Brandon Crawford

Brandon Michael Crawford was born on January 21, 1987, in Mountain View, California. His family lived in Menlo Park before they moved to Pleasanton when he was in elementary school. He grew up a San Francisco Giants fan, and his family purchased season tickets and a commemorative brick in Willie Mays Plaza outside AT&T Park when the ballpark opened in 2000.{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Brandon-Crawford-living-the-dream-3930508.php |title=Brandon Crawford: living the dream |first=Ann |last=Killion |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=October 8, 2012}}

Crawford attended Foothill High School in Pleasanton, where he was a three-sport athlete: football, basketball, and baseball. He was the starting quarterback for the Foothill Falcons and graduated in the class of 2005.{{cite news |last=Baggarly |first=Andrew |title=Giants notebook: Buster Posey has a new favorite player -- rookie Brandon Crawford |date=May 29, 2011 |newspaper=San Jose Mercury News |page=C7 |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/giants/ci_18163785?nclick_check=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007065435/http://www.mercurynews.com/giants/ci_18163785?nclick_check=1 |archive-date=October 7, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}

File:Brandon Crawford (492275133).jpg in 2007]]

Crawford attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he was a physiological sciences major. He played baseball for the UCLA Bruins from 2006 to 2008 and helped lead the team to the NCAA Regionals in three consecutive seasons,{{cite web |title=Player Bio: Brandon Crawford – UCLA Official Athletic Site |work=UCLABruins.com |url=http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/crawford_brandon00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829162802/http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/crawford_brandon00.html |archive-date=August 29, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }} the first time in school history.{{cite news |title=UCLA's Brandon Crawford Promoted to San Francisco Giants |date=May 26, 2011 |work=UCLABruins.com |url=http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/052611aab.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829162826/http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/052611aab.html |archive-date=August 29, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }} Crawford was named the team's MVP in 2006 and 2007, and was named to the All-Pac-10 Conference team in 2007. In the summer of 2007, he played for the Orleans Cardinals of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/college/summer/stats.asp?Y=2007&T=Orleans_Cardinals |title=2007 Orleans Cardinals |publisher=thebaseballcube.com |date= |accessdate=July 20, 2021}} He also played in the Northwoods League for the Mankato MoonDogs in 2005 before he attended UCLA.

He helped lead the United States national team to the title in the 2006 International University Sports Federation (FISU) World Championship.{{cite news |title=UCLA Baseball's Brandon Crawford Earns Gold Medal with U.S. National Team |date=August 16, 2006 |work=UCLABruins.com |url=http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/081606aaa.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829162808/http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/081606aaa.html |archive-date=August 29, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}

The San Francisco Giants selected Crawford in the fourth round, with the 117th overall selection, of the 2008 MLB draft, and he signed for a $375,000 signing bonus.{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?ID=123673 |title=Brandon Crawford |publisher=The Baseball Cube |date=2012-05-07 |access-date=2019-12-20}} Crawford started his first full season as a professional with the High–A San Jose Giants in 2009. In 25 games, he hit .371 with six home runs and 17 RBI, good enough for a slugging percentage of .600 and 1.045 OPS.{{cite web |url=http://sjgiants.mlblogs.com/2015/01/22/when-they-were-san-jose-giants-brandon-crawford/ |title=When They Were San Jose Giants: Brandon Crawford|date=October 27, 2016 }} In May, Crawford was promoted to the Double-A Connecticut Defenders, where he spent the rest of the season, batting .258/.294/.365 with four home runs in 108 games.

In 2010, Crawford opened the season in Double–A (now with the Richmond Flying Squirrels) and earned an Eastern League mid-season All-Star nod,{{cite news |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-11718702 |title=Eastern League reveals 2010 All-Stars |first=Griffin |last=Zucosky |date=June 29, 2010 |work=Minor League Baseball}} batting .241/.337/.375 in 79 games before suffering a broken hand in early July, which sidelined Crawford for nearly two months. When he recovered, he was assigned back to San Jose for the remainder of the season. He was ranked the sixth-best prospect in the Giants' organization by Baseball America heading into 2011.{{cite magazine |last=Baggarly |first=Andy |title=San Francisco Giants Top 10 Prospects |date=January 26, 2011 |magazine=Baseball America |url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/organization-top-10-prospects/2011/2611169.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828153412/http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/organization-top-10-prospects/2011/2611169.html |archive-date=August 28, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}

In 2011, Crawford was invited to spring training but was set back by a broken finger suffered in the final week, and started the season in San Jose while he recovered.{{cite news |last=Inman |first=Cam |title=Giants prospect remains patient |date=May 24, 2011 |newspaper=San Jose Mercury News |page=D5 |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/columns/ci_18124824?nclick_check=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008031842/http://www.mercurynews.com/columns/ci_18124824?nclick_check=1 |archive-date=October 8, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }} There he batted .322/.412/.593 in 59 at-bats. With the Triple–A Fresno Grizzlies, Crawford batted .234/.291/.327 in 107 at-bats.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/brandon-crawford-543063|title=Brandon Crawford Stats, Fantasy & News|website=Minor League Baseball}} In the AFL, he was named to the AFL All-Prospect Team.

