Scott Spiezio wears not one, but two World Series rings on his right hand. The path to earning those symbols of professional success are a source of pride for the Morris resident who provided students at Coal City High School with a look at his life—both personal and professional.
Scott grew up around baseball, his father—Ed Spiezio— is a two time World Series Champion himself. In fact, the father and son duo are the first to ever win a World Series ring with the same team, the St. Louis Cardinals. Scott in 2006 and Ed in 1964 and 1967.
The first championship ring for Scott came in 2002 when he was with the Anaheim Angels. Game six of the series was a big one for Scott. The Angels were down and facing a series loss when he stepped to the plate and hit a three run homer to get his team back in the game. Scott finished out his tenure with the Angels the following season.
A standout in high school, Scott played for the Morris Redskins and he took his talent and love of the game to the University of Illinois where he made the All Big 10 team twice. He played in various summer collegiate leagues and was part of the 1990 World Junior Baseball Championship team that played in Cuba. In 1993 he was selected by the Oakland A’s and made his MLB debut with them in September 1996. He would go on to play with the Angels, Seattle Mariners and finished his career with St. Louis in 2007.
From a young age, Scott had his sights set on playing major league baseball and that’s what he did. Guided by his father and supported by his mother who would shag baseballs in the backyard, he grew and developed as a player. As Scott notes, “I was fortunate to have a major league coach for my whole life.”
In his quest to wear a major league uniform, Scott worked hard every day to improve his skills. Dedicated to achieving his goal, he lived a clean life avoiding the dangers of drugs and alcohol, even avoiding the celebratory champagne in the champions locker room.
“I wouldn't hang out with people if they were going to take me down the wrong path. I was very strict,” Scott told the students seated before him.
Scott’s professional career provided him unique opportunities to work with a variety of players and coaches and develop friendships with some of the best in the game.
Just as things were going in the right direction, Scott sustained a potential career ending spinal injury during spring training. He went from feeling on top of the world to feeling sorry for himself, and the injury came at a time when he really didn’t have a solid group of friends around him.
“So now I’m not playing, I’m feeling sorry for myself and I’m traveling with the team. I started going out to the bar to hang out with the guys,” Scott said, and it was at that point his life took a downward turn. He started drinking and his daily intake increased over time.
“It was a horrible time in my life. I was making bad decisions and as I am making bad decisions it got easier and easier to make worse decisions,” Scott said.
Released by the Mariners in 2005, Scott returned home and the bad decisions and influences continued. Just when he thought his playing days were over, he received word the Cardinals were interested so he made the move to St. Louis.
Upon arrival he was handed jersey #26—the number his dad was given when he joined the Cardinals organization in 1964. It was at that moment he told everyone around him the Cardinals would go to the World Series and they did.
On the field, things were going pretty well for the utility player and as predicted the Cardinals made it to the World Series. Even though he was back in the game, the bad choices continued as his addition to alcohol expanded to include illegal substances.
“My priorities were all screwed up, I lost myself” Scott said.
The addictions severed relationships with family and friends, led to the end of his marriage and ultimately his career, the one he had worked so hard to achieve.
Scott was well aware that he had a substance abuse problem, so he went to the baseball club asking for help and they sent him to a rehabilitation center—one of 10 he would go to over the course of 11 years. It was a car crash that eventually led the Cardinals organization to release him. “I became a distraction and rightly my career ended,” he said.
“I gave up everything for two things—drugs and alcohol,” he said.
Years of heavy drinking badly damaged Scott’s liver. Doctors told him he had just a 20 percent chance to live and would need a transplant to survive. It was at that point, he gave up his addictions and got back on a path to a healthier, substance free lifestyle. April 6 will mark his sixth year of sobriety.
“I have been so blessed with a second chance and that is why I want to speak to schools. I want to tell you about the dangers of drugs and alcohol and tell you that once this stuff gets a hold of you it pulls you down and it strips you of who you are. It rewires your brain, it changes your brain chemistry,” Scott said.
“Here I am, a two time World Series champ and I am out on this beautiful property of 49 acres and there are times when I could not get off the couch. I wouldn’t eat, I would look out the window and go, I wish I could go outside. I didn’t go to my kids' games, I barely talked to anybody. I had spent almost all of my money and I felt worthless and that I blew my chance,” he said.
Scott also wants the world to know there is hope. “I always say as long as you have a breath you got a pen to write a great ending and so that is what I have clung on to. I am still alive, I am still breathing.”
“I relied on my faith, relied on my family, turned my priorities around—God, family and true friends. I went back to my roots in Morris, my grade school friends and family. I lost who I was, but they knew me better than I knew myself and they helped me refind myself. Look at the people around you, when you need them they are going to be there for you. Find those true friends and never lose hope, there is always a chance,” Scott said.
Scott’s visit to the high school was coordinated by Principal Art Stafford and counselor Erin Dransfeldt, who’s husband—Kelly Dransfeldt— is also from Morris and played in the major leagues with the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox.
Scott currently provides skills lessons to young players including some current Coalers.