SAN FRANCISCO — Brandon Crawford is retiring after 14 main league seasons, all however a type of performed together with his hometown San Francisco Giants as a slick-fielding shortstop and fan favourite.
A four-time Gold Glove winner and three-time All-Star, the veteran infielder introduced his determination in an Instagram submit Wednesday.
“During this time of the year, I am constantly being reminded of the things in my life that I am most thankful for. Baseball is one of them,” Crawford wrote. “Baseball has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and for the rest of my life I will be thankful for the opportunities and experiences it has given me. Time is precious. I’m incredibly grateful for all the years I spent playing the game I love, but now it is time for me to spend it with the people who I’m most thankful for. Thank you to all of you who have been there for me throughout the years. It’s been an unbelievable ride.”
A fourth-round draft choose in 2008 out of UCLA, Crawford made his debut on Might 27, 2011, and gained World Sequence championships with the Giants in 2012 and ’14 — the ultimate two titles of their every-other-year run from 2010-14.
“Congrats to Craw on his outstanding career,” former Giants supervisor Bruce Bochy, now with Texas, mentioned through textual content message. “Just a wonderful story of a kid becoming one of the best shortstops in the history of the San Francisco Giants, the team he grew up with and loved.”
The Giants mentioned they may honor Crawford’s profession April 26 at Oracle Park. He was a profession .249 hitter with 147 dwelling runs and 748 RBIs, however his knack for making the important thing defensive play is what he’ll lengthy be remembered for by many.
“It was an honor to get to know Brandon as a friend and as a teammate,” new Giants President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey mentioned in an announcement. ”From the primary day we have been each drafted in 2008 to our remaining yr enjoying collectively in 2021, it was an honor to play alongside him for 14 years. Whether or not it was the clutch moments just like the grand slam he hit within the 2014 wild-card recreation in Pittsburgh, the franchise-record, seven-hit recreation he recorded in Miami, or the dazzling defensive performs and acrobatic throws he made time and again, Brandon made his mark in a means few athletes ever do.”
There was some thought Crawford would possibly retire after the 2023 season when his contract expired in San Francisco, however he determined to present it yet another yr and joined the St. Louis Cardinals on a $2 million, one-year deal. He was launched in August after hitting .169 with a homer and 4 RBIs over 80 plate appearances.
Crawford and spouse Jalynne have 5 younger youngsters, and household will likely be Crawford’s main focus going ahead.
Yankees ace Gerrit Cole is married to Crawford’s sister, Amy, and applauded all the things Crawford has performed on and off the sphere.
“Brandon is an incredible teammate, competitor, and the greatest Giants shortstop of all-time,” Cole mentioned in a textual content message. “He has been an amazing brother to me, and an amazing role model for future shortstops and kids with championship dreams. I was lucky enough to share a few special moments with him along the way, my major league debut, our first All-Star Game, and delivering the lineup cards in Yankee Stadium. He has made a lasting impact on the game we love, and leaves knowing he has the respect and admiration of all who have crossed his path, both on his team and against. Love you bro.”
As a boy, Crawford leaned on the railing at Candlestick Park together with his hat on backward supporting his beloved Giants — and finally would star for them.
When he signed a two-year, $32 million contract in August 2021 whereas wrapping up a $75 million, six-year deal he had signed in November 2015, Crawford expressed his gratitude for enjoying in a single place for therefore lengthy.
“Being drafted by my hometown team and spending most of my career with them far surpassed any dream I had as a kid,” Crawford wrote in Wednesday’s submit. “I definitely pretended to win a World Series in my backyard — but winning two? That was beyond my wildest dreams.”
He’s the Giants’ profession chief in video games performed at shortstop with 1,617.
“Watching Brandon play was an absolute privilege for not only me but for Giants’ fans everywhere,” President and CEO Larry Baer mentioned.
“He was an All-Star, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner, a two-time World Series champion, and a Lou Gehrig and Willie Mac Award winner, that always carried himself with class, honor and respect. The Giants have been incredibly blessed to have had Brandon as part of the franchise for 16 years — really for his entire 37 years, first as a young fan, who will ever forget that indelible photo of him leaning on the railing at Candlestick Park when there was a possibility that his Giants might leave San Francisco — and as this chapter closes on his career, his legacy in the game will be celebrated by fans, teammates, and future generations of players who look up to him by the example he set.”
