ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – The Lewis University Athletic Department has announced that former Lewis baseball standout and Major League Baseball player Ed Spiezio will have No. 7 retired from the program prior to first pitch during Lewis' game against Southwest Baptist scheduled at noon.

"The list of illustrious baseball players at Lewis is very long," Director of Athletics John Planek said. "Ed Spiezio is arguably the greatest baseball player in Lewis history and the choice to retire his jersey was an easy one. We look forward to having the Spiezio family back on campus for this honor."

Spiezio was a member of the Flyers from 1962-1963 where he was a two-time First Team NAIA All-American. Spiezio led Lewis to its first two NAIA World Series Appearances in 1962 and 1963.

In 1962, Spiezio was named MVP of the World Series as the Flyers finished third in the nation after going 7-19 (.368 batting average) and became the first Lewis player to hit a home run in the World Series.

During the 1962 season, Spiezio hit .414, with eight home runs and led the NAIA with 48 RBI.

In the 1963 season Lewis finished fifth in the nation after making its second straight NAIA World Series Appearance.

During the season, Spiezio hit .491 with 11 home runs and led the NAIA with 42 RBI. Spiezio became the first Flyer to record 13 total bases after hitting three home runs and a single in the same game.

After his time with the Flyers, Spiezio was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals after the 1963 World Series, where he spent six seasons before getting traded to the new expansion team San Diego Padres. He was with the Padres for four seasons before getting traded to the Chicago White Sox in 1972.

Spiezio was the first-ever starting third basemen for the Padres and recorded the team's first hit, home run, run scored and RBI. Spiezio had seven home runs off future Hall of Famers against Tom Seaver, Fergie Jenkins, Juan Marical, Rollie Fingers and Steve Carlton.

Spiezio was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1972 and was elected into Lewis' Hall of Fame in 1980 as part of the initial class.

Ed's son Scott was drafted in the sixth round by the Oakland Athletics in 1993. Scott spent 12 years in the big leagues including the 2006 season with the St. Louis Cardinals where he won the World Series.

Ed and Scott became the first ever father-son duo to win a World Series ring with the same team as Ed won championships in 1964 and 1967.