Jack Crimian

From BR Bullpen

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

[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 hand 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 would go back to the Wilmington Blue Rocks, win 13 games and lose 4 with a 3.26 ERA. On November 5, 1946 Crimian would be drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals from the Philadelphia Phillies in the minor league draft.

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

On April 8, 1954 the IL Toronto Maple Leafs would purchase him from the Cincinnati Redlegs and he would go 9-8 with a 2.34 ERA. Pitching for Toronto again in 1955, Jack was named the International League MVP 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 would be with the 1956 Athletics for all of the season, as he appeared in 54 games and had a record of 4-8 with a 5.51 ERA. But on December 5, 1956 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 would be 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.