Former New York Yankees outfielder Shane Spencer currently is spending his time as third-base and hitting coach of the Somerset Patriots, an independent-league team.
What he is not doing, apparently, is calling radio stations and telling them that he took steroids during his Major League Baseball career and suggested that future Hall of Famers Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter could have used performance-enhancing drugs.
According to the New York Daily News, Spencer said he heard about the interview from family and friends and released a statement denying his involvement.
"In response to an interview that ESPN Radio 104.5 FM host Mike Lindsley claims to have done with me on (Monday) afternoon, I would like to set the record straight that I did not participate in any such interview," said Spencer, who now serves as the hitting coach and third base coach for the Somerset Patriots in the independent Atlantic League.
"Someone called into the station claiming to be me and spoke on my behalf regarding some very sensitive topics surrounding baseball. This caller spoke as me about topics ranging from steroids, to my time with the New York Yankees, Roger Clemens and my feelings about the great Mariano Rivera. I am outraged that someone would do this and at the same time disappointed that the station believed it to be me despite not coming from the contact information they had for me."
The newspaper also reported what the fake Spencer had said to the station:
"I have used steroids in the past. ... Did I ever see anyone using them? Absolutely ... Here's the one thing I would say, is that most people did not use steroids in a public forum. Most people didn't make it - it wasn't like you would walk into the Yankees' locker room or any other team I played for and people were just using steroids or people would be openly talking about it."
USA Today added that Derek Jeter's name also was mentioned in connection to PEDs.
The radio station released its own statement, saying it was duped by the impostor and inviting the real Spencer on the show.
The newspaper quoted Spencer saying on the show, "It's unfortunate, you know, it's embarrassing. It really is embarrassing. Not only am I very upset that my name is out there because I am here working in New Jersey. I do a lot of stuff at Yankee Stadium, I work with kids, I'm a good role model and to see how this might affect me is very disappointing and I'm going to make sure that I clear my name out."
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