Ed Crosby – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Edward Carlton Crosby probably isn’t a name most baseball fans toss around, but his six-year run in Major League Baseball is a pretty interesting tale of grit and adapting to whatever came his way. Born in Long Beach, California, back in 1949, Crosby swung left-handed and managed to build a solid career, even though he bounced around between teams and faced plenty of challenges.

Ed Crosby retired from professional baseball after the 1976 season, closing the book on a career that spanned parts of six MLB seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, and Cleveland Indians. He played his last big league game on May 12, 1976, but kept going in the minors until 1979 before finally calling it quits.

Crosby’s baseball life goes way beyond his .220 career batting average and zero home runs. From his early days at Long Beach City College to his final innings in Cleveland, he lived out the reality that a lot of pro athletes face: always having to prove yourself, dealing with trades and demotions, and feeling the pressure to perform when the stakes are high.

Early Life and Amateur Career

Edward Carlton Crosby was born on May 26, 1949, in Long Beach, California. He started building his baseball skills early, and those skills eventually carried him into the pros.

His journey to the majors started at Woodrow Wilson Classical High School, then moved on to Long Beach City College. He sharpened his abilities as a versatile infielder during those years.

Family Background and Birthplace

Edward Carlton Crosby showed up in the world on May 26, 1949, in sunny Long Beach, California. Growing up on the coast meant he could play baseball all year round—definitely an advantage in Southern California.

Long Beach gave Crosby the foundation he needed. The city’s strong youth leagues and tough high school competition shaped him into a solid infielder.

Later, Crosby became a dad to two boys who stuck with the family tradition. Bobby Crosby carved out his own major league career, and Blake Crosby got drafted by the Oakland Athletics in 2009 before working as a crosschecker for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Baseball just runs in the Crosby family. Ed’s early experiences in Long Beach didn’t just launch his own career—they inspired his sons, too.

High School Achievements

Ed Crosby went to Woodrow Wilson Classical High School in Long Beach, where he made a name for himself as a baseball player. Those high school years really set the stage for his pro career.

He played alongside future major leaguer Bobby Grich at Wilson High. That school clearly knew how to turn out serious baseball talent.

Crosby’s high school performance got the attention of college scouts and pro teams. His left-handed swing and ability to play all over the infield made him a hot prospect for the next level.

The foundation he built at Wilson prepared him for the challenges of college ball and, eventually, the pros.

Collegiate Career at Long Beach City College

After high school, Crosby kept things local and played at Long Beach City College. Staying close to home gave him a chance to keep developing his game.

At LBCC, Crosby worked on his skills as a utility infielder. Batting lefty and throwing righty made him a handy piece of the lineup.

The college’s baseball program did a lot to get him ready for pro ball. Scouts took notice of his play, and that led to his shot at the big leagues.

His time at Long Beach City College paid off when the St. Louis Cardinals picked him in the second round of the 1969 amateur draft. That draft pick showed just how much he’d grown as a player.

Path to the Major Leagues

Ed Crosby’s road to the majors really kicked off when the St. Louis Cardinals grabbed him in the second round of the 1969 draft. He moved up quickly through their minor league system, showing off his versatility and a pretty solid bat.

Draft History and Signing

The St. Louis Cardinals picked Ed Crosby in the second round of the 1969 amateur draft. They noticed him at Long Beach City College, after he’d already made an impression at Woodrow Wilson Classical High School.

That draft spot showed the Cardinals had faith in his potential. His ability to play multiple infield positions made him a valuable get.

Bobby Grich, his high school teammate, also went pro. Long Beach really turned out some solid baseball players in the late ‘60s.

The Cardinals liked Crosby’s lefty bat and his defensive flexibility. Those traits made him an appealing pick for a team looking to build depth in the infield.

Minor League Progression

Crosby’s minor league numbers got better pretty fast. He hit .295 in 1969 during his first year as a pro.

In 1970, he improved again, batting .300 and earning a call-up to the majors in July. That quick jump showed he could handle pro pitching.

The Cardinals bumped him up to their AAA club in Tulsa for the whole 1971 season. Playing at that level helped him face tougher competition.

His time in AAA gave him a chance to polish his defense at several infield spots. The Cardinals used that season to figure out where he fit best.

Key Skills and Development

Crosby turned himself into a versatile infielder, able to handle shortstop, second, and third base. That flexibility made him a real asset for the Cardinals.

His left-handed bat gave the lineup a different look, but scouts didn’t see much power in his swing.

Crosby’s defense became his signature. He stood 6-foot-2, and his quick reflexes worked well in the infield.

