Alvin Spearman

Alvin L. Spearman

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0" or 6' 1", Weight 160-185 lb.

• Born August 26, 1931 (SABR) or August 27, 1926 (Japan Baseball Daily) in Illinois
• Died 2015

Biographical Information

Alvin Spearman pitched in the Negro Leagues, Japan and Organized Baseball. He twice led a minor league in ERA. Before baseball, Spearman had been a Gold Gloves boxer.

Spearman broke in during the final days of the Negro Leagues. He was 0-3 for the Chicago American Giants in 1950 and remained with them in 1951. In 1952, he joined the Lewiston Broncs in the US minors. In 1953, he split time between the Danville Dans (1-1) and Torreon Cotton Dealers (1-2, 11.81, 20 H, 13 BB in 10 2/3 IP). The right-hander did not pitch in Organized Baseball in 1954; he likely spent the year in the Manitoba-Dakota League working for Carman and Winnipeg as his itinerary lists those stops.

In 1955, Spearman signed with the Hankyu Braves; he followed fellow African-Americans Jimmy Newberry, John Britton, Larry Raines and Jonas Gaines in playing for Hankyu. He hit .182/.217/.182 ; on the mound, he went 9-8 with a 2.55 ERA for a solid season. As the Pacific League was in a pitcher-friendly era, he did not place among the top 10 in ERA.

Coming off his good year in Japan, Alvin returned to Organized Baseball, where he finally made an impact. He went 18-3 with a 2.62 ERA for the Stockton Ports in 1956. He led the California League in ERA and was 5th in wins. Spearman split 1957 between Stockton (14-4, 2.73) and the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (3-7, 4.85).

In 1958, Spearman returned to Stockton to excel once more, going 20-9 with a 2.60 ERA; he also hit .262, topping .250 for the third straight season. He again led the Cal League in ERA and was also second in wins. Spearman concluded his career at AAA with the 1959 Houston Buffs, posting a 3.64 ERA yet going just 3-9.

Overall, Spearman was 60-35 in the minor leagues and 9-8 in Japan.

After baseball, Alvin worked as a salesman for 7-UP.

Sources

• Japan Baseball Daily
• SABR Minor league database
• The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues by James Riley