Fred Crane

Fred Crane

• Bats Unknown, Throws Unknown

• Debut May 26, 1873
• Final Game June 23, 1875

BR page

Biographical Information

A player long identified as Fred Crane saw most of his big league action with the 1875 Brooklyn Atlantics, a 2-42 outfit. Crane hit .210 in 81 at bats, driving in four runs. He also appeared in one game for the Elizabeth Resolutes in 1873.

Fred Crane was "the celebrated second base of the Atlantics" and was still playing for the team in 1869, but had retired from baseball by 1870. Because Fred was fairly famous in baseball circles at the time, his first name was wrongly appended to the 1870s player's last name, but even at the time, an article in the Philadelphia Sunday Dispatch specified that the current player was "Not Fred" Crane. Which of course leads one to wonder who he was, then, a mystery that is still not resolved. Needless to say, it is the older Fred's birth an death dates that were long associated with him, but they are not correct.

Further Reading

• "Not Fred Crane", in Bill Carle, ed.: Biographical Research Committee Report, SABR, March/April 2024, pp. 1-2.