Billy Crystal

William Jacob Crystal

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 7", Weight ? lb.

• School Marshall University, Nassau Community College, New York University
• High School Long Beach High School (New York)

• Born March 14, 1947 in Long Beach, NY USA

MLB.com player page

Biographical Information

A famous Yankee Fan, actor Billy Crystal is often seen at Yankee Stadium for a big game. He also directed and was executive producer of the baseball film 61*, which dealt with Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle's pursuit of baseball's home run record in 1961.

He was team captain and second baseman of the varsity team at Long Beach High School, which earned him a baseball scholarship to Marshall University. However the school's baseball program was suspended his freshman year, which lead to his decision to leave the school.

On March 11, 2008, the New York Yankees signed him to a one-day minor league contract. He played DH in a spring training game on March 13, 2008. He took ball one from Paul Maholm, then hit one down the first-base line that just went foul. After two more balls from Maholm, the 59-year-old Crystal swung and missed at two inside offerings. (box score) [1]

Crystal was not the first celebrity to appear in a spring training contest as Garth Brooks had played three times.

His father, Jack Crystal, pitched for St. John's University.