Brandon Crawford is retiring after 14 significant league seasons, all however one of those played with his hometown San Francisco Giants as a slick-fielding shortstop and fan favorite.
A four-time Gold Glove winner and three-time All-Star, the veteran infielder revealed his choice in an Instagram post Wednesday.
“During this time of the year, I am continuously being advised of the things in my life that I am most glad for. Baseball is one of them,” Crawford composed. “Baseball hasactually been a part of my life for as long as I can keepinmind, and for the rest of my life I will be grateful for the chances and experiences it hasactually offered me. Time is valuable. I’m extremely grateful for all the years I invested playing the videogame I love, however now it is time for me to invest it with the individuals who I’m most glad for. Thank you to all of you who haveactually been there for me throughout the years. It’s been an amazing trip.”
A fourth-round draft choice in 2008 out of UCLA, Crawford made his launching on May 27, 2011, and won World Series champions with the Giants in 2012 and ’14 — the last 2 titles in their every-other-year run from 2010-14.
The Giants stated they will honor Crawford’s profession April 26 at Oracle Park. He was a profession .249 player with 147 home runs and 748 RBIs, however his flair for making the secret defensive play is what he will long be keptinmind for by numerous.
“It was an honor to get to understand Brandon as a pal and as a colleague,” brand-new Giants President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey stated in a declaration. “From the veryfirst day we were both prepared in 2008 to our last year playing together in 2021, it was an honor to play alongwith him for 14 years. Whether it was the clutch minutes like the grand slam he hit in the 2014 wild-card videogame in Pittsburgh, the franchise-record, seven-hit videogame he taped in Miami, or the stunning protective plays and acrobatic tosses he made over and over onceagain, Brandon made his mark in a method coupleof professionalathletes ever do.”
There was some believed Crawford may retire after the 2023 season when his agreement ended in San Francisco, however he chose to offer it one more year and signedupwith the St. Louis Cardinals on a $2 million, 1year offer. He was launched in August after striking .169 with a homer and 4 RBIs over 80 plate looks.
Crawford and partner Jalynne have 5 young kids, and household will be Crawford’s main focus going forward.
As a kid, Crawford leaned on the railing at Candlestick Park with his hat on backwards supporting his precious Giants — and ultimately would star for them.
When he signed a two-year, $32 million agreement in August 2021 while covering up a $75 million, six-year offer he had signed in November 2015, Crawford revealed his appreciation for playing in one location for so long.
“Being prepared by my hometown group and costs most of my profession with them far gonebeyond any dream I had as a kid,” Crawford composed in Wednesday’s post. “I certainly pretended to win a World Series in my yard — however winning 2? That was beyond my wildest dreams.”
Giants’ Brandon Crawford, Mitch Haniger, and Joc Pederson on making their youth dreams a truth
He is the Giants’ profession leader in videogames played at shortstop with 1,617.
“Watching Brandon play was an outright advantage for not just me however for Giants’ fans allover,” President and CEO Larry Baer stated.
“He was an All-Star, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner, a two-time World Series champ, and a Lou Gehrig and Willie Mac Award winner, that constantly brought himself with class, honor and regard. The Giants haveactually been extremely blessed to have had Brandon as part of the franchise for 16 years — truly for his whole 37 years, veryfirst as a young fan, who will ever forget that enduring picture of him leaning on the railing at Candlestick Park when there was a possibility that his Giants may leave San Francisco — and as this chapter closes on his profession, his tradition in the videogame will be renowned by fans, colleagues, and future generations of gamers who appearance up to him by the example he set.”
Reporting by The Associated Press.
[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]
Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get details about videogames, news and more