Sam Crawford (pitcher)

Sam Crawford
Pitcher / Manager
Born: (1892-04-15)April 15, 1892
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Negro leagues debut
1910, for the New York Black Sox
Last Negro leagues appearance
1931, for the Chicago American Giants
Negro leagues[a] statistics
Win–loss record39–36
Earned run average4.27
Strikeouts297
Managerial record166–163–4
Winning percentage.505
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Managerial record at Baseball Reference 
Teams
As player
As manager

Samuel Crawford (April 15, 1892 – date of death unknown) was an American pitcher and manager in baseball's Negro leagues.

Born in Dallas, Texas, he played in the pre-Negro leagues for the Chicago American Giants off and on from 1914 to 1917, and became a pitcher and eventually manager of the Kansas City Monarchs[4] and J. L. Wilkinson's barnstorming farm-league team All Nations in 1923.[6] He was known for combining a strong fastball with a knuckleball.[7]

Crawford left Wilkinson's teams in February 1924 to manage the Birmingham Black Barons.[8]

Post-playing career

Crawford opened up a news stand, after he left baseball, and made the news in 1955 after he was involved in a shooting. He allegedly shot and killed Pete William DeGraw, telling police that DeGraw came at him in a threatening fashion. Crawford fired shots at DeGraw's friend, who Crawford said had a knife.[7]

Notes

  1. ^ On December 16, 2020, Major League Baseball declared certain Negro leagues, from the span of 1920–1948, to be "Major League".[1] Crawford's statistics reflect his time in the Negro leagues from 1920–1925, 1928, and 1931.

References

  1. ^ "MLB officially designates the Negro Leagues as 'Major League'". MLB.com. December 16, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  2. ^ "American Giants Win Fourth Straight Game" Indianapolis Freeman, Saturday, May 23, 1914, Page 4, Column 4 and 5
  3. ^ "HILLDALE WINS FINAL" Philadelphia Inquirer, August 8, 1919, Page 14
  4. ^ a b "Monarchs will play K. of C. this Afternoon", Kansas City Journal, Kansas City, MO, April 25, 1920
  5. ^ "MONARCHS TAKE FULL SERIES FROM BIRMINGHAM BLACK BARONS", Kansas City Advocate, Kansas City, KS, Page 1
  6. ^ "SPENCER'S BALL TEAM STILL GOING STRONG" Spencer Reporter, Spencer, Iowa, Wednesday, August 15, 1923, Page 1, Columns 1 and 2
  7. ^ a b Black Baseball and Chicago by Leslie A. Heaphy p. 59
  8. ^ "MID-WINTER BASEBALL; CHAT OF PLAYERS" Kansas City Sun, Kansas City, Missouri, written by Kansas City Monarchs Secretary Quincy Jardin Gilmore, February 2, 1924