Jack Crimian

John Melvin Crimian

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 180 lb.

• Debut July 3, 1951
• Final Game May 6, 1957
• Born February 17, 1926 in Philadelphia, PA USA

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[edit] Biographical Information

Before the 1944 season Jack Crimian signed as an amateur free agent with the Philadelphia Blue Jays. The 18-year-old right-handed pitcher was assigned to the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the class B Interstate League where he went 4-2 with a 3.08 ERA and was re-assigned to the class D Bradford Blue Wings of the PONY League where he went 14-14 with a 3.19 ERA for the balance of his first season in pro ball.

In 1945 the United States Military called and Jack would spend the rest of the year with the Army in World War II, getting back in time for the 1946 season. He went back to the Wilmington Blue Rocks, winning 13 games and losing 4 with a 3.26 ERA. On November 5, 1946 Crimian was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals from the Philadelphia Phillies in the minor league draft.

Jack spent the next several years in the high minors getting a couple of short stays with the 1951 and 1952 St. Louis Cardinals teams, pitching in 16 games, going 1-0 with an ERA of over 9.00. In 1953 he had a good year with the Rochester Red Wings winning 13 and losing 5 with a 2.86 ERA and on December 2nd, he was traded by the Cardinals with $100,000 to the Cincinnati Reds for Alex Grammas.

On April 8, 1954 the International League Toronto Maple Leafs purchased him from the Cincinnati Redlegs and he went 9-8 with a 2.34 ERA. Pitching for Toronto again in 1955, Jack was named the International League Pitcher of the Year when he won 19 times and lost only 6, while pitching 210 innings with a league-leading 2.10 ERA. This put him back on the road to the big leagues again and on October 12, 1955 Toronto traded hin to the Kansas City Athletics for Marion Fricano and $60,000.

Crimian was with the Athletics for all of the 1956 season, as he appeared in 54 games and had a record of 4-8 with a 5.51 ERA. On December 5th, he was traded by the A's along with Jim Finigan, Bill Harrington and Eddie Robinson, to the Detroit Tigers for Ned Garver, Gene Host, Virgil Trucks, Wayne Belardi and $20,000.

Jack was with Detroit in 1957, appearing in four games, going 0-1 and checking out of Briggs Stadium and the major leagues with a career mark of 5 wins and 9 losses in 74 games with a 6.36 ERA. He would spend the balance of 1957 through 1959 in the high minors, ending his 15-year pro baseball career in 1959 with the AAA Toronto Maple Leafs.

Crimian had an exceptionally good minor league record. The right-hander appeared in 614 contests, winning 151 games and losing 91, while pitching 1,993 innings, allowing 1,961 base hits and 741 base on balls for a career 3.05 ERA.

Jack, who was later in the auto body repair business, makes his home in Claymont, Delaware.

[edit] Notable Achievements

• 1955 Pitcher of the Year International League Toronto Maple Leafs

[edit] Sources

Baseball-Reference.com
Baseball Players of the 1950s
SABR MILB Database:page

[edit] Related Sites