Former All-Star Brandon Crawford retires after 14 seasons
Veteran shortstop Brandon Crawford announced his retirement Wednesday after a 14-year MLB career that featured a pair of World Series titles, three All-Star Game appearances, four Gold Gloves, and a Silver Slugger.
Crawford developed into a fan favorite during his 13-year stint with the San Francisco Giants. He helped the club win World Series championships in 2012 and 2014, driving in 16 runs across 33 games during both runs.
"I always dreamed of playing for the San Francisco Giants," Crawford said. "Being drafted by my hometown team and spending most of my career with them far surpassed any dream I had as a kid. I definitely pretended to win a World Series in my backyard but winning two? That was beyond my wildest dreams."
Crawford's best offensive season came in 2021, when he posted a 141 OPS+ and set career highs in home runs (24), RBIs (90), and runs scored (79) amid the third and final All-Star nod of his career.
"Watching Brandon play was an absolute privilege for not only me but for Giants' fans everywhere," Giants president and CEO Larry Baer said in a statement obtained by NBC Sports' Alex Pavlovic.
The Giants are planning to honor Crawford's career ahead of a home game against former manager Bruce Bochy and the Texas Rangers on April 26.
The 37-year-old spent his final MLB season with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2024 after signing a one-year contract.