The Giants promoted Crawford to the major leagues for the first time on May 26, 2011, following injuries to Buster Posey, Mike Fontenot, and Darren Ford.{{cite news |last=Berry |first=Adam |title=Belt, Stewart, Crawford brought up to Giants |date=May 26, 2011 |work=MLB.com |url=http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110526&content_id=19612786&vkey=news_sf&c_id=sf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110528160357/http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110526&content_id=19612786&vkey=news_sf&c_id=sf |archive-date=May 28, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} Crawford made his MLB debut on May 27 against the Milwaukee Brewers. His first MLB hit came in his third at bat of the game, and was a grand slam off the Brewers' Shaun Marcum. He joined Bobby Bonds and Brian Dallimore as the only Giants whose first career MLB hit was a grand slam;{{cite news |url=http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18159077 |title=Brandon Crawford's grand slam in debut lifts San Francisco Giants |first=Andrew |last=Baggarly |date=May 27, 2011 |publisher=Bay Area News Group |access-date=February 9, 2015 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090632/http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18159077 |url-status=dead }} he also became the sixth player in MLB history and the second player in Giants history along with Bobby Bonds to hit a grand slam in his first game.{{cite news| url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/27/SP301JMMCE.DTL | work=The San Francisco Chronicle | first=Henry | last=Schulman | title=Brandon Crawford's slam in debut lifts Giants | date=June 26, 2011}}

File:Brandon Crawford on July 15, 2011.jpg

On July 31, the Giants optioned Crawford to their Triple-A affiliate, the Fresno Grizzlies, after the Giants acquired shortstop Orlando Cabrera.{{cite news |title=Giants option Crawford to make room for Cabrera |date=July 31, 2011 |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=6820853 |access-date=August 1, 2011 |quote=The San Francisco Giants optioned rookie shortstop Brandon Crawford to Triple-A Fresno on Sunday to make room on the roster for new shortstop Orlando Cabrera.}} The Giants were 23–18 with Crawford as a starter, but he was hitting only .190.{{cite news |last=Baggarly |first=Andrew |title=San Francisco Giants plan to keep Brandon Crawford busy this fall |date=August 31, 2011 |newspaper=San Jose Mercury News |page=D5 |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/giants/ci_18793031 |access-date=September 2, 2011 |quote=Crawford hit .190 before he was optioned July 31, but the Giants were 23-18 during his two-month run as the everyday shortstop.}} Crawford was recalled in September when MLB rosters expanded to 40 players.{{cite news |last=Reiss |first=Scott |title=Giants recall Crawford, Burriss, Gillaspie, Joaquin |date=September 2, 2011 |work=CSNBayArea.com |url=http://www.csnbayarea.com/09/02/11/Giants-recall-Crawford-Burriss-Gillaspie/landing.html?blockID=558252&feedID=2539 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130120073350/http://www.csnbayarea.com/09/02/11/Giants-recall-Crawford-Burriss-Gillaspie/landing.html?blockID=558252&feedID=2539 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 20, 2013 |access-date=September 2, 2011 |quote=The Giants recalled Brandon Crawford, Emmanuel Burriss, Conor Gillaspie and Waldis Joaquin from Triple A Fresno with the expansion of the roster to 40. }}

In 2012, Crawford was named the team's opening day shortstop, in which he batted 8th in the lineup. He batted .248 with four home runs, 26 doubles, and 45 RBI in 143 games. On July 20, Crawford hit his second career grand slam and drove in 5 runs as the Giants defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 7–2.{{cite news |url=http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_07_20_sfnmlb_phimlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=sf |title=Crawford's slam backs solid start by Lincecum |first=Chris |last=Haft |date=July 20, 2012 |work=MLB.com |access-date=May 17, 2015 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002122/http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_07_20_sfnmlb_phimlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=sf |url-status=dead }} Crawford was praised for his defense during the 2012 postseason, which culminated in a 4–0 sweep of the Detroit Tigers in the 2012 World Series.{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2012/10/28/brandon-crawford-giants-one-win-away-from-world-series/1664471/ |title=Brandon Crawford, Giants one win from World Series title |first=John |last=Perrotto |date=October 28, 2012 |work=USA Today}} Crawford ranked third among NL shortstops in Defensive Runs Saved at +12,{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/32098/five-underappreciated-weapons-for-2013 |title=Five underappreciated weapons for 2013 |first=David |last=Schoenfield |date=January 15, 2013 |work=ESPN.com}} and was recognized with the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award at shortstop.

