Rod Craig – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Rod Craig wrapped up his baseball career quietly in 1986, playing his last game with the Chicago White Sox on May 5th. This outfielder from Los Angeles had shown real promise early on, becoming the first prospect signed by the expansion Seattle Mariners to make it to the majors in 1979.

Craig played four seasons in Major League Baseball from 1979 to 1986. He put together a .256 batting average, hit 3 home runs, and drove in 27 RBIs across 145 games with three different teams. He kicked off his career with a bang, batting .385 as a rookie for Seattle and getting hits in 14 of his first 16 games.

His journey from promising rookie to retirement shows just how tough and unpredictable pro baseball can be. Craig’s story includes his early success with the Mariners, injury struggles that cut into his playing time, and a winding path through several organizations before he finally hung up his cleats at 28.

Early Life and Background

Rodney Paul Craig was born January 12, 1958, in Los Angeles, California. He grew up facing poverty and found his love for baseball during those tough early years.

His childhood was marked by both athletic promise and a lot of instability at home.

Childhood in Los Angeles

Rod Craig grew up in Carson, a city in the Los Angeles area. His family struggled with what people described as “dire poverty and a shaky home life.”

Still, Craig found his passion for baseball early on. He started playing organized ball at nine with a Compton Little League team, sticking with them for two years.

From 13 to 15, Craig kept building his skills in the Compton Central Senior League. He had some notable early successes that hinted at what he might become.

One of his favorite memories was hitting a grand slam in the Senior League All-Star game. At just 14, he showed off his power by hitting a ball 370 feet.

Education and Early Baseball Experiences

Craig went to Manuel Dominguez High School in Compton and played on the 1973 baseball team. That squad included future major leaguers Hubie Brooks, Ken Landreaux, and Rick Peters.

He later transferred to Narbonne High School in Harbor City, Los Angeles. At Narbonne, Craig played running back on the football team and was considered the most talented at the position.

But as an African American athlete at a school where minorities were rare, Craig faced some tough obstacles. He got buried on the depth chart and eventually left the football team behind.

He didn’t play baseball during his junior and senior years at Narbonne, maybe for similar reasons. After high school, he enrolled at San Jacinto College in Texas, but he didn’t play there either since a scholarship never came through.

Professional Baseball Career Overview

Rod Craig played four seasons in Major League Baseball from 1979 to 1986 as an outfielder for three teams. He became Seattle’s first homegrown player and spent plenty of time developing in the minors.

Major League Debut and Teams

Craig made his MLB debut on September 11, 1979, with the Seattle Mariners against the Texas Rangers. He was the first homegrown Mariner after signing as an undrafted free agent in 1977.

The switch-hitting outfielder picked up his first big league hit in that debut, singling off Doyle Alexander in the seventh. He finished his September call-up batting .385, going 20-for-52 with eight doubles and a triple.

Craig played for the Seattle Mariners from 1979 to 1980. He won the Opening Day center field job in 1980 under manager Darrell Johnson. He started hot, going 6-for-10 with a homer and five RBIs in his first two games.

The Cleveland Indians traded for Craig in March 1981, sending Wayne Cage to Seattle. In 1982, he spent most of his time as a backup outfielder and pinch-runner, starting only nine games.

Craig’s last MLB stop came with the Chicago White Sox in 1986. He played his final game on May 5, 1986, against the Yankees, getting a hit in his only at-bat.

Minor League Contributions

Craig started his minor league career in 1977 with the Bellingham Mariners of the Northwest League. He hit .284 with four homers and 13 steals in 54 games, playing alongside first-round pick Dave Henderson.

He moved up through the ranks, including a stop with the Stockton Mariners in 1978, where he swiped 41 bases. Craig also played winter ball in the Mexican Pacific League and in Venezuela to keep improving.

In 1979, he had his best minor league stretch with Triple-A Spokane, batting .315 and stealing 16 bases in 46 games. That run earned him the September call-up to Seattle.

After shoulder surgery in 1981, Craig played with Charleston in the International League. He spent 1983 there, logging 121 games, hitting .266, smacking 11 home runs, and stealing 27 bases.

Craig’s minor league years gave him crucial time to develop between major league chances. His speed and switch-hitting kept him on scouts’ and coaches’ radar.

Career Highlights and Achievements

Craig’s biggest achievement was becoming the Seattle Mariners’ first homegrown player to make the majors. His September 1979 debut was a big moment for the new franchise.

He put up a .256 batting average, 3 home runs, and 27 RBIs in 145 big league games. Craig’s speed showed up in his stolen bases, and he brought value as a switch-hitter.

His best run came in that 1979 debut month, hitting safely in 12 of 13 starts. He had seven multi-hit games and flashed his potential right away.

People noticed his blazing speed throughout his career. Scouts and teammates talked about his natural athleticism and his “legendary” arm strength.

Craig’s career stretched across parts of four decades in pro baseball, from his 1977 signing to his last White Sox appearance in 1986. Despite injuries and personal challenges, he stuck around in the game for nearly a decade.

Final Years in Baseball and 1986 Retirement

Rod Craig’s baseball journey ended after a short run with the Chicago White Sox in 1986. He played just 10 games that year before walking away from pro baseball at age 28.

Chicago White Sox Tenure

The Chicago White Sox picked up Craig for his final major league season. He only appeared in 10 games for them during 1986.

Craig didn’t get many chances at the plate, but he made the most of a few. He logged 12 plate appearances, collecting 2 hits in 10 at-bats for a .200 average.

His time in Chicago closed out a four-season major league career that spanned eight years. The White Sox were Craig’s third and final MLB team after Seattle and Cleveland.

