Steve Crawford

Steven Ray Crawford
(Shag)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 5", Weight 225 lb.
• School Claremore Junior College
• High School Salina High School
• Debut September 2, 1980
• Final Game October 5, 1991
• Born April 29, 1958 in Pryor, OK USA

BR page

Biographical Information

“I think he could develop into a fine short man. He’s big, mean-looking on the mound, and can throw hard. Once he starts believing in himself, he’s going to be good.” - Bill Fischer, Boston Red Sox pitching coach, to The Sporting News, October 7, 1985

Steve Crawford was signed as a free agent in 1978 for the Boston Red Sox by scout Danny Doyle. He primarily worked in middle relief during parts of ten seasons in the bigs after initially reaching the summit as a starter in 1980. He put together his finest season in 1985, finishing 6-5, 3.76 season while logging 12 of the team's 29 saves. He earned a win with Boston in relief during Game 2 of the 1986 World Series despite earning none in the regular season, and hung on until the 1991 season, his last three coming out of the Kansas City Royals bullpen.

Crawford was pitching coach for the Spokane Indians in 1997, Wilmington Blue Rocks in 1998-1999, and Wichita Wranglers in 2000-2001.

Further Reading

• John DiFonzo: "Steve Crawford", in Bill Nowlin and Leslie Heaphy, ed.: The 1986 Boston Red Sox: There Was More Than Game 6, SABR, Phoenix, AZ, 2016. pp. 57-62. ISBN 978-1-943816-19-4

Related Sites

• Steve Crawford at the SABR Bio Project