Crawford was the Giants' starting shortstop for 2013, with Joaquín Árias as his backup. In 149 games on the year, he hit .248/.311/.363 with nine home runs and 43 RBI.

In 153 games, Crawford batted .246 and set career highs with ten home runs and 69 RBIs. On April 13, Crawford hit a tenth inning, walk-off home run against Rex Brothers of the Colorado Rockies.{{cite news |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/giants/ci_25559612/brandon-crawfords-walk-off-homer-leads-giants-past |title=Brandon Crawford's walk-off homer leads Giants past Rockies |first=Alex |last=Pavlovic |date=April 13, 2014 |work=San Jose Mercury News}} In the 2014 postseason, Crawford led all Giants with 9 RBIs. In the fourth inning of the NL Wild Card Game between the Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates, Crawford hit a grand slam off of Edinson Vólquez, becoming the first shortstop to hit a grand slam in Major League Baseball postseason history.{{cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2014/10/01/Pirates-unable-to-solve-Giants-Bumgarner-in-8-0-loss/stories/201410010220 |title=Shutout: Pirates unable to stop Giants' Bumgarner in 8-0 loss |first=Bill|last=Bink|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=October 1, 2014|access-date=October 1, 2014}}{{cite news |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/giants/ci_26748000/brandon-crawford-most-indispensable-giant |title=Brandon Crawford a most indispensable Giant |first=Carl |last=Steward |date=October 17, 2014 |newspaper=San Jose Mercury News}} Crawford batted .304 (7-for-23) with 4 RBIs in the 2014 World Series, en route to his second championship with the Giants. In Game 7, Crawford drove in the second run for the Giants with a sacrifice fly and, along with second baseman Joe Panik, turned a critical double-play in the third inning.{{cite web |url=http://www.uclabruins.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=209740477 |title=Brandon Crawford Wins Second World Series Ring |date=October 30, 2014 |publisher=UCLA Athletics |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209032611/http://www.uclabruins.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=209740477 |archive-date=February 9, 2015 |df=mdy-all }}

On January 27, 2015, the Giants and Crawford avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.175 million deal.{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Crawford-avoids-arbitration-signs-3-175-deal-6043896.php |title=Crawford avoids arbitration, gets $3.175 million deal |first=Henry |last=Schulman |date=January 27, 2015 |work=San Francisco Chronicle}} On May 16, Crawford hit his third career grand slam (fourth including the postseason) and drove in a career-high six runs against Mike Leake of the Cincinnati Reds.{{cite news |url=http://m.giants.mlb.com/news/article/124881086/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521005803/http://m.giants.mlb.com/news/article/124881086/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 21, 2015 |title='Underrated' Crawford racks up six RBIs |first=Andy |last=Call |date=May 16, 2015 |work=MLB.com}} In May, Crawford led the team in RBIs,{{Cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Looks-who-s-leading-the-Giants-in-RBIs-6271095.php |title=Look who leads Giants in RBIs: Brandon Crawford |first=John |last=Shea |date=May 18, 2014 |work=San Francisco Chronicle}} and on July 1, Crawford set a new career-high with his 11th home run of the season.{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Giants-blow-two-run-lead-in-ninth-lose-to-Marlins-6361971.php |title=Giants lose at Miami on Justin Bour's 3-run HR in 9th |first=Henry |last=Schulman |date=July 1, 2015 |work=San Francisco Chronicle}} On July 6, Crawford was voted by his fellow Major League players as a reserve for the 2015 MLB All-Star Game.{{Cite news |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/giants/ci_28442132/all-stars-giants-place-three-more-national-league |title=Giants' Bumgarner, Crawford, Panik join All-Star squad |first=Daniel |last=Brown |date=July 6, 2015 |work=San Jose Mercury News}} On August 14 at AT&T Park, in an 8–5 win over the Washington Nationals, Crawford hit his 100th career double. On September 24 at Petco Park, Crawford hit his twentieth home run of the season off of Ian Kennedy, making him the fourth Giants shortstop in franchise history to reach the milestone, after Rich Aurilia, Alvin Dark, and Travis Jackson.{{cite news |url=http://blogs.mercurynews.com/giants/2015/09/24/bumgarner-wont-stand-in-the-royals-way-this-october-and-giants-bullpen-gets-in-the-way-of-his-19th-victory-too/ |title=UPDATED: As the Giants disintegrated this summer, Madison Bumgarner stood as strong as ever — even as bullpen blows his 19th victory |first=Andrew |last=Baggarly |date=September 24, 2015 |work=San Jose Mercury News}}

