"Spoonman"
(1989-1997)
Inaugural Inductee: June 2000
Wilfred
Spoon came to the Beat in early 1989 in a rather odd fashion. He was planted by
a couple of the team's ad-league players to 'accidentally' happen across a
practice at Moscone and ask to sit in. The Spoonman was an instant fit and soon
worked his way into the Beat outfield.
Unfortunately, after just two years with the team Wilf suffered a torn ACL which
required multiple surgeries and had him on the injured reserve list for two full
years. Wilf still hung out with the squad, coached during the games and partied
at night. He returned to the lineup just in time to see manager Jim Harvey move
to Minneapolis. Somehow, Wilf was just the logical choice as Jim's replacement.
Wilf managed through some very rocky times as the team buckled under the loss of
it's emotional leader, and Wilf's first season at the helm saw the team drop
back to 'D' league for the first time since the team's first year. But this was
a better team than the '88 squad and the drop seemed to motivate the players.
Wilf lead the team to it's second division title in just his second year as the
team bounced right back to 'DD'. One year later the team took it to another
level finishing it's first perfect season and taking a giant step up to 'C'
league where they would stay.
With the tougher competition the team struggled for some time. But in Wilf's
last season the chemistry struck again as the Beat gained a reputation for close
comeback wins. The team posted a 5 game win streak winning 3 consecutive games
by only 1 run each. The team was well positioned for its first 'C' league title,
but faltered at the end and finished in second.
Wilf was with the Beat for 9 years, 5 of those as a manager, before heading for
the east coast following the summer 1997 season. For his work managing the team
from the struggling, infighting mess it was in 1993 to a 'C' league contender,
Wilf won the Brass Beat award in his final season with the team, the season he
also took his first and only homerun title.
Kevin Austin, July 2004
Career
stats and player cards
