1976 Topps #630 - Chris Speier

• Chris Speier had a 19-year career as a shortstop in the major leagues. Speier was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1970. He spent only one season in the minors before being brought up to become the starting shortstop for the Giants.
• Speier batted .235 with 8 HR in 157 games for the Giants as a rookie in 1971. Chris batted .357 (4 for 15) in the 1971 NLCS.
• In 1972 Chris was an NL All Star for the first of three straight seasons. Speier was 0 for 2 with a sacrifice hit in the 1972 game. Speier batted .269 with a career-high 15 home runs in 1972.
• Chris batted .249 with 11 HR and 71 RBI in 1973 and was 0 for 2 as the starting shortstop in the All Star Game.
• In 1974 Speier batted .250 with 9 HR and 53 RBI. He was on the team but didn't play in the 1974 All Star Game.
• Speier batted .271 with 10 HR and 69 RBI in 1975.
• Chris had an off year in 1976 and batted only .226 in 145 games. Speier started the 1977 season with the Giants (.176 in six games) but was traded to the Montreal Expos for shortstop Tim Foli on April 27. Chris batted .235 in 139 games for the Expos in 1977.
• Speier was the starting shortstop for the Expos from 1977-1982. He batted .251 in 150 games in 1978. In 1979 Chris missed some time with injuries in July and in September. He batted .227 in 113 games in 1979.
• Chris batted .265 in 128 games in 1980. In 1981 Speier batted .225 in 96 games. Chris was 5 for 16 (.400) in the 1981 NLDS and was 3 for 16 (.188) in the 1981 NLDS.
• In 1982 Speier batted .257 in 156 games. Speier played in only 88 games in 1983 and batted .257.
• Chris played for three teams in 1984. He started with the Expos (.150 in 25 games) and was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals on July 1. Speier spent about seven weeks with the Cardinals (.178 in 38 games) before being traded to the  Minnesota Twins on August 19. Chris batted .212 in 12 games for the Twins to finish the 1984 season.
• Speier became a free agent after the 1984 season. Chris was signed by the Chicago Cubs at the end of spring training in 1985. Speier spent two seasons as a utility infielder with the Cubs, batting .243 in 106 games in 1985 and .284 in 95 games in 1986.
• Chris became a free agent after the 1986 season and signed with the Giants. In 1987 Speier played in 111 games and batted .249 with 11 home runs. Speier went 0 for 5 in three games in the 1987 NLCS.
• Speier batted .216 in 82 games in 1988 and .243 in 28 games in 1989. Chris retired after the 1989 season. 
• Speier coached and managed in the minors after his playing career. He also coached in the majors and  was a coach with the 2001 World Champion Arizona Diamondbacks. Chris is now the bench coach for the Cincinnati Reds.
• Chris has a son Justin who was a reliever in the majors from 1998-2009.
• Liked to face: Rawly Eastwick (.500 in 18 AB); Nino Espinosa (.448 in 28 AB); Tommy John (.400 in 50 AB)
• Hated to face: Silvio Martinez (.000 in 17 AB); Greg Minton (.063 in 16 AB); Charlie Hough (.094 in 32 AB)

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