With Bochy’s Rangers in town, SF Giants set to honor Crawford’s career
SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants held back on the pomp and circumstance when Brandon Crawford played his final game with the orange and black on Oct. 1, 2023. Crawford, at the time, hadn’t announced his retirement, leaving a cloud of uncertainty hanging over that afternoon.
On Saturday, Crawford will receive a proper celebration as the Giants will host “Brandon Crawford Celebration Day” in honor of one of the greatest shortstops in franchise history following his retirement this past offseason.
The decision to host the celebration on April 27 is no coincidence. This weekend, the Giants will host the Bruce Bochy-led Texas Rangers, allowing Crawford’s manager from 2011-19 to be in attendance for the festivities. President of baseball operations Buster Posey, who played alongside Crawford for 10 seasons, will also be in attendance.
The game starts at 1:05 p.m., but fans are encouraged to be in their seats by 12:20 p.m. for the on-field pregame ceremony. Crawford’s parents will serve as honorary captains while Crawford’s children will be the “Play Ball” kids. The first 15,000 fans in attendance will receive a Brandon Crawford graphic t-shirt.
“I’m very appreciative that I am here to see his retirement tomorrow,” Bochy said. “This man did so much for us, helping us win championships. Tremendous player, gifted defender, but also clutch hitter. A lot of great memories will go through my head when I see him out there tomorrow.”
The same can be said for the thousands of Giants fans who will be in attendance.
Crawford spent 13 seasons with his hometown team and helped the Giants capture two World Series titles in 2012 and 2014. His resumé features a Silver Slugger Award, three All-Star appearances and four Gold Gloves, his 1,617 games at shortstop for the Giants is the most in franchise history.
“He was so creative how he could come up with plays,” Bochy said. “There (wasn’t) a play he (didn’t) think he (couldn’t) make — that’s what you loved about him. There’s times he came up with a way to make the play.”
Along with his accolades and numbers — 1,404 hits, 147 homers, 748 RBIs — Crawford orchestrated some of the most iconic moments in franchise history. In the 2014 NL Wild Card Game, Crawford’s grand slam off Pitsburgh’s Edinson Volquez silenced PNC Park’s raucous crowd and propelled the Giants into the next round. In Game 7 in that year’s World Series, Crawford and second baseman Joe Panik turned an iconic and crucial double play.
“The one that will always stand out is the double play in the World Series, with what was at stake,” Bochy said. “He and Panik, what a beautiful chemistry those two had and how well that play worked.”
Crawford, born in Mountain View and raised in Pleasanton, was all the more beloved because of his status as a hometown kid.
On Sept. 27, 1992, which was nearly the Giants’ final game in San Francisco, a five-year-old Crawford was photographed next to a sign reading, “Mr. White: Do what’s right! Keep Giants in SF.”
The Giants remained in San Francisco thanks to a last-minute sale to a group led by the late Peter Magowan, and two decades later, Crawford brought two championships to The City.