Scipio Spinks

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Scipio Ronald Spinks

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 185 lb.
• High School John Marshall Harlan High School, St. Rita of Cascia High School
• Debut September 16, 1969
• Final Game June 9, 1973
• Born July 12, 1947 in Chicago, IL USA

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Biographical Information

Scipio Spinks possessed one of several promising young arms to reach the Houston Astros in the 1960s. Like most of them, Spinks developed arm trouble. Scipio was a fast and wild young pitcher but appeared to be harnessing his stuff for 16 starts (5-5 record) with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1972. However, he injured a knee in a collision at the plate with Johnny Bench. (Because of his good speed, Spinks had served as a as an occasional pinch-runner previously that year, but he was on base after singling.)

He wound up with a sore shoulder in 1973 and was out of the majors after that season. The Chicago, IL native was sent to the Chicago Cubs for Jim Hickman in March 1974 but never pitched for the Bruins. His pro career continued through 1976, and after that he became a scout, also coaching for a year at Jackson State University.

In 1989, Spinks played for the Winter Haven Super Sox of the Senior Professional Baseball Association. He then returned to scouting and later became a minor league pitching coach with the San Diego Padres, including coaching the Idaho Falls Braves in 1995 and Clinton Lumber Kings in 1996. Spinks worked as a free agent scout for a number of years with responsibility for 16 teams in eight different organizations, in the Texas League and the Pacific Coast League. In 2010, he was on the Astros' pro scouting staff. He also worked in the Houston area with youth baseball.

Related Sites

• Scipio Spinks at the SABR Bio Project