Brandon Crawford, the American former professional baseball shortstop, announced his retirement after 14 seasons in Major League Baseball. The veteran three-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner announced his retirement decision through an Instagram post on 27 November.
A Stellar Career with the San Francisco Giants and Beyond
Brandon Crawford has played for his hometown, San Francisco Giants and college baseball for the University of California, Los Angeles. He is known as a staple in his team’s lineup and for his elite defence mechanism. He won the World Series rings twice in 2012 and 2014 and four Gold Glove awards throughout his career.
His best season was witnessed in 2021 when he finished fourth in the National League MVP voting. The 37-year-old spent the year with the St. Louis Cardinals and will long be remembered as the top shortstop in the history of San Francisco Giants. Brandon has served as the career leader for the Giants and established his legacy with 1,617 at shortstop.
There were controversies about his retirement post to the 2023 season after his contract expired with the San Francisco Giants, but he continued for another year joining the St Louis Cardinals with a one-year deal worth $2 million.
Brandon’s decision to retire after the 2023 season along with his challenges and struggles with a .196 batting average will have an impact on the betting markets. Fans and players engaging with online MLB betting sites, especially during his key championship seasons and games, must keep a note on the player’s performance and other developments taking place surrounding him and his team.
Reflecting on Crawford’s Legacy and Impact on the Game
The President of Baseball Operations of the Giants, Buster Posey shared his message for his teammate, feeling honoured to play with Brandon for 14 long years. He recalled the past games, talking about the clutch movements, such as the grand slam that he hit in 2014 in Pittsburgh, the seven hit game recorded in Miami, and the franchise-record he made with his acrobatic throws. Brandon has always made his mark like very few athletes can ever do.
CEO and President, Larry Baer talked about Brandon’s leadership, mentioning that he has always been an absolute privilege for the entire team and carried himself with respect, honour, and class. The team has been extremely blessed to have him for over 16 years and for bringing several awards throughout his career.
Crawford’s clutch moments such as the grand slam in the 2014 Wild Card game and his franchise-record seven-hit game have been most iconic moments in his career.
Going forward, Crawford’s focus will be spending more time with his wife, Jalynne, and their five children, after he retires from the team. During his initial days, Crawford was a big fan of the Giants and he grew up to be a part of the team, signing a two-year deal of $32 million contract in 2021 and another $75 million year-deal in November 2015. He also expressed his gratitude for his Giants and his brief time with the Cardinals.
