

Spezio had a good 2003 season, hitting 16 HRs with career highs in doubles (36) & RBIs (83). The next year he signed on with the Mariners as a free agent but had the worst years of his career in Seattle. He only hit .215 in 2004 then .064 playing in only 29 games the next year before getting released.

In 2006 the Cardinals gave him a chance with a minor league deal a chance and he had a good spring making the team. He played as a reserve player getting into 119 games at third base, first base outfield, pinch hitting batting .272 with 13 HRs & 52 RBIs.

Post Season: In the NLCS he killed the Mets getting a two run triple off Guillermo Mota in the 7th inning of Game #2 tying the game, the Cards went on to win. Overall he drove in five runs in the Series and went on to win another World Series. 

 Spezio famously dyed the facial hair under his lip, Cardinal red during the series getting national attention on TV.

In 2007 he played his 7th position as a player when he took to the mound & pitched an inning against his old Oakland team mates.

In August he had a physical breakdown in a game against the San Diego Padres. He was sweating, irritable & had an elevated heart rate. Instead of getting medical treatment he left the ballpark, and a few days later entered treatment for substance abuse.

Drama: Six months later a warrant was issued for his arrest in Orange County California for for driving under influence, hit and run, aggravated assault and battery. 

He pleaded guilty to drunk driving & hit & run and was sentenced to 80 hours of community service. He went to AA & a three month alcohol treatment program.

Retirement: Since then he has played in two different Independent Leagues, spending 2010 with the Newark Bears. In his 12 year MLB career he batted .255 with 119 HRs 225 doubles & 549 RBIs. In two post seasons he hit .284 in 26 games, with 3 HRs 25 RBIs & World Championships.

Spezio is the front man for the heavy metal group Sand Frog. He plays guitar, sings & growls in California based Metal band.