Brandon Crawford
Encyclopedia
Brandon Michael Crawford (born January 21, 1987) is an American professional baseball
player for the San Francisco Giants
in Major League Baseball
(MLB). The shortstop
was the sixth player in MLB history to hit a grand slam
in his first Major League game. Crawford played college baseball
for the University of California, Los Angeles
(UCLA), where he was twice named the team's Most Valuable Player
{MVP}.
. He was born in Mountain View
, and his family lived in Menlo Park
before they moved to Pleasanton
when he was in elementary school
. Crawford attended Foothill High School
in Pleasanton.
from 2006 to 2008, where he helped lead the team to the NCAA Regionals
in three consecutive seasons, the first time in school history. Crawford was named the team's MVP in 2006 and 2007, and he was named to the All-Pac-10 conference team in 2007.
He helped lead the United States national team
to the title in the 2006 International University Sports Federation
(FISU) World Championship.
by the Giants. He was ranked the sixth best prospect in the Giants' organization by Baseball America
in 2011. Crawford was set back by a broken finger suffered in the final week of 2011 spring training
. He was called up to the majors for the first time on May 26, 2011. Crawford made his MLB debut the following day against the Milwaukee Brewers
, and his first hit
came in his third at bat
of the game and was a grand slam
off the Brewers' Shaun Marcum
. He joined Bobby Bonds
and Brian Dallimore
as Giants whose first career Major League hit was a grand slam; he also became the sixth player in MLB history and the second player in Giants history along with Bonds to hit a grand slam in his first game. On July 31, he was optioned to the Giants' Triple-A affiliate, the Fresno Grizzlies
, after the Giants acquired shortstop Orlando Cabrera
. The Giants were 23–18 with Crawford as a starter, but he was only hitting .190. Crawford was recalled in September when MLB rosters expanded to 40 players.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player for the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
(MLB). The shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
was the sixth player in MLB history to hit a grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
in his first Major League game. Crawford played college baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
for the University of California, Los Angeles
UCLA Bruins baseball
UCLA Bruins baseball team represents the University of California, Los Angeles in the NCAA baseball competition. Having started playing in 1920, the team is a member of the Pacific-10 Conference and plays its home games at Jackie Robinson Stadium. It has produced many Major and Minor League...
(UCLA), where he was twice named the team's Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
{MVP}.
Early life
Crawford is a native of the San Francisco Bay AreaSan Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
. He was born in Mountain View
Mountain View, California
-Downtown:Mountain View has a pedestrian-friendly downtown centered on Castro Street. The downtown area consists of the seven blocks of Castro Street from the Downtown Mountain View Station transit center in the north to the intersection with El Camino Real in the south...
, and his family lived in Menlo Park
Menlo Park, California
Menlo Park, California is a city at the eastern edge of San Mateo County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, in the United States. It is bordered by San Francisco Bay on the north and east; East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, and Stanford to the south; Atherton, North Fair Oaks, and Redwood City...
before they moved to Pleasanton
Pleasanton, California
Pleasanton is a city in Alameda County, California, incorporated in 1894. It is a suburb in the San Francisco Bay Area located about east of Oakland, and west of Livermore. The population was 70,285 at the 2010 census. In 2005 and 2007, Pleasanton was ranked the wealthiest middle-sized city in...
when he was in elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
. Crawford attended Foothill High School
Foothill High School (Pleasanton, California)
Foothill High School is a four-year secondary school in Pleasanton, California. It was built in 1973. It is one of two comprehensive high schools and one alternative high school in the Pleasanton Unified School District. The current enrollment is 2,343 students. The school mascot is the falcon...
in Pleasanton.
College career
Crawford attended UCLA, where he was a physiological science major. He played baseball for the UCLA BruinsUCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins are the sports teams for University of California, Los Angeles . The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Pacific-12 Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation . For football, they are in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I...
from 2006 to 2008, where he helped lead the team to the NCAA Regionals
NCAA Division I Baseball Championship
The NCAA Division I Baseball Championship tournament is held each year from May through June and features 64 college baseball teams in the United States, culminating in the College World Series....
in three consecutive seasons, the first time in school history. Crawford was named the team's MVP in 2006 and 2007, and he was named to the All-Pac-10 conference team in 2007.
He helped lead the United States national team
United States national baseball team
The United States National Baseball team represents the United States in international baseball competition. The United States has won the previous two Baseball World Cups, having lost this title to the Netherlands in 2011, and is currently second in the IBAF World Rankings, behind Cuba.The team...
to the title in the 2006 International University Sports Federation
International University Sports Federation
The Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire , based in Brussels, Belgium is responsible for the organisation and governance of worldwide competitions for student-athletes between the ages of 17 and 28...
(FISU) World Championship.
Professional career
Crawford was selected in the fourth round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft2008 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft continued Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, and was held on June 5 and 6, 2008.-First round selections:* Did not sign...
by the Giants. He was ranked the sixth best prospect in the Giants' organization by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
in 2011. Crawford was set back by a broken finger suffered in the final week of 2011 spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
. He was called up to the majors for the first time on May 26, 2011. Crawford made his MLB debut the following day against the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, and his first hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
came in his third at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
of the game and was a grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
off the Brewers' Shaun Marcum
Shaun Marcum
Shaun Michael Marcum is an American professional baseball starting pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball.-Early life:...
. He joined Bobby Bonds
Bobby Bonds
Bobby Lee Bonds was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball from to , primarily with the San Francisco Giants...
and Brian Dallimore
Brian Dallimore
Brian Scott Dallimore is a retired American baseball player in Major League Baseball . He was an infielder for the San Francisco Giants from 2004 to 2005. Dallimore did not make his major league debut until he was 30 years old, when he hit a grand slam for his first major league...
as Giants whose first career Major League hit was a grand slam; he also became the sixth player in MLB history and the second player in Giants history along with Bonds to hit a grand slam in his first game. On July 31, he was optioned to the Giants' Triple-A affiliate, the Fresno Grizzlies
Fresno Grizzlies
The Fresno Grizzlies are a minor league baseball team based in Fresno, California. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League , is the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club. The Grizzlies play in Chukchansi Park , located in downtown Fresno and built in 2002...
, after the Giants acquired shortstop Orlando Cabrera
Orlando Cabrera
Orlando Luis Cabrera, nicknamed "O-Cab" and "The OC", is a Colombian-American baseball infielder.He won a World Series championship in 2004 with the Boston Red Sox. He has played for the Montreal Expos, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Minnesota Twins,...
. The Giants were 23–18 with Crawford as a starter, but he was only hitting .190. Crawford was recalled in September when MLB rosters expanded to 40 players.