Major League Baseball Player, Coach, Manager, Broadcaster. For sixteen seasons (1949 to 1950 and 1953 to 1966), he played at the catcher position with the Boston/Milwaukee Braves, San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Indians. Born Delmar Wesley Crandall, he made his initial impact on the baseball diamond during his years at Fullerton Union High School in California. Signed as an amateur free agent by the Boston Braves in 1948, he broke into the Major Leagues on July 17, 1949 and played in 67 games that year. His career was interrupted for two-years (1951 and 1952) while he served with the United States Army during the Korean War. Following his return home, he secured the starting catcher position with the Braves after the franchise's relocation to Milwaukee. He experienced two National League Pennant-winning seasons (1957 and 1958) with the Milwaukee Braves which included a world championship (1957). During the course of his career, he achieved all star status 8-times and was the recipient of the Gold Glove Award 4-times. In 1,573 career regular season games, he compiled 1,276 hits and a .254 lifetime batting average. After retiring as a player, he began a lengthy managerial career initially with the Los Angeles Dodgers' organization (1969 to 1970), followed by the Milwaukee Brewers (1971 to 1972). He succeeded Dave Bristol as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers during the 1972 season and served at that capacity for parts of four- years (1972 to 1975). He served as a manager in the California Angels' organization (1976, he served as a coach on the Angels' Major League staff in 1977) and rejoined the Los Angeles Dodgers' farm system as a manager from 1978 until 1983. He succeeded Rene Lachemann as manager of the Seattle Mariners during the 1983 season and remained at that capacity for parts of two seasons (1983 to 1984). Additionally, Crandall had stints as a color commentator on radio broadcasts for the Chicago White Sox (1985 to 1988) and Milwaukee Brewers (1992 to 1994). He returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers' organization a third-time to serve as a minor league manager (1996 to 1997).
Major League Baseball Player, Coach, Manager, Broadcaster. For sixteen seasons (1949 to 1950 and 1953 to 1966), he played at the catcher position with the Boston/Milwaukee Braves, San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Indians. Born Delmar Wesley Crandall, he made his initial impact on the baseball diamond during his years at Fullerton Union High School in California. Signed as an amateur free agent by the Boston Braves in 1948, he broke into the Major Leagues on July 17, 1949 and played in 67 games that year. His career was interrupted for two-years (1951 and 1952) while he served with the United States Army during the Korean War. Following his return home, he secured the starting catcher position with the Braves after the franchise's relocation to Milwaukee. He experienced two National League Pennant-winning seasons (1957 and 1958) with the Milwaukee Braves which included a world championship (1957). During the course of his career, he achieved all star status 8-times and was the recipient of the Gold Glove Award 4-times. In 1,573 career regular season games, he compiled 1,276 hits and a .254 lifetime batting average. After retiring as a player, he began a lengthy managerial career initially with the Los Angeles Dodgers' organization (1969 to 1970), followed by the Milwaukee Brewers (1971 to 1972). He succeeded Dave Bristol as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers during the 1972 season and served at that capacity for parts of four- years (1972 to 1975). He served as a manager in the California Angels' organization (1976, he served as a coach on the Angels' Major League staff in 1977) and rejoined the Los Angeles Dodgers' farm system as a manager from 1978 until 1983. He succeeded Rene Lachemann as manager of the Seattle Mariners during the 1983 season and remained at that capacity for parts of two seasons (1983 to 1984). Additionally, Crandall had stints as a color commentator on radio broadcasts for the Chicago White Sox (1985 to 1988) and Milwaukee Brewers (1992 to 1994). He returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers' organization a third-time to serve as a minor league manager (1996 to 1997).
Bio by: C.S.
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