Les McCrabb
Encyclopedia
Lester William "Buster" McCrabb (November 4, 1914 – October 8, 2008) was a starting pitcher
who played in Major League Baseball
. He batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Wakefield
, Pennsylvania
.
McCrabb was obtained by the Philadelphia Athletics
from the Wilkes-Barre
team (Eastern
) as part of a minor league working agreement. He reached the majors in 1939 with the Athletics, spending four years for them. In his only full season, he went 9-13 for the last-place 1941 A's. After an eight-year absence, he returned with the club in 1950 for his last major league season.
In a five-season career, McCrabb posted a 10-15 record with 57 strikeout
s and a 5.96 ERA
in 210.0 innings
, including 13 complete game
s, one shutout
, and one save
.
At the time of his death, aged 93, McCrabb was recognized as one of the oldest living MLB players. He died October 8, 2008, survived by his wife Gladys Sprout McCrabb.
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
who played in Major League Baseball
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...
. He batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Wakefield
Fulton Township, Pennsylvania
Fulton Township is a township in southern Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States, and it is the only municipality in the county to touch the Maryland border. At the 2000 census the population was 2,826. It is part of the Solanco School District....
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
McCrabb was obtained by the Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
from the Wilkes-Barre
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the county seat of Luzerne County. It is at the center of the Wyoming Valley area and is one of the principal cities in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, which had a population of 563,631 as of the 2010 Census...
team (Eastern
Eastern League (U.S. baseball)
The Eastern League is a minor league baseball league which operates primarily in the northeastern United States, although it has had a team in Ohio since 1989. The Eastern League has played at the AA level since 1963. The league was founded in 1923 as the New York-Pennsylvania League...
) as part of a minor league working agreement. He reached the majors in 1939 with the Athletics, spending four years for them. In his only full season, he went 9-13 for the last-place 1941 A's. After an eight-year absence, he returned with the club in 1950 for his last major league season.
In a five-season career, McCrabb posted a 10-15 record with 57 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and a 5.96 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 210.0 innings
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
, including 13 complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s, one shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
, and one save
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
.
At the time of his death, aged 93, McCrabb was recognized as one of the oldest living MLB players. He died October 8, 2008, survived by his wife Gladys Sprout McCrabb.