Frankie Crosetti
From BR Bullpen
Frank Peter Joseph Crosetti (Crow)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 10", Weight 165 lb.
- Debut April 12, 1932
- Final Game October 3, 1948
- Born October 4, 1910 in San Francisco, CA USA
- Died February 11, 2002 in Stockton, CA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Frankie Crosetti holds several longevity-related records. He holds the New York Yankees club record for service to the club. He was a player from 1932 to 1948 and their third base coach from 1949 to 1968. "Crow" -- whose nickname probably had as much to do with him being the Yankees' "holler guy" from the dugout with his high-pitched, shrill voice, as it did being an abbreviation of his surname -- also coached the Seattle Pilots and Minnesota Twins before retiring in 1971.
Crosetti won so many World Series rings, 7 as a player, and 10 as a coach (he was a player-coach in 1947), that the Yankees began giving him engraved shotguns instead of rings. In all, Crosetti was on the field in 23 World Series.
Known for his slick fielding, Crosetti was a master at the hidden-ball trick, which he pulled on players including Al Brancato and Augie Galan, often in spring training. His glove was also responsible for brilliant defense in the 1938 World Series, which included three game-saving plays in Game 1. His home run off an aging Dizzy Dean in that series drew him (unofficial) votes from several writers for series "hero" (in the days before the creation of the World Series MVP award) in the Yankees' sweep of the Chicago Cubs.
Crosetti was suspended for the first month of the 1943 season after an altercation with umpire Bill Summers in the 1942 World Series, but after his return to the starting lineup in June, the Yankees coasted to the pennant (and ultimately a World Series championship). In 1944, when he didn't join the Yankees until July 19th because of his war job, many believed that his reappearance would again spur the Yankees to another title. In fact, some fans even wrote to Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis about how what an unfair advantage the Yankees had in being able to cull such an individual away from Uncle Sam. Nevertheless, the team ultimately fell short that year.
In 2004 he was elected to the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame. He played four seasons for the San Francisco Seals, hitting .320. The Yankees purchased him in the fall of 1930 for the hefty (particularly in the Depression era) sum of $75,000, but allowed him one more year in the PCL for seasoning before inviting him to spring training in 1932. As the last surviving Yankee in uniform for Babe Ruth's famous "called shot" home run in the 1932 World Series, Crosetti adamantly insisted that the Bambino did not point.
Crosetti, who had a long career mostly at shortstop, was not a strong hitter, although he had some power and drew walks well. However, his claim to fame was the number of times he led the league in hit-by-pitches -- eight, including five consecutive seasons (1936-1940), a streak broken only when his playing time was reduced in 1941 because of the rise of Phil Rizzuto. In his best offensive season, with the 1936 Yankees, he hit .288 with 90 walks, 15 home runs and 18 stolen bases, scoring 137 runs. That year, in the World Series, he was the lead-off hitter for a line-up that usually had Red Rolfe batting second, Joe DiMaggio third, Lou Gehrig fourth, Bill Dickey fifth, and then George Selkirk, Jake Powell and Tony Lazzeri in various combinations in the sixth, seventh and eighth spots.
Crosetti also struck out a lot, leading the league twice in strikeouts.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 2-time AL All-Star (1936 & 1939)
- AL At Bats Leader (1939)
- AL Stolen Bases Leader (1938)
- 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 4 (1936-1939)
- Won eight World Series with the New York Yankees (1932, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1943 & 1947; he did not play in the 1941 or 1947 World Series)
