Creepy Crespi
Encyclopedia
Frank Angelo Joseph "Creepy" Crespi (February 16, 1918 in St. Louis, Missouri
- March 1, 1990 in Florissant, Missouri
), was a Major League Baseball
player who played infielder
from - for the St. Louis Cardinals
. He made his major league debut on 14 September 1938 playing second base for the Cardinals.
In 1951, longtime Cardinals star shortstop Marty Marion praised Crespi as the best defensive second baseman he'd ever played with. "For one year—1941—Crespi was the best second baseman I ever saw. He did everything, and sensationally." Marion added, however, that Crespi's play dropped off in 1942, and after that he was drafted.
ed into the army
in early 1943. Though he qualified for a deferment as the sole supporter of his elderly mother, he refused, claiming, "I don't think I'm too good to fight for the things I've always enjoyed."
During an Army baseball game in Kansas
, he suffered a compound fracture of his left leg while turning a double play
. Soon afterwards, he broke the same leg during a training accident, and later he broke it a third time during an impromptu wheelchair
race while in the hospital.
While he was recuperating at the hospital, a nurse accidentally applied 100 times the appropriate quantity of boric acid
to his bandages, causing severe burns on Crespi's leg and leaving him with a permanent limp.
According to Marty Marion, a total of 23 operations were performed on Crespi's leg.
plan, Crespi applied various times as coach
. Unable to obtain the position, he became a budget
analyst
for McDonnell Douglas
, where he worked for 20 years.
After his retirement from McDonnell Douglas, Crespi discovered that he had not been retired from baseball, but rather had been on the disabled list
, when the major league had first implemented its pension plan during the 1940s. This discovery entitled Crespi to his major league pension.
Crespi died of a heart attack on 1 March 1990 in Florissant, Missouri
.
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
- March 1, 1990 in Florissant, Missouri
Florissant, Missouri
Florissant is a second-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in northern St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The city has a total population of 52,158 in 2010 census.-History:...
), was a 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...
player who played infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
from - for the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. He made his major league debut on 14 September 1938 playing second base for the Cardinals.
In 1951, longtime Cardinals star shortstop Marty Marion praised Crespi as the best defensive second baseman he'd ever played with. "For one year—1941—Crespi was the best second baseman I ever saw. He did everything, and sensationally." Marion added, however, that Crespi's play dropped off in 1942, and after that he was drafted.
World War II
Crespi was draftConscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
ed into the army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in early 1943. Though he qualified for a deferment as the sole supporter of his elderly mother, he refused, claiming, "I don't think I'm too good to fight for the things I've always enjoyed."
During an Army baseball game in Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, he suffered a compound fracture of his left leg while turning a double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
. Soon afterwards, he broke the same leg during a training accident, and later he broke it a third time during an impromptu wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
race while in the hospital.
While he was recuperating at the hospital, a nurse accidentally applied 100 times the appropriate quantity of boric acid
Boric acid
Boric acid, also called hydrogen borate or boracic acid or orthoboric acid or acidum boricum, is a weak acid of boron often used as an antiseptic, insecticide, flame retardant, as a neutron absorber, and as a precursor of other chemical compounds. It exists in the form of colorless crystals or a...
to his bandages, causing severe burns on Crespi's leg and leaving him with a permanent limp.
According to Marty Marion, a total of 23 operations were performed on Crespi's leg.
After the war
In an attempt to qualify for the major league pensionPension
In general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...
plan, Crespi applied various times as coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
. Unable to obtain the position, he became a budget
Budget
A budget is a financial plan and a list of all planned expenses and revenues. It is a plan for saving, borrowing and spending. A budget is an important concept in microeconomics, which uses a budget line to illustrate the trade-offs between two or more goods...
analyst
Financial analyst
A financial analyst, securities analyst, research analyst, equity analyst, or investment analyst is a person who performs financial analysis for external or internal clients as a core part of the job.-Job:...
for McDonnell Douglas
McDonnell Douglas
McDonnell Douglas was a major American aerospace manufacturer and defense contractor, producing a number of famous commercial and military aircraft. It formed from a merger of McDonnell Aircraft and Douglas Aircraft in 1967. McDonnell Douglas was based at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport...
, where he worked for 20 years.
After his retirement from McDonnell Douglas, Crespi discovered that he had not been retired from baseball, but rather had been on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
, when the major league had first implemented its pension plan during the 1940s. This discovery entitled Crespi to his major league pension.
Crespi died of a heart attack on 1 March 1990 in Florissant, Missouri
Florissant, Missouri
Florissant is a second-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in northern St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The city has a total population of 52,158 in 2010 census.-History:...
.