Estel Crabtree
Encyclopedia
Estel Crayton Crabtree was a Major League Baseball
outfielder
for the Cincinnati Reds
(1929, 1931-32, and 1943-44) and the St. Louis Cardinals
(1933 and 1941-42). His playing career was unusual in that he went eight years between major league
appearances. He was a native of Crabtree, Ohio.
Crabtree made his major league debut on April 18, 1929 as a pinch-hitter in a 3-1 loss to the Cardinals at Crosley Field
. Though his most regular playing time came in 1931 and 1932, his best season was 1941, when he returned to the big leagues at age 37. He finished 32nd in voting for National League
MVP
for playing in 77 games and having 167 at bats, 27 runs
, 57 hits
, 6 doubles
, 3 triples
, 5 home runs, 28 RBI, 1 stolen base
, 26 walks, .341 batting average
, .439 on base percentage
, .503 slugging percentage, 84 total bases
and 2 sacrifice hits.
In 1931 he finished seventh in the league with 12 triples, and from 1941 to 1944 finished in the league's TOP TEN in the oldest player category.
In 8 Seasons he played in 489 games, had 1,408 at bats, 174 runs, 396 hits, 53 doubles, 25 triples, 13 home runs, 142 RBI, 8 stolen bases, 113 walks, .281 batting average, .339 on base percentage, .382 slugging percentage, 538 total bases and 23 sacrifice hits. Often used as a pinch-hitter during his career, he was an average defensive outfielder for his era, handling 813 out of 833 total chances
for a .976 fielding percentage
.
Crabtree died in Logan, Ohio
at the age of 63 and is buried in nearby Nelsonville, Ohio
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(1929, 1931-32, and 1943-44) and the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1933 and 1941-42). His playing career was unusual in that he went eight years between major league
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
appearances. He was a native of Crabtree, Ohio.
Crabtree made his major league debut on April 18, 1929 as a pinch-hitter in a 3-1 loss to the Cardinals at Crosley Field
Crosley Field
Crosley Field was a Major League Baseball park located in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was the home field of the National League's Cincinnati Reds from 1912 through June 24, 1970, and the original Cincinnati Bengals football team, members of the second and third American Football League...
. Though his most regular playing time came in 1931 and 1932, his best season was 1941, when he returned to the big leagues at age 37. He finished 32nd in voting for National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
MVP
MLB Most Valuable Player Award
The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award is an annual Major League Baseball award, given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers Association of America...
for playing in 77 games and having 167 at bats, 27 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, 57 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, 6 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 3 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 5 home runs, 28 RBI, 1 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
, 26 walks, .341 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, .439 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
, .503 slugging percentage, 84 total bases
Total bases
In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total....
and 2 sacrifice hits.
In 1931 he finished seventh in the league with 12 triples, and from 1941 to 1944 finished in the league's TOP TEN in the oldest player category.
In 8 Seasons he played in 489 games, had 1,408 at bats, 174 runs, 396 hits, 53 doubles, 25 triples, 13 home runs, 142 RBI, 8 stolen bases, 113 walks, .281 batting average, .339 on base percentage, .382 slugging percentage, 538 total bases and 23 sacrifice hits. Often used as a pinch-hitter during his career, he was an average defensive outfielder for his era, handling 813 out of 833 total chances
Total chances
In baseball statistics, total chances , also called chances offered, represents the number of plays in which a defensive player has participated. It is calculated as follows: Total Chances = assists + putouts + errors. Chances accepted refers to the total of putouts and assists only. Fielding...
for a .976 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
.
Crabtree died in Logan, Ohio
Logan, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,704 people, 2,790 households, and 1,768 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,175.2 people per square mile . There were 2,948 housing units at an average density of 956.5 per square mile...
at the age of 63 and is buried in nearby Nelsonville, Ohio
Nelsonville, Ohio
Nelsonville is a city in northwestern Athens County, Ohio, United States. The population was 5,230 at the 2000 census. Hocking College is located in Nelsonville.-Geography:...
.