Spooner made his major league debut with the Dodgers on September 22, 1954 at the age of 23. He allowed only 3 hits, all singles and, struck out 15 batters, setting a Major League Baseball record for most strikeouts by a pitcher in his major league debut. He broke the record of 13 strikeouts set by the New York Giants’ Cliff Melton on April 25, . J. R. Richard tied the record in his major league debut in . Spooner also set another record for pitching debuts by recording six consecutive strikeouts, striking out the side in both the 7th and 8th innings. Pete Richert (1962) is the only other pitcher to strike out six consecutive batters in his Major League debut.