Carl Crawford is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major League Baseball (MLB) for 15 seasons. He was born on August 5, 1981, in Houston, Texas, and attended Jefferson Davis High School. Crawford was a standout athlete in high school, excelling in both baseball and football. However, he chose to pursue a career in baseball and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the second round of the 1999 MLB draft.
Crawford made his MLB debut in 2002 with the Devil Rays and quickly established himself as one of the most exciting young players in the league. He was known for his speed and athleticism, which made him a threat on the basepaths and in the outfield. Crawford was a four-time All-Star during his time with the Devil Rays and won a Gold Glove award in 2010.
In 2011, Crawford signed a seven-year, $142 million contract with the Boston Red Sox, which at the time was the richest contract ever given to an outfielder. However, his time in Boston was marred by injuries and poor performance, and he was eventually traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012.
Crawford spent the final four seasons of his career with the Dodgers, where he served primarily as a bench player and pinch hitter. He retired from baseball in 2016 with a career batting average of .290, 136 home runs, and 766 RBIs. Crawford also stole 480 bases during his career, which ranks him 22nd on the all-time stolen bases list.
Off the field, Crawford was known for his philanthropic work and his commitment to giving back to his community. He established the Carl Crawford Foundation in 2007, which provides educational and recreational opportunities for underprivileged youth in Houston.
In 2019, Crawford made headlines when a 5-year-old boy drowned in his swimming pool during a family gathering at his home in Houston. Crawford was not charged with any wrongdoing in the incident, but it was a tragic end to a career that was marked by both success and controversy.
Overall, Carl Crawford was a talented and dynamic player who made a significant impact on the game of baseball during his 15-year career. While his time in Boston may have been disappointing, he will always be remembered as one of the greatest players in the history of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays franchise.
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