Harry Spilman

William Harry Spilman (born July 18, 1954) is a retired Major League Baseball first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds (1978–81), Houston Astros (1981–85, 1988–89), Detroit Tigers (1986), and San Francisco Giants (1986–88).

[1] In 1977 with the Trois-Rivières Aigles, he won the Eastern League batting title with a .373 average, accruing 184 hits in only 133 games.

With Dan Driessen playing first base for the Reds, the team moved Spilman to third in spring training to compete for a backup infielder spot on the roster.

[1] Spilman ultimately didn't make the team and spent most of 1978 playing for the Class AAA Indianapolis Indians of the American Association, where he batted .295 with 144 hits, 13 home runs, and 79 RBI.

The two grew up 20 miles from each other and spent $700 on a pitching machine to work on their hitting while in the Reds' system.