Pat Crawford

From BR Bullpen

Clifford Rankin Crawford

Bats Left, Throws Right
Height 5' 11", Weight 170 lb.
School Davidson College
Debut April 18, 1929
Final Game September 27, 1934
Born January 28, 1902 in Society Hill, SC USA
Died January 25, 1994 in Morehead City, NC USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Clifford Rankin "Pat" Crawford, aka "Captain Pat", played baseball for several semi-pro and minor league teams throughout the 1920's including a stint as the left fielder for the 1922 Kinston Highwaymen in the Eastern Carolina Baseball Association, an idependent or "outlaw league" team not affiliated with the National Association. Crawford got his big break in 1929 when he made it to the majors with the New York Giants, which were still being managed by the hall of famer, John McGraw.

On May 26, 1929, Crawford hit a pinch hit grand slam off Socks Seibold in the sixth inning. Les Bell then hit a seventh inning pinch hit grand slam off of Carl Hubbell. This was the only time in history that two pinch hit grand slams were hit in the same game. Both were needed, as the game was tied 2-2 before Crawford's blast, the game ended 15-8.

He went in and out of the majors through the 1934 season and was named league MVP of the American Association while playing for the Columbus Senators in 1932. In 1934, Crawford found himself playing on the world champion St Louis Cardinals. The last two games of his major league career were World Series games. His teammates on the Gashouse Gang that year included HOFers Frankie Frisch, Leo Durocher, Joe Medwick, Dizzy Dean, and Burleigh Grimes. All told, Pat had a .280 batting average in 318 major league games.