Cardinals coaches helped him work on his consistency at the plate. His minor league averages suggested he might be able to hit enough in the majors.

He focused on becoming a dependable backup infielder more than a starter. That role fit his skills and gave him a clear shot at the big leagues.

Ed Crosby’s MLB Career Overview

Ed Crosby spent six seasons in Major League Baseball from 1970 to 1976. He put together a .220 batting average in 297 games.

He played most of his career with the St. Louis Cardinals, then had shorter runs with the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians. He mostly worked at shortstop and other infield positions.

St. Louis Cardinals Tenure

Crosby made his MLB debut with the St. Louis Cardinals on July 12, 1970, when he was 21. The Cardinals had picked him 43rd overall in the 1969 draft, after his stint at Long Beach City College.

His rookie year looked decent—he hit .253 in 38 games. He managed 24 hits in 95 at-bats, including four doubles and a triple.

In 1972, he got his most playing time with the Cardinals. Crosby appeared in 101 games, notching 60 hits in 276 at-bats for a .217 average. He showed off his defensive skills by playing all over the infield.

His last partial season with St. Louis came in 1973. He only played 22 games and batted .128 with five hits in 39 at-bats. Over three years with the Cardinals, he played 161 games and collected 89 hits.

Cincinnati Reds Experience

The Cincinnati Reds traded for Crosby during the 1973 season. That short stint ended up being his most productive at the plate.

He played 36 games for Cincinnati, hitting .216 with 11 hits in 51 at-bats. He added a double, a triple, and drove in five runs. His on-base percentage climbed to .333, the best of his career.

The Reds mostly used Crosby at shortstop and second base. They valued his glove, even if his bat didn’t stand out.

Playing for Cincinnati was the only time Crosby suited up for a National League team besides St. Louis. The Reds’ competitive atmosphere gave him some valuable experience.

Cleveland Indians Years

Crosby wrapped up his big league career with the Cleveland Indians from 1974 to 1976. The American League team gave him his most steady playing time at the end.

In 1974, he debuted with Cleveland and hit .209 over 37 games. The next year, he appeared in 61 games and batted .234, picking up 30 hits.

1975 was his busiest year with the Indians. He racked up 33 total bases and drove in seven runs, playing all over the infield and even getting some time as a designated hitter.

Crosby played his last MLB game in 1976 with Cleveland. He went 1-for-2 in just two games, ending his six-year major league career at age 27.

Stats, Performance, and Playing Style

Ed Crosby’s MLB career, from 1970 to 1976, really came down to his defensive versatility and, well, some offensive struggles. He finished with a .220 batting average and no home runs over 297 games. What kept him around was his ability to handle just about any infield position, especially shortstop, even if his bat never quite caught up.

Batting and Fielding Statistics

Crosby’s numbers at the plate tell the story of a guy who had a tough time hitting big-league pitching. He batted .220 with 149 hits, 44 RBIs, and 67 runs scored in 297 games. His rookie year in 1970 was his best, with a .253 average in 38 games for the Cardinals.

He never hit a home run in the majors. His power stats were pretty light—just 22 doubles and 4 triples in 750 plate appearances. His on-base percentage sat at .282, and his slugging was .264, for an OPS of .547, which is honestly not great compared to league averages.

Crosby’s plate discipline wavered. He walked 55 times but struck out 74 times in his career. His best OPS came with Cincinnati in 1973, when he posted a .608 mark in 36 games.

Position Versatility

Crosby’s real value was his ability to play anywhere in the infield. He logged significant time at shortstop, second base, and third base. His position codes show he covered shortstop (6), second base (4), and third base (5) pretty regularly.

With St. Louis, Crosby mostly played shortstop and second base. The Cardinals counted on his defense, even though his bat lagged behind. His fielding percentage at shortstop was .954 in 1970, just a bit under the league average of .965.

Cleveland used Crosby in all sorts of utility roles in his last three seasons. He played multiple spots in the infield and even got a couple of games as a designated hitter in 1976. That flexibility probably kept him in the majors longer than his hitting alone would have.

WAR and Advanced Metrics

Crosby’s WAR (Wins Above Replacement) numbers were nothing to write home about. He finished his career with a WAR of -0.6, meaning he was a bit below replacement level overall. His best single-season WAR was 0.4, in both 1970 and 1975.

His career OPS+ was 56, which means he was 44% worse than the average hitter after adjusting for park and era. Only his 1973 run with Cincinnati nudged above his usual numbers, with an OPS+ of 75.

