#423) STEVE SPRINGER

Steve Springer was originally selected by the New York Mets in the 20th round of the 1982 amateur draft. The right-handed hitting infielder was named the Doubleday Award winner for Class-A when he hit .338, with 12 home runs, and 88 RBIs for the Columbia Mets in 1983. After six seasons in the minor league system he had advanced to the Triple-A Tidewater Tides. He was there when the Mets traded him along with Tom McCarthy to the Chicago White Sox organization. New York received Vince Harris and Mike Maksudian in the deal on August 4, 1988. "I've never really felt like a prospect. That's the indication that I have gotten here," Steve said before the trade. "They don't have any plans for me. I'm just helping them out in Triple-A." Springer eventually made his major league debut with the Cleveland Indians on May 22, 1990.

Steve returned to the Mets when he signed a free agent contract on December 19, 1991. It was not until the 1992 season, a full decade later, that he would finally reach Shea Stadium in a Mets uniform. Springer would strike out as a pinch-hitter leading off the ninth inning facing Mitch Williams on August 15, 1992. It was one of four appearances that Steve would have with the major league club before returning to Triple-A in late August. Springer collected two hits in five at-bats while in New York.

Springer would move to the Detroit Tigers organization in 1994. Following his playing career, he would spend five years as a scout with the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 2000, Steve became a player agent and the senior athlete advisor for the GAAMES agency in Scottsdale, Arizona. He began marketing "Quality At-Bats" an instructional CD on hitting technique in 2003. Steve later became a minor league performance coach with the Toronto Blue Jays organization. "I can't spell psychology", Springer explained about his ability to train future major league players. "I've got hard knocks, 6,000 at-bats. I think that God put me in Triple-A of 11 years to do what I'm doing right now."

"A 4-foot 11 freshman who barely makes the team, who doesn't start as a senior in high school, and I played in the big leagues?" Springer reflected in 2014. "I'm totally fine with my career."

Steve Springer signed his card in the set from an autograph request sent to his home on May 29, 2010.

"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, but God's wrath remains on him." (John 3:36)