1978 Profile: Jim Spencer

"Off-season acquisition Jim Spencer adds depth to the Yankee lineup. Jim is a veteran American Leaguer and possesses the highest fielding percentage by a first baseman in baseball history (.995). He is without a doubt one of the finest fielding first basemen in the game.
But the left-hand hitting slugger can also hit. Last year, he twice had two home runs and eight RBIs in a game, and pounded out 18 home runs, tying a career high.
Jim is 6-2 and weighs 195 pounds, and he is a resident of Linthicum, Maryland and 30 years old. The Yankees expect Spencer to provide added depth at both first base and as a designated hitter. He has shown that he can do the job, and the Yankees welcome someone with his kind of experience and talent.
Welcome aboard, Jim Spencer."

-The New York Yankees Official 1978 Yearbook

"In Jim Spencer, the Yankees pick up one of the best fielding first basemen in baseball. He was the American League's Gold Glove first baseman last year, committing only 10 errors. In 1976, he led all A.L. first basemen in fielding, committing only two errors that year, a .998 fielding percentage. Jim possesses the best fielding percentage by a first baseman in baseball history, .995, based on first basemen who have played 1,000 or more games at the position.
Jim had a 10-game and a 9-game hitting streak last year, and his 18 home runs last year tied his career high, done in 1971 with the Angels. In 1977, he twice had two home runs and eight RBIs in a game, May 14 vs. Cleveland and July 2 vs. Minnesota. Jim played in the 1973 All-Star Game.
He was the California Angels' first selection in the free agent draft of June 1965 and broke in with Quad Cities that year. Jim hit 63 home runs and had 222 RBIs the next three years at El Paso, earning a trial with the Angels in 1968. He led the Texas League in '68 in homers (28), total bases (267) and RBIs (96). He was a unanimous Texas League All-Star selection in 1967 and 1968 and was Texas League MVP in '68.
The grandson of Ben Spencer, an outfielder with Washington in 1913, Jim played Little League, Pony, Colt and American Legion baseball. He starred in baseball and basketball at Andover High School (Linthicum, Maryland) and his four-year high school batting average was .407. He played in Yankee Stadium in 1963 in the annual Hearst Sandlot Game and hit a home run for one of his greatest thrills.
Jim's hobbies are golf and hunting."

-1978 New York Yankees Media Guide