Giants legend and long-time shortstop Brandon Crawford has introduced his retirement in a submit on his private Instagram account at this time. The Giants introduced (X hyperlink from Justice delos Santos of The Mercury Information) that Crawford might be celebrated on the membership’s upcoming sport on April 26, when they are going to be internet hosting the Rangers, managed by Crawford’s former skipper Bruce Bochy.
“Rising up within the Bay Space and going to video games at Candlestick,” Crawford says, “I all the time dreamed of enjoying for the San Francisco Giants. Being drafted by my hometown group and spending most of my profession with them far surpassed any dream I had as a child. I undoubtedly pretended to win a World Sequence in my yard – however profitable two? That was past my wildest desires.” He goes on to precise gratitude to that group in addition to the Cardinals, his relations, coaches, teammates, followers and lots of others who he crossed paths with.
As Crawford himself talked about, he may hardly have requested for extra of the platonic childhood baseball dream. In 2008, he was drafted by the membership he grew up cheering for, with the Giants deciding on him within the fourth spherical out of UCLA. In 2010, the Giants gained the World Sequence, their first title because the membership moved from New York to San Francisco. Nonetheless, Crawford was nonetheless a minor leaguer at the moment.
He was in a position to make his main league debut in late Might of 2011, and he did so in memorable vogue. In his first sport within the present, he hit a grand slam within the seventh inning, his first main league hit (YouTube hyperlink from MLB). That gave the membership a 5-3 lead over the Brewers they usually held on to win 5-4. Regardless of that notable begin, the primary season wasn’t nice total. He hit simply .204/.288/.296 and solely bought into 66 video games. The Giants completed 86-76 and missed the playoffs.
In 2012, Crawford took a firmer maintain of the shortstop job in San Francisco, entering into 143 video games. His offense nonetheless wasn’t particularly spectacular nevertheless it was higher than the yr prior and his protection was nicely regarded. The membership went 94-68, profitable the Nationwide West and advancing to the postseason. Crawford hit simply .217/.321/.283 within the playoffs however the Giants went on to defeat the Reds, Cardinals and Tigers, incomes their second title in three years.
The next yr, Crawford’s efficiency held pretty regular. His offense was once more a bit under league common however with sturdy shortstop protection. Nonetheless, the Giants slid to 76-86, nicely out of rivalry. They got here again in 2014, with an 88-74 document that was sufficient to snag a Wild Card spot. At the moment, there have been simply two such spots per league and people golf equipment confronted off in a one-game, winner-take-all matchup. The Giants cruised by that sport with an 8-0 victory, then defeated the Nationals, Cardinals and Royals to safe yet one more title. The Giants had three trophies in 5 years and Crawford had two rings along with his hometown membership earlier than his twenty eighth birthday.
Crawford had his greatest offensive season so far in 2015, as he hit 21 homers with a .256/.321/.462 slash line. He made his first All-Star Recreation and picked up each a Silver Slugger and his first Gold Glove award. Whereas the group’s efficiency fell off, Crawford emerged as a respectable star. The Giants acknowledged as a lot and signed him to a six-year, $75MM extension.
It was extra of the identical in 2016. Crawford hit .275/.342/.430 whereas persevering with to play elite shortstop protection. He gained his second straight Gold Glove and located his title on MVP ballots for the primary time. Crawford’s offense dropped over the subsequent few years, however he continued to play wonderful protection. He earned a 3rd straight Gold Glove in ’17 and one other All-Star look in ’18.
Whereas Crawford seemed to be on the downswing of his profession towards the top of the 2010s, he hit surprisingly nicely within the shortened ’20 season. It might’ve been straightforward to write down that off as a small pattern blip if Crawford didn’t comply with that up with a monster yr. At age 34, Crawford set a profession mark with 24 homers whereas hitting .298/.373/.522 in 138 video games. He earned one other Gold Glove and All-Star nod and completed fourth in NL MVP balloting because the Giants reeled off 107 wins to safe their first division title in a decade.
San Francisco re-signed their longtime shortstop to a two-year, $32MM extension on the heels of that resurgent displaying. Neither Crawford nor the group managed to maintain their ’21 type, although, and that deal didn’t wind up working because the membership hoped. San Francisco let Crawford stroll as soon as he hit free company final winter. He signed a one-year contract with the Cardinals however was restricted to 29 video games as a veteran backup to rookie Masyn Winn in St. Louis.
Crawford finishes his profession with greater than 1400 hits and a .249/.318/.395 batting line over greater than 6300 plate appearances. He hit 147 homers and drove in 748 runs. Crawford’s manufacturing was much more spectacular on the opposite aspect of the ball. He was one of many preeminent defensive shortstops of his period and earned 4 Gold Glove nods. Crawford made three All-Star groups, appeared on MVP ballots twice, and gained the aforementioned two titles along with his hometown membership. Baseball Reference valued his profession round 29 wins above alternative over components of 14 seasons. B-Ref calculated his profession earnings round $114MM. MLBTR salutes Crawford on a superb profession and sends our greatest needs in his post-playing days.
Picture courtesy of USA In the present day Sports activities.
