Frank Crespi
Born: 2/16/1918 in St. Louis, MO, USA
Died: 3/1/1990 in Florissant, MO, USA
MLB Debut: 1938-09-14 | Final Game: 1942-09-27
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'8" | Weight: 175 lbs
Full name: Frank Angelo Joseph Crespi
Biography
Frank Crespi, born in 1918, was a professional baseball player who played as a position player primarily in the infield during the early years of Major League Baseball. His career spanned from 1938 until 1942, a period that coincided with the pre-World War II era, a time when the sport was beginning to evolve both in terms of talent and competition. Over his four-season career, Crespi appeared in 264 games, where he demonstrated his versatility and skill at the plate, amassing a total of 240 hits with a batting average of .263.
Crespi contributed significantly to his teams, recording 88 RBIs and hitting 4 home runs throughout his tenure in the league. He also showcased his speed on the base paths, finishing his career with 8 stolen bases. While Crespi might not be widely remembered among the legends of the game, his steady performance during a transformative time in baseball history reflects the dedication and talent of players who laid the groundwork for future generations. His career serves as a reminder of the rich tapestry of baseball history, especially during an era marked by its own unique challenges and changes.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.500 | 0.500 | 0.500 | 1.000 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.500 | 0.500 | 0.500 | 1.000 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 264 | 911 | 125 | 240 | 32 | 4 | 4 | 88 | 8 | 90 | 102 | 0.263 | 0.336 | 0.321 | 0.657 | -556.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | STL | NL | 7 | 19 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0.263 | 0.0 |
| 1939 | STL | NL | 15 | 29 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0.172 | 0.0 |
| 1940 | STL | NL | 3 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.273 | 0.0 |
| 1941 | STL | NL | 146 | 560 | 85 | 156 | 24 | 2 | 4 | 46 | 3 | 57 | 58 | 0.279 | 106.9 |
| 1942 | STL | NL | 93 | 292 | 33 | 71 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 4 | 27 | 29 | 0.243 | -663.3 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | WS | SLN | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 234 | 0 | 610 | 627 | 47 | 137 |
| 3B | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 17 | 0 | 24 | 35 | 10 | 6 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | SLN | SS | 7 | 0 | 14 | 12 | 6 | 4 |
| 1939 | SLN | 2B | 6 | 0 | 9 | 16 | 1 | 1 |
| 1939 | SLN | SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| 1940 | SLN | 3B | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1940 | SLN | SS | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 1941 | SLN | 2B | 145 | 0 | 382 | 421 | 32 | 94 |
| 1942 | SLN | 2B | 83 | 0 | 219 | 190 | 14 | 42 |
| 1942 | SLN | SS | 5 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 2 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 234 |
| Third Base | 2 |
| Shortstop | 17 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1941 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 2B |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 18th | 13.0 | 336 | 0 |