Karl Spooner

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Karl Benjamin Spooner (born June 23, 1931, in Oriskany Falls, New York – died April 10, 1984, in Vero Beach, Florida) was a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher.

Signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers as an amateur free agent in 1951, Spooner would make his Major League Baseball debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers on September 22, 1954, and appear in his final game on September 17, 1955.

The book Carl Erskine's Tales from the Dodgers Dugout: Extra Innings (2004) includes short stories from former Dodger pitcher Carl Erskine. Spooner is prominent in many of these stories.

Spooner was considered by many in Major League Baseball to be the next superstar after his stellar rookie year of 1954. Although he only started two games on the mound for the Dodgers, Spooner, compiled two complete game shutouts, throwing all 18 innings, giving up 7 total hits and no runs. Spooner struck out the very first six batters he faced that year, a record later tied in 1962 by Pete Richert.

However, during Spring Training prior to the 1955 season, Spooner entered a game without warming up properly. A severe arm injury was the result, and Spooner would only appear in 29 more games in his career. Prior to the injury, Spooner yielded a fastball that ranged in the mid to high 90s.

[edit] Sources

• Karl Spooner at Baseball Reference.com
• The Deadball Era

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