Coco Crisp facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coco Crisp |
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Crisp with the Oakland Athletics in 2015
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: November 1, 1979 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| August 15, 2002, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 2, 2016, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .265 | ||
| Home runs | 130 | ||
| Runs batted in | 639 | ||
| Stolen bases | 309 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Covelli Loyce "Coco" Crisp (born November 1, 1979) is a former American professional baseball player. He was an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Coco Crisp played for the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Kansas City Royals, and Oakland Athletics. He was mostly a center fielder but also played left field. In 2007, he won the World Series with the Boston Red Sox. After his playing career, he became a MiLB team manager.
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Early Life and Nickname
Coco Crisp was born in Los Angeles, California, on November 1, 1979. His father, Loyce Crisp, owned a fast food restaurant and was a boxer. His mother, Pamela Crisp, was a champion sprinter. Coco went to Inglewood High School. He also played baseball at Los Angeles Pierce College.
How Coco Got His Name
Coco Crisp's sister first called him "Coco." She said he looked like a character from the Cocoa Krispies cereal box. The nickname didn't stick at first. But when he started playing Double-A baseball, his team asked players for nicknames. Covelli wrote "Coco" on the form. His teammates thought it was funny. They put it on the scoreboard during a game. He was traded soon after, but the name "Coco Crisp" stayed with him. He officially changed his name in 2013.
Starting in Professional Baseball
The St. Louis Cardinals picked Crisp in the seventh round of the 1999 MLB Draft. He played for their minor league teams from 1999 to 2001. In 2001, he was named the Cardinals' Minor League Player of the Year. In 2002, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians. He played for their minor league teams before joining the main MLB team.
Major League Career
Cleveland Indians (First Time)
Crisp became the starting center fielder for the Indians in 2002. He quickly became known as a great fielder and a fast runner. He was very good at stealing bases. In his last two seasons with the Indians, he showed his hitting skills. He batted .297 and .300, hitting 31 home runs and stealing 35 bases.
Boston Red Sox
In 2006, the Red Sox traded for Crisp to replace their star player, Johnny Damon. Crisp signed a three-year contract extension with the Red Sox. Early in 2006, he broke his left index finger. This injury kept him out of many games. When he returned, he usually batted lower in the lineup.
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2007 World Series Champion
Crisp had a tough start in 2007 because of his finger injury. But he made many amazing catches in the outfield. Many people thought he was one of the best defensive center fielders in baseball. On October 21, 2007, Crisp made a huge catch in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series. This catch sent the Red Sox to the 2007 World Series. The Red Sox won the World Series that year, making Coco Crisp a champion!
2008 Season and On-Field Disagreements
In 2008, Crisp was involved in a heated moment during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays. After a play where he felt a Rays player tried to block him unfairly, Crisp slid hard into second base. This led to some arguments. In the next game, the Rays pitcher threw a pitch that hit Crisp. Crisp then ran towards the pitcher, and a brief disagreement between the teams followed. Crisp was suspended for five games because of this. Later that season, in Game 5 of the ALCS, Crisp hit a game-tying single. This helped the Red Sox make a big comeback win.
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Kansas City Royals
In 2008, Crisp was traded to the Kansas City Royals. He started the 2009 season hitting very well. However, shoulder injuries caused his batting average to drop. He needed surgery on both shoulders, which ended his season early.
Oakland Athletics
After the 2009 season, Crisp signed with the Oakland Athletics. He started the 2010 season injured with a broken finger. In 2011, Crisp led the American League with 49 stolen bases. He was known for his speed.
In 2012, Crisp signed a new contract with the Athletics. On October 10, 2012, in Game 4 of the American League Division Series, Crisp hit a "walk-off" single. This means his hit won the game for the A's in the final inning. It was a very exciting moment for the team!
Crisp continued to play for the Athletics. In 2015, he played mostly in left field. His playing time was reduced in 2016.
Return to Cleveland
On August 31, 2016, Crisp was traded back to the Cleveland Indians. He hit a big two-run home run in Game 3 of the 2016 ALDS against the Boston Red Sox. This home run helped the Indians win that game. The Indians made it to the World Series that year but lost to the Chicago Cubs. After the 2016 season, Crisp became a free agent.
After Playing Baseball
After retiring from playing, Coco Crisp became a baseball coach. In 2017, he coached the baseball team at Shadow Hills High School. He later became a bench coach for Cerritos College. In 2019, he also joined the Oakland Athletics Radio Network as a commentator. In 2021, Crisp became the manager for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. In 2022, he joined the Washington Nationals organization to help with player development.
Playing Style
Coco Crisp was known for his excellent defense in center field. He could cover a lot of ground quickly. He was also one of the best base-stealers in baseball during his career. He was an aggressive runner on the bases. Crisp was also good at "small-ball" plays, like bunting. He had a good mix of speed and power as a hitter.
Personal Life
Coco Crisp has a mixed background. His father is of Puerto Rican and Italian descent. His mother is African American. He has four children: three sons and one daughter. His family lives in the Calabasas area of California.
