Estel Crabtree

Estel Crayton Crabtree (August 19, 1903 - January 4, 1967) was a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds (1929, 1931-32, and 1943-44) and the St. Louis Cardinals (1933 and 1941-42). His playing career was unusual in that he went eight years between major league appearances. He was a native of Crabtree, Ohio.

Crabtree made his major league debut on April 18, 1929 as a pinch-hitter in a 3-1 loss to the Cardinals at Crosley Field. Though his most regular playing time came in 1931 and 1932, his best season was 1941, when he returned to the big leagues at age 37. He finished 32nd in voting for National League MVP for playing in 77 games and having 167 at bats, 27 runs, 57 hits, 6 doubles, 3 triples, 5 home runs, 28 RBI, 1 stolen base, 26 walks, .341 batting average, .439 on base percentage, .503 slugging percentage, 84 total bases and 2 sacrifice hits.

In 1931 he finished seventh in the league with 12 triples, and from 1941 to 1944 finished in the league's TOP TEN in the oldest player category.

In 8 Seasons he played in 489 games, had 1,408 at bats, 174 runs, 396 hits, 53 doubles, 25 triples, 13 home runs, 142 RBI, 8 stolen bases, 113 walks, .281 batting average, .339 on base percentage, .382 slugging percentage, 538 total bases and 23 sacrifice hits. Often used as a pinch-hitter during his career, he was an average defensive outfielder for his era, handling 813 out of 833 total chances for a .976 fielding percentage.

Crabtree died in Logan, Ohio at the age of 63 and is buried in nearby Nelsonville, Ohio.

ources

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/crabtes01.shtml Baseball Reference]
* [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/Pcrabe101.htm Retrosheet]