Tommy McCraw facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tommy McCraw |
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| First baseman / Outfielder | |||
| Born: November 21, 1940 Malvern, Arkansas, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| June 4, 1963, for the Chicago White Sox | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| June 24, 1975, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .246 | ||
| Home runs | 75 | ||
| Runs batted in | 404 | ||
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Tommy Lee McCraw (born November 21, 1940) is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a first baseman and outfielder. Tommy McCraw played for several teams, including the Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians, and California Angels.
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Tommy McCraw's Baseball Career
Tommy McCraw was born in Malvern, Arkansas. He was 6 feet tall and weighed 183 pounds during his time as a player. He batted and threw with his left hand.
Playing in the Major Leagues
McCraw played in 1,468 games over 13 seasons in the big leagues. He had 972 hits and scored 484 runs. He hit 75 home runs and had 404 RBI. His batting average was .246.
A Memorable Play with the Senators
On September 30, 1971, Tommy McCraw was part of a special moment in baseball history. He made the very last offensive play for the Washington Senators team. In the bottom of the 8th inning, he was caught stealing second base. This was the final out of the Senators' last game before the team moved.
The Bizarre Inside-the-Park Home Run
McCraw was also involved in a very unusual play on May 17, 1971. He hit a pop-up ball that should have been an easy out. But three players from the other team, the Cleveland Indians, all ran for the ball and crashed into each other!
The ball fell to the ground, and all three players were hurt. McCraw kept running around the bases and scored an inside-the-park home run. This means he ran all the way around the bases without the ball leaving the field.
First Designated Hitter for the Angels
In 1973, Tommy McCraw became the first player in the history of the California Angels to be a designated hitter. A designated hitter is a player who bats but does not play a defensive position. He played in the Angels' first game of the 1973 season.
Life After Playing: Coaching Baseball
After his playing career ended, Tommy McCraw became a successful batting coach. He spent 24 seasons coaching for many different Major League teams.
He coached for the Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Houston Astros, and the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals. He worked with manager Frank Robinson on four different teams.