He mostly played outfield during his short stint with Chicago. His limited role reflected the reduced playing time he saw in his later years.

Last Game and Retirement Announcement

Craig took the field for the last time in the majors on May 5, 1986, against the Yankees. He was 28 years old, plus 113 days.

In his final at-bat, Craig singled off pitcher Joe Niekro. That hit was a nice way to wrap up his big league career.

The single off Niekro became Craig’s final contribution to his career stats. He finished with a .256 batting average, 3 home runs, and 27 RBIs in 145 games.

After the 1986 season, Craig officially retired from pro baseball. His career included short stints over several years, not long stretches of consecutive play.

Post-Retirement Life and Legacy

Rod Craig’s life after baseball took a difficult turn, marked by personal struggles and mental health issues that eventually ended in tragedy. His story is a tough reminder of what some athletes face when leaving professional sports.

Post-Career Activities

After baseball, Rodney Paul Craig ran into legal trouble and worsening mental health. In 1999, authorities charged him with stalking a TV news anchor, which started a string of concerning incidents.

Craig battled psychiatric problems that fueled his downward spiral. He got arrested several times in the years after leaving baseball in 1986.

Eventually, the former outfielder became homeless, living in encampments around Los Angeles. It’s hard to imagine that someone who once showed so much promise as the Mariners’ first homegrown player would end up there.

His living situation grew more unstable as his mental health struggles went mostly ignored. The transition from pro sports to regular life hit Craig especially hard, and he’d already been fighting personal battles during his playing days.

Community Impact

Rod Craig’s tragic story shines a light on the bigger issues facing former athletes after retirement. His struggles with mental health and homelessness highlight the lack of support for players leaving baseball.

Craig died on August 17, 2013, at a homeless encampment in Los Angeles after being fatally stabbed. His death highlighted the dangers homeless people face every day.

Groups like the Society for American Baseball Research have documented his story, trying to keep the memories of players like Craig alive. These accounts remind us of the real human cost when mental health problems go untreated.

The contrast between Craig’s early promise, his brief time in the majors, and his tragic end shows just how complicated life can get for pro athletes after their careers are over.

Passing and Remembrance

Rod Craig’s life came to a tragic end on August 17, 2013, when someone fatally stabbed him at a homeless encampment in Los Angeles. The former outfielder was cremated, closing a tough chapter after his baseball career.

Circumstances of Passing in Los Angeles

Rod Craig died on August 17, 2013, in Los Angeles, California. He was 55 years old.

Someone stabbed the former baseball player during an incident at a homeless encampment. Craig had been living in tough conditions in his later years.

His death happened in the same city where he was born on January 12, 1958. Los Angeles had always been home for him.

The sad way he passed away put a spotlight on the struggles some former athletes face after their playing days are over. Craig’s death stood in stark contrast to his earlier success as a big leaguer.

Burial and Cemetery Details

After his death, Rodney Paul Craig was cremated. There wasn’t a traditional burial or cemetery service.

Since he was cremated, Craig doesn’t have a specific gravesite or cemetery spot. That’s pretty common for families wanting a more flexible memorial.

His legacy lives on through online databases and baseball record sites. These digital records let fans and researchers learn about his life and his career.

Tributes and Memorials

People remember Craig’s baseball career through online memorials and baseball databases. Find a Grave has a page dedicated to his life and career.

His final at-bat in the majors came on May 5, 1986, against the Yankees, and he got a hit in that last trip to the plate.

Baseball reference sites still keep track of his stats and milestones. These records showcase his time with the Mariners, Indians, and White Sox.

Former teammates and baseball historians sometimes bring up Craig when talking about players from the 1980s. His story is a reminder of both the highs and the hardships that can come with a pro sports career.

Net Worth, Recognition, and Historical Significance

Rod Craig’s four-season MLB career, from 1979 to 1986, brought modest financial rewards and left a small but memorable mark in baseball history. His estimated net worth of $4 million reflects what he earned as a player and from whatever he did after retiring.

Estimated Net Worth

Rod Craig’s estimated net worth hit about $4 million when he passed away in 2013. He built up this amount from his years playing in the MLB with the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Indians, and Chicago White Sox.

Most of his financial success came from his baseball salary during the late 1970s and 1980s. Back then, MLB players in his position usually made somewhere between $20,000 and $100,000 each year.

After retiring in 1986, Craig probably grew his wealth through investments and other activities. His four-season career gave him a solid start, but he really increased his net worth over almost thirty years after leaving baseball.

Recognition in Baseball Records

You can still find Craig’s MLB statistics archived in official baseball records. He played in 78 total games across four seasons and ended up with a .244 batting average.

Craig had his best season in 1980 with Seattle, showing up in 63 games and spending 544.2 innings in the outfield. Baseball-Reference and similar sites keep detailed records of his fielding and batting stats.

During his career, Craig picked up minor recognition like a Player of the Week award in August 1979. When he debuted on September 11, 1979, he officially joined the MLB history books.

Influence on Future Generations

Rod Craig didn’t really leave a big mark on future baseball generations, especially when you stack him up against the stars from his era. Still, his short career kind of sums up what it was like to be a journeyman player in the 1970s and 1980s.

He started at San Jacinto Junior College, then worked his way through the minors, and finally made it to MLB. That’s pretty much the classic path for most players back then.

If you’re a young player digging into baseball history, you might look at Craig’s career as typical for guys who got just a taste of the majors. His story highlights both the chances and the tough breaks outfielders faced during baseball’s expansion era.

Craig bounced around three different organizations, which really shows how much utility players had to move just to stay in the game.