Bobby Crosby

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
This article is about the baseball player. For the comic strip character, see Superosity.
Bobby Crosby
Crosby2MIN.jpg
Free Agent
Shortstop
Born: (1980-01-12) January 12, 1980 (age 33)
Lakewood, California
Batted: Right Threw: Right 
MLB debut
September 2, 2003 for the Oakland Athletics
Last MLB appearance
August 21, 2010 for the Arizona Diamondbacks
Career statistics
Batting average     .236
Home runs     62
Runs batted in     276
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Robert Edward Crosby (born January 12, 1980) is an infielder in Major League Baseball. The son of former major league infielder Ed Crosby, he bats and throws right-handed. He was Rookie of the Year in 2004.

Contents

Career [edit]

Crosby first attended Pacifica High School, and then later graduated from La Quinta High School in Westminster, California. In 1998, Bobby Crosby was selected by the Anaheim Angels in the thirty-fourth round of the Major League Baseball Draft. Crosby chose not to sign with the Angels, however, opting instead to play college baseball for California State University, Long Beach. In 2001, Crosby was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the first round (25th pick) of the Major League Baseball Draft.

Oakland Athletics [edit]

In 2004, his first full season, he took over the Athletics' shortstop duties from 2002 American League Most Valuable Player Miguel Tejada, who signed with the Baltimore Orioles as a free agent. That year, Crosby hit .239 with 22 home runs and 64 RBIs. He also led American League rookies in hits (130), doubles (34) and walks (58).[1] These numbers earned Crosby Rookie of the Year honors, the sixth Athletics player to do so after Harry Byrd (1952), José Canseco (1986), Mark McGwire (1987), Walt Weiss (1988), and Ben Grieve (1998).[1]

In addition to becoming the sixth Athletics player to be named Rookie of the Year, he was the second shortstop in a row to win the award (after Ángel Berroa of the Kansas City Royals). He was also the eighth shortstop in 22 seasons to earn top rookie honors, the others being Cal Ripken, Jr. (1982), Ozzie Guillén (1985), Walt Weiss (1988), Pat Listach (1992), Derek Jeter (1996), Nomar Garciaparra (1997), and Berroa (2003).

Crosby was just a vote shy of being a unanimous pick, despite his batting average being the lowest ever for a Rookie of the Year. He also struck out 141 times, fourth-most in the AL, and the team's most since Canseco had 152 in 1991.

Crosby and the Oakland Athletics agreed to a five-year, $12.75 million contract on April 22, 2005.[2]

Due to the signing of free agent shortstop Orlando Cabrera prior to the 2009 season, Crosby was moved into a utility infielder role. However, with injuries to everyday second baseman Mark Ellis, third baseman Eric Chavez and infielder Nomar Garciaparra (another free agent signing), Crosby was expected to see significant starting roles at third base, as well as at second base.

Mark McGwire has served as his hitting coach since the 2009 offseason.[3]

Pittsburgh Pirates and Arizona Diamondbacks [edit]

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed Crosby as a free agent on December 9, 2009. He appeared in 61 games, with a batting average of .224. The Pirates traded Crosby, D. J. Carrasco and Ryan Church to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Chris Snyder and Pedro Ciriaco on July 31, 2010.[4][5]

Crosby appeared in only nine games for the Diamondbacks and was released on August 24, 2010.[6]

MIlwaukee Brewers [edit]

On January 22, 2013, Crosby signed a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. After hitting poorly in Spring Training and not showing any improvement, the Brewers released Crosby. [7]

Personal [edit]

His younger brother, Blake Crosby, played college baseball at Sacramento State. Blake was drafted by the Athletics in the 42nd round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft[8] and is currently serving as an Area Scout for the Toronto Blue Jays in Chandler, Arizona.[9] Blake was the 2012 Al LaMacchia "Scout of the Year" award winner for the Toronto Blue Jays Organization.[10] Their older brother, Brian Crosby, is an artist for Walt Disney Imagineering.[11]

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b "Crosby named American League Rookie of the Year". MLB.com. November 8, 2004. Retrieved December 19, 2009. 
  2. ^ "Shortstop is currently on DL with broken ribs". ESPN.com. Associated Press. April 22, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2009. 
  3. ^ ESPN.com news services (March 13, 2009). "McGwire talks about teaching hitting". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 19, 2009. 
  4. ^ Pirates, D'Backs Agree On Chris Snyder Trade
  5. ^ http://www.thisisgettingold.net/2010/07/pirates-trade-for-chris-snyder.html
  6. ^ "D-backs recall Ryan Roberts, release Bobby Crosby". USA Today. August 24, 2010. Retrieved August 25, 2010. 
  7. ^ https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/293813035502555137
  8. ^ http://athletics.scout.com/a.z?s=304&p=2&c=871858&ssf=1&RequestedURL=http%3a%2f%2fathletics.scout.com%2f2%2f871858.html
  9. ^ http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/team/front_office.jsp?c_id=tor
  10. ^ http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120928&content_id=39151520&vkey=pr_tor&c_id=tor
  11. ^ http://collections.disney.go.com/events/artist-in-residence-brian-crosby/?instance_id

External links [edit]

Awards
Preceded by
Kevin Youkilis		 AL Rookie of the Month
June 2004		 Succeeded by
Robb Quinlan
Preceded by
Ángel Berroa		 American League Rookie of the Year
2004		 Succeeded by
Huston Street
Preceded by
Ángel Berroa		 Players Choice AL Most Outstanding Rookie
2004		 Succeeded by
Huston Street
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bobby_Crosby&oldid=550898753"