Other advanced stats like rOBA (.263) and Rbat+ (51) just confirm he had a hard time keeping up with league standards at the plate.

Notable Games and Moments

Crosby debuted in the majors on July 12, 1970, for the St. Louis Cardinals at age 21. He got the call-up after a strong minor league season, hitting .300 at Triple-A that year.

His busiest season was 1972, when he played in 101 games for St. Louis. Even though he only batted .217, he got 300 plate appearances and drove in 19 runs. That year gave him his longest look as a regular.

One of his better stretches came with Cincinnati in 1973—he hit .216 but managed a .333 on-base percentage. Crosby’s last MLB appearance was in 1976 with Cleveland, where he went 1-for-2 in a couple of games.

Transitions and Trades Throughout His Career

Ed Crosby bounced around quite a bit during his six seasons in the MLB. He played for three major league teams and spent time in the minors more often than he probably would have liked.

Key Trades and Transactions

On July 27, 1973, the St. Louis Cardinals traded Crosby and Gene Dusan to the Cincinnati Reds. The Cardinals got Ed Sprague and a player to be named later, who turned out to be Roe Skidmore on September 30, 1973.

The Philadelphia Phillies picked Crosby up from the Reds in the Rule 5 draft on December 3, 1973. He didn’t stick around Philly for long, though.

The Cardinals brought Crosby back during spring training in 1974 by buying his contract from the Phillies. That second stint with the Cardinals only lasted a few months.

On June 1, 1974, the Cardinals sent Crosby to the Cleveland Indians in a trade. He finished out his MLB career with Cleveland, playing there until he retired in 1976.

Role with Each Team

Crosby debuted for the St. Louis Cardinals on July 12, 1970, when he was just 21. He saw the most action in 1972, filling in regularly as an infielder.

The Cincinnati Reds mostly used Crosby off the bench during their strong 1973 campaign. He hit .216 over 36 games and even made a quick appearance in the 1973 NLCS, going 1-for-2.

When Crosby joined the Cleveland Indians from 1974 to 1976, he mainly filled the role of utility infielder. He bounced around the infield, doing whatever the team needed.

Brief Stints and Minor League Assignments

After the Cardinals reacquired Crosby in 1974, he played for AAA Tulsa before the trade to Cleveland. He got into 31 games with the Cardinals’ top minor league squad.

He didn’t spend long in the minors each time, but those assignments kept him sharp between big league chances.

The Phillies picking him in the Rule 5 draft was probably the shortest stop in his career. The Cardinals quickly bought him back, showing they still valued him as a utility guy.

Retirement and Life After Baseball

Ed Crosby wrapped up his professional baseball career in 1976 after seven seasons in the majors. He moved into scouting for several organizations and raised a family that kept his baseball legacy going through his sons.

Final MLB Season in 1976

Crosby’s last MLB season came in 1976, and he only got two at-bats with the Indians. He made the most of them, picking up a hit and finishing with a .500 average that year.

At 27, Crosby spent most of 1976 in Triple-A instead of the majors. Earlier in his career, he saw more time with teams like the Cardinals and Reds, but that changed by the end.

1976 Season Statistics:

• Games Played: Minimal MLB appearances
• At-Bats: 2
• Hits: 1
• Batting Average: .500

After those last two big league at-bats, Crosby kept playing in Triple-A for a few different teams. He finally retired after the 1979 minor league season.

Post-Playing Career Activities

When Crosby retired, he stayed close to the game by becoming a scout. He worked for several big league organizations over the years.

He scouted for the Baltimore Orioles, Oakland Athletics, Chicago White Sox, and Arizona Diamondbacks at different times. Getting to see so many different franchises gave him a pretty unique perspective on finding talent.

Family members have called Crosby a “baseball lifer” and even a “junkie.” His passion for the sport clearly didn’t fade after he stopped playing.

Still, he never pushed baseball on his kids. He let them figure out their own interests, stepping in with advice and support only when they wanted it.

Legacy and Family in Baseball

Ed Crosby’s baseball legacy lives on through his family, especially his son, Bobby Crosby.

Bobby took a similar path and carved out his own major league career.

From 2003 to 2010, Bobby Crosby played in the majors, mostly at shortstop. He snagged the American League Rookie of the Year award in 2004 with the Oakland Athletics.

The Crosby family really shows what baseball talent across generations can look like.

Ed let his sons find their own connection to the game, never forcing them into baseball.

He shared advice drawn from years as a player and scout, but he stepped back so Bobby could make his own way in pro baseball.