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 outfielder. He also worked as a manager for a MiLB team. Coco Crisp played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams. These teams included the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Kansas City Royals, and Oakland Athletics.
He mostly played as a center fielder during his career. He also played left field for the Athletics and during his time with the Indians. With the Red Sox, he helped his team win the 2007 World Series. He later managed the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in 2021.
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Early Life and Family
Coco Crisp was born in Los Angeles, California, on November 1, 1979. His father, Loyce Crisp, owned a fast food restaurant. His mother, Pamela Crisp, was a champion sprinter.
Coco graduated from Inglewood High School. He then played one season of baseball at Los Angeles Pierce College. He also took part in Major League Baseball's Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) Program. This program helps young people in cities play baseball. His grandfather, Nick Newton, was a world record holder in the masters high jump.
How Coco Got His Nickname
Coco Crisp's real first name is Covelli. His sister first called him "Coco" when she was teasing him. She said he looked like a character from the Cocoa Krispies cereal box. The nickname didn't stick at first.
Later, when he played AA baseball, his team asked players to fill out a questionnaire. Covelli wrote "Coco" as his nickname. His teammates thought it was funny and put it on the scoreboard. Even after he was traded, the nickname stayed with him. He officially changed his name to Coco Crisp on March 5, 2013.
Minor League Baseball Journey
The St. Louis Cardinals picked Coco Crisp in the seventh round of the 1999 MLB Draft. He played for different Cardinals minor league teams from 1999 to 2001. In 2001, he was named the Cardinals' Minor League Player of the Year.
In 2002, he started the season with the New Haven Ravens. This team was a Double-A affiliate of the Cardinals. On August 7, 2002, Crisp was traded to the Cleveland Indians. He then played for the Indians' Double-A team, the Akron Aeros. He also played for their Triple-A team, the Buffalo Bisons. Before joining the MLB, Crisp had 69 hits and 24 runs batted in (RBIs) in the minor leagues.
Major League Baseball Career
Playing for the Cleveland Indians
Coco Crisp became the starting center fielder for the Indians in mid-2002. He took over for an injured player. For the next few years, Crisp became known as a great fielder and a fast runner. He was very good at catching balls and stealing bases.
In 2005, he moved to left field for the Indians. This happened because another young outfielder, Grady Sizemore, became a star. In his last two seasons with the Indians, Crisp showed his strong hitting skills. He batted .297 and .300, hitting 31 home runs and stealing 35 bases.
Time with the Boston Red Sox
After star player Johnny Damon left the Red Sox, the team wanted Crisp. They hoped he could fill Damon's role as a leadoff hitter and center fielder. In January 2006, the Red Sox traded several players to get Crisp from the Indians.
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On April 12, 2006, Crisp signed a three-year contract with the Red Sox. It was worth $15.5 million. He broke his left index finger trying to steal a base. This injury kept him out of 42 games. When he returned, he usually batted lower in the line-up. In 105 games that year, he batted .264 with eight home runs. He also made a famous catch against the New York Mets on June 29.
2007 Season Highlights
Crisp had a tough start in 2007 because of his finger surgery. On April 20, 2007, he tried to catch a home run at Fenway Park. He fell over a short wall but just missed the ball. Later in that same game, he hit a game-tying triple. He then scored the winning run, helping the Red Sox win 7–6.
During this season, Crisp made many amazing catches in the outfield. Some even said he was the best defensive center fielder in all of Major League Baseball. He improved his batting average a lot during the middle of the season. On June 18, he hit two home runs in one game for the first time in his career.
On October 21, in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, Crisp made a huge catch. This catch sent Boston to the World Series. He hit the wall while making the catch but was okay to play. Even though he was the starting center fielder, he was benched for the World Series. He only played late in games for defense. The Red Sox won the World Series that year.
2008 Season and a Big Brawl
On June 4, 2008, Crisp was involved in a big moment against the Tampa Bay Rays. While he was trying to steal second base, a Rays player put his knee in front of the base. Crisp stole the base but was not happy. Later, he slid hard into another Rays player.
During the next game, a Rays pitcher hit Crisp with a pitch. Crisp then charged the mound towards the pitcher. This started a big fight between the two teams. Crisp was suspended for seven games, but it was later reduced to five games. In Game 5 of the ALCS, Crisp had a game-tying hit. The Red Sox won that game but lost the series.
Playing for the Kansas City Royals
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On November 19, 2008, Crisp was traded to the Kansas City Royals. He started his time with the Royals very well, hitting over .300. However, shoulder injuries caused his batting average to drop. In June 2009, he had surgery on both shoulders, which ended his season.
Time with the Oakland Athletics
After the 2009 season, Crisp signed a one-year contract with the Oakland Athletics. He started the 2010 season on the injured list with a broken finger.
In 2011, Crisp continued with the Athletics. On August 24, he hit home runs from both sides of the plate against the New York Yankees. He hit a game-winning three-run home run in the 10th inning. He finished the season leading the American League with 49 stolen bases.
Crisp signed a new two-year deal with the Athletics in 2012. On October 10, 2012, in Game 4 of the 2012 American League Division Series, Crisp hit a game-winning single. This hit gave the A's a 4–3 win and forced a deciding Game 5. However, the A's lost Game 5 and the series.
The Athletics kept Crisp for the 2014 season. Before that season, he signed an extension for 2015 and 2016. In 2015, he had a career-low batting average of .175. He played only in left field that year. His playing time was reduced in 2016.
Return to Cleveland
On August 31, 2016, the Athletics traded Crisp back to the Cleveland Indians. Before the trade, the Indians' general manager spoke with Crisp. He told Crisp that he would not get enough playing time for his contract option to be triggered. In 2016, he batted .208 for Cleveland.
On October 10, 2016, Crisp hit a go-ahead two-run home run against the Boston Red Sox. This happened in Game 3 of the ALDS. The Indians won 4–3, which sent them to the ALCS. This was Crisp's second home run in the postseason. However, the Indians lost the World Series in seven games to the Chicago Cubs.
Life After Playing Baseball
Crisp became a free agent after the 2016 season. He did not meet the requirements for his contract to continue in 2017. In July 2017, Crisp became the head coach of the baseball team at Shadow Hills High School. He resigned in June 2019 because he and his family moved.
In February 2019, Crisp joined the Oakland Athletics Radio Network. He worked as a part-time radio analyst for 33 games. In 2020, Crisp became the bench coach for the baseball team at Cerritos College.
On April 12, 2021, Crisp was announced as the manager of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. This was for the first season of the MLB Draft League. In January 2022, Crisp was hired by the Washington Nationals organization. He joined their player development staff.
Playing Style and Skills
Coco Crisp was known for his great range in center field. This means he could cover a lot of ground to catch balls. He was also known for being one of the best base-stealers in baseball. He was a very aggressive runner on the bases. He holds the Athletics team record for the most stolen bases in a row without being caught.
Crisp was also good at "small-ball" plays, like bunting. He also had good power when hitting. In his fifteen-year career, he was only hit by a pitch five times.
Personal Life
Coco Crisp has a mixed background. His father is of Puerto Rican and Italian descent. His mother is African American. He is separated and has four children: three sons and one daughter. His family used to live in Rancho Mirage, California. They now live in the Calabasas area.
