Del Crandall
| Birthdate | 03/05/1930 |
| Death Date | 5/5/2021 |
| Debut Year | 1949 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Braves, Brewers, Giants, Indians, Mariners, Pirates |
| Positions | Catcher, Manager |
When Del Crandall started his first game on June 18, 1949 he became the youngest starting catcher in the history of the Major Leagues.
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Four-time Gold Glover Del Crandall made 11 All Star teams and received MVP votes in 7 seasons
Four-time Gold Glover Del Crandall made 11 All Star teams and received MVP votes in 7 seasons
Del Crandall broke in with the Boston Braves in 1949, as a fresh-faced teenager. In his second big league game he became the youngest starting catcher in MLB history at just 19 years, 62 days old.
Young Crandall hit .263 and received rave reviews for his handling of the Braves staff that boasted Hall of Famer Warren Spahn and veteran Johnny Sain. For his efforts Crandall finished second in Rookie of the Year voting to Dodger pitcher Don Newcombe.
Limited to just 79 games in 1950 due to a broken finger, Crandall was drafted into the Army during spring of 1951. He missed the next two baseball seasons as he served in the infantry and on active duty in Japan.
Crandall returned to the Braves in 1953 this time in Milwaukee. Over the next decade he proved to be one of baseball’s best backstops. From 1953-1962 he made 11 All Star teams, earned four Gold Gloves, and received MVP votes in 7 campaigns.
In 1957 he helped the Braves reach the World Series where they beat Casey Stengel’s Yankees in a 7-game thriller. The team repeated as NL champs the following season as Crandall began his best three-year run.
Each season from 1958-1960 he finished in the NL’s top-10 in WAR for position players. He earned the Gold Glove Award and MVP consideration in all three years.
A sore arm limited Crandall to just 15 games in 1961. He had a bounce-back season in ’62 posting a career-high .297 average. In 1963 he was supplanted as the starting catcher by emerging star Joe Torre. The Braves traded Crandall to San Francisco after the season in a 7-player deal.
Over the next three years Crandall played 179 games for the Giants, Pirates and Indians. By the time he retired, Crandall amassed 1,276 hits, and a career WAR of 28.1.
He later returned to Milwaukee as manager of the Brewers. Crandall’s time as a big league skipper included parts of two seasons with the Seattle Mariners. The former catcher also enjoyed a prosperous minor league coaching and managing career.
Crandall later worked as a color man on television for the White Sox and Brewers. When he passed away at age 91 in May of 2021 he was the last living member of the Boston Braves.
In the collection is this autographed government postcard signed by Crandall in 1949.
Government postcards give great context to the signature and help with provenance
Government postcards give great context to the signature and help with provenance
Though Del Crandall’s signature is by no means scarce, examples such as the one shown in the previous image are highly desired. Shown here is the back side of the government postcard.
Notice the postmark from Boston on June 19, 1949. A quick glance at Baseball Reference reveals that Crandall’s team squared off against the Pirates that day at Boston’s Braves Field.
The offense was stifled by Pittsburgh pitcher Cliff Chambers who scattered four hits in the shutout. Hall of Famer Warren Spahn struck out nine and allowed just one unearned run in the tough-luck loss.
Goose Gossage was sent down after Del Crandall's Brewers torched him for four runs in 1/3 of an inning
Goose Gossage was sent down after Del Crandall's Brewers torched him for four runs in 1/3 of an inning
An 11-time All Star Del Crandall enjoyed a 16-year career as a Major League catcher. He also managed over 800 games.
In one of those contests July 17, 1973 Crandall’s Brewers faced off against the White Sox. Chicago starter Stan Bahnsen surrendered a grand slam to Darrell Porter in the second inning to stake Milwaukee to a 4-0 lead.
In the next inning Bahnsen allowed back-to-back singles. White Sox manager Chuck Tanner saw enough and summoned Rich “Goose” Gossage from the bullpen.
The future Hall of Fame reliever had a rough day, facing seven batters and retiring only one. His final line: 1/3 of an inning, four hits, four runs, a pair of walks and for good measure, a wild pitch.
Gossage also allowed both of Bahnsen’s runners to score. The next day the White Sox sent Gossage to Triple-A Iowa.
In this handwritten letter Brewer skipper Del Crandall reflects on that game and on Gossage, writing in part, “The thing that went through my mind as I watched how could we hit the ball so hard off a pitcher who threw that hard. But as time went on his control got better, and he became an outstanding relief pitcher one who is worthy of Hall of Fame consideration.”
Here's the document that sent Goose to minors after the rough outing vs. Crandall's Brewers in '73
Here's the document that sent Goose to minors after the rough outing vs. Crandall's Brewers in '73
Still considered a rookie in just his 46th career game Rich “Goose” Gossage got lit up on Monday June 17th, 1973. Brought in to start the third inning after Stan Bahnsen surrendered six runs in the first two frames against the Milwaukee Brewers, Gossage faced seven batters and got only one out.
By the time he was mercifully lifted from the game Gossage allowed four hits including a 3-run homer by Joe Lahoud. He walked two batters, and watched as four men crossed the plate. The next day the 21-year old Gossage was sent to Triple-A Iowa.
In the collection is the document sending Gossage to the minors on June 18, 1973. Gossage as boldly signed his name and added “54”, his jersey number throughout his 22-year big league career.
Bud Selig fired Del Crandall as Brewers manager on 9/27/75; here's Crandall's last Milwaukee payroll check on the 10/15/75
Bud Selig fired Del Crandall as Brewers manager on 9/27/75; here's Crandall's last Milwaukee payroll check on the 10/15/75
Catcher Del Crandall started his big league playing career with 13 years in Milwaukee. He became a hero in the city, representing the Braves in 11 All Star teams in in eight different seasons – appearing in two games each in ’59, ’60, and ’62.
Crandall left the Braves for San Francisco in 1963; the Braves relocated to Atlanta after the 1965 season, leaving Milwaukee without baseball.
In 1970 Bud Selig bought the bankrupt Seattle Pilots and returned baseball to Milwaukee with the Brewers. The team already had a skipper in Dave Bristol. Selig kept Bristol until cutting him loose 30 games into the 1972 season. Trying to capture the city’s attention and loyalty, Selig hired Crandall to guide the team the rest of the year.
In his first full season the Brewers improved by 14 games in the win column. The following year the Brewers won two more contests, closing in on the .500 mark. Despite high hopes in ’75, Crandall had the team at 67-94 on September 27, and was fired with one game to go in the season.
Selig wrapped up his financial obligations with the Milwaukee hero with this payroll check dated in the next pay period on October 15, 1975. The Hall of Fame commissioner has signed the bottom of the check; Crandall’s signature is on the back, serving as the endorsement.
Del Crandall is worthy of HOF enshrinement because his of excellence to Baseball in every role to which he was called. He presents the Game today with exemplification of the perfect Baseball Man. Examine his career and life with this in mind, and you see that Baseball needs his presence in the Hall today as much as he deserves the honor. Del should be Elected now, in his 92nd year, regardless of the consideration schedule.
Thanks you Bill, I couldn’t agree more!
Bill Crandall, number 2 son
Absolutely agree on Del being in the HOF. There were three great catchers during his era and he was one of them. Great man!
Del deserves HOF enshrinement. One of the best defensive catchers of all time.
Lets make a push to get Del into the HOF!
Del Crandall, an 11 time all star, not being in the hall of fame is ridiculous. He probably would have been a 13 time all star had he not served his country for 2 years during the Korean War.