HOUSTON -- Bill Spiers, a top utility player for the Houston Astros over five seasons, announced his retirement Wednesday following a 13-year major league career.

	Bill Spiers Third Base Houston Astros Profile
	2001 SEASON STATISTICS GM HR RBI R SB AVG 4 0 0 0 0 .333

Spiers appeared in only four games in the 2001 season and spent most of the season on the injury list after undergoing surgery May 16 to remove a cyst and to repair a ruptured disc in his lower back.

The Astros were swept out of the playoffs by the Atlanta Braves to end this season. Spiers accompanied the team in its final game.

"I knew that last game with Atlanta was my last game," Spiers said. "I told my wife I started unbuttoning my jersey and then I buttoned it back up because I didn't want to take it off."

Spiers played every position for the Astros except pitcher and catcher. He finished with a career .271 average.

"This year was probably the toughest because I knew it was the end of the road," Spiers said. "I couldn't contribute and help in some way."

Spiers hit a career high .320 with the Astros in 1997 and played in 132 games, one short of his career high for games played. Spiers also hit .301 in 2000 in 124 games.

Spiers was a first round selection of the Milwaukee Brewers in 1987 and was the Brewers rookie of the year in 1989.

He was plagued most of his career by back problems, stemming from an injury in 1991.

"Someone told me they saw me play a year or two after that (1991 injury) and they felt sorry for me because they thought I'd never last in the big leagues," Spiers said.

"I'm proud of the fact I overcame that and had my best years in Houston. I'll be remembered as a utility player and I'm very accepting of that role and it's one I took pride in," he said.

Spiers, 35, said he planned to take a year off and then decide on his future.