Sam Crawford Field

Sam Crawford Field
Location
City:	Wahoo, NE   68066
County:	Saunders
Information

[edit] Description:

Sam Crawford is perhaps the most well-known and best athlete to come out of Saunders County and his talent and honor are recognized with every pitch at Sam Crawford Field. “Wahoo Sam” was born on April 18, 1880 in Wahoo and began playing the game of baseball at a very early age – yet knew that someday it would be his claim to fame. At a very young age Crawford began playing baseball with a man named Tom Killian. It is believed that Killian sponsored one of the first baseball teams in Wahoo.

At age 19 Crawford began his rise to major league prominence. He started his professional career in Canada. After a short time playing for Chatham in the Canadian League, Crawford returned to the states to play for Grand Rapids. By the end of that same year Crawford found himself in the major league playing for Cincinnati. Crawford was traded to the Detroit Tigers in 1903 and it was with the American League club where he became one of baseball’s top players. Crawford spent the rest of his career in a Tigers uniform.

Crawford was a tremendous with his glove in the outfield, but was known for his tremendous power at the plate. The owner of the Cleveland Indians, E.S. Barnard was tired of Crawford hitting towering home runs over his right field fence. In 1908 Barnard installed a 45-foot wire screen atop the right field wall with the hopes of limiting “Wahoo Sam’s” power numbers. Crawford was undeterred and in his first trip to Cleveland after the fence was installed hit a ball that cleared the screen by a full eight feet. Crawford playing in the same outfield as Ty Cobb and was often overshadowed by baseball’s all-time hits leader.

Crawford led the major leagues in home runs in 1901 while topping the charts with 16. During his 19-year major league career (1899-1917) Crawford finished with 2,964 hits and led the league in home runs three different times. In addition to hitting a lot of home runs, Crawford also legged out 312 triples a record that still stands today. Many baseball followers believe that if Crawford had played during the ‘live-ball area’ he would have contended for home run titles with the great Babe Ruth. Crawford played in 2,114 games for the Detroit Tigers and played in three consecutive World Series in 1907, 1908 and 1909. Crawford was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1957. Crawford died in 1968 and it was his decision that the name “Wahoo Sam” should be included on his plaque commemorating him in the Hall of Fame.