Thomas Crane

Thomas Crane

• Bats Unknown, Throws Unknown

• Debut April 24, 1875
• Final Game June 23, 1875

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Biographical Information

Thomas Crane played with the Brooklyn Atlantics in 1875, a 2-42 outfit. Crane hit .210 in 81 at bats, driving in four runs. He was long mis-identified as Fred Crane, and was also listed as appearing in one game for the Elizabeth Resolutes in 1873. However, that was a different player, one William Crane.

There was in fact a Fred Crane, who was "the celebrated second base of the Atlantics" and was still playing for the team in 1869, but he had retired from baseball by 1870. Because Fred was fairly famous in baseball circles at the time, his first name was wrongly appended to the 1870s player's last name, but even at the time, an article in the Philadelphia Sunday Dispatch specified that the current player was "Not Fred" Crane. It took a while to identify who was then the mystery player. Needless to say, it is the older Fred's birth an death dates that were long associated with him, but they were incorrect.

Further Reading

• "Not Fred Crane", in Bill Carle, ed.: Biographical Research Committee Report, SABR, March/April 2024, pp. 1-2.
• "A Story of Two Cranes", Bill Carle, ed.: Biographical Research Committee Report, SABR, May/June 2025, pp. 2.