Crawford set career highs in several offensive categories, batting .256 with 21 home runs, 84 RBIs, 33 doubles, and 130 hits. Crawford was the first Giants' shortstop to lead the team in home runs since Bill Dahlen in 1905.{{cite tweet |user=SFGiants |number=651136049951866881 |date=October 5, 2015 |title=Brandon Crawford finished the season with a team-leading 21 HRs, the 1st SS to lead the #SFGiants in HRs since 1905.}} He won his first Rawlings Gold Glove Award{{cite web |last=Miller |first=Doug |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/gold-glove-winners-announced/c-156972846 |title=Defensive standouts nab Gold Glove Awards |work=MLB.com |date=November 10, 2015 |access-date=November 10, 2015 |archive-date=November 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151112190850/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/156972846/gold-glove-winners-announced |url-status=live }} and Silver Slugger Award,{{cite web|url=http://www.sacbee.com/sports/mlb/san-francisco-giants/article44555106.html|title=Three Giants players take home Silver Slugger Awards|first=Matt|last=Kawahara|date=November 12, 2015|work=Sacramento Bee|access-date=November 13, 2015}} the first Giant to win both awards in the same year since Barry Bonds in 1997.

After the 2015 season, Crawford and the Giants agreed to a six-year, $75 million contract through the 2021 season.{{cite news |url=http://m.giants.mlb.com/news/article/157542766/giants-sign-brandon-crawford-to-six-year-deal |title=Giants sign Crawford to six-year deal |first=Chris |last=Haft |date=November 17, 2015 |work=MLB.com |access-date=November 18, 2015 |archive-date=March 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322010757/http://m.giants.mlb.com/news/article/157542766/giants-sign-brandon-crawford-to-six-year-deal |url-status=dead }} The deal covered Crawford's final two years of salary arbitration and first four years of free agency.{{cite press release |url=http://m.giants.mlb.com/news/article/157542390 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119022255/http://m.giants.mlb.com/news/article/157542390 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 19, 2015 |title=Giants sign infielder Brandon Crawford to a six-year contract |date=November 17, 2015 |work=SFGiants.com}} The contract includes a no-trade clause, meaning that Crawford has to give consent if he were to be traded.

April 8, 2016, Crawford hit a tenth inning, walk-off home run off Joe Blanton of the Los Angeles Dodgers in a game in which the Giants had been no-hit through 7{{frac|1|3}} innings and recorded only two hits.{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Giants-beat-Dodgers-3-2-on-Crawford-s-walkoff-7238300.php |title=Giants beat Dodgers on Brandon Crawford's homer |first=John |last=Shea |date=April 8, 2016 |work=San Francisco Chronicle}} On August 8 at Marlins Park, in an 8–7 win over the Miami Marlins that went into extra-innings, Crawford hit a career-high in base hits and singles with seven and five respectively. His seven hits tied the NL record for most total hits in a single game, and was the first time this feat had been done since Rennie Stennett in 1975. The seven hits were also a Giants all-time franchise record.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.mercurynews.com/giants/2016/08/08/brandon-crawford-makes-history-7-hit-game-giants-win-street-fight-14th-marlins/|title=Brandon Crawford makes history with 7-hit game, Giants win street fight in 14th over Marlins | first=Andrew | last=Baggarly | date=August 8, 2016|work=San Jose Mercury News|access-date=August 9, 2016}} Two days later, Crawford met with Stennett at Marlins Park.{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2016/08/10/rare-feat-crawford-stennett-meet-in-miami-after-7-hit-game/88524002/ |title=7th Heaven: Brandon Crawford, Rennie Stennett meet in Miami after 7-hit game |agency=AP |website=USA Today |date=August 10, 2016 |access-date=August 30, 2018}}

For the 2016 season, Crawford increased his batting average to a career-best .275 in 155 games played. Along with teammate Javier López, Crawford won the Willie Mac Award, which honors the Giants' most inspirational player.{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Giants-Crawford-Lopez-share-2016-Willie-Mac-Award-9518093.php |title=Giants' Crawford, Lopez share Willie Mac Award |first=Henry |last=Schulman |date=September 30, 2016 |work=San Francisco Chronicle}} He was awarded his second consecutive Gold Glove Award after the season.{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Three-Giants-win-Gold-Glove-awards-10602294.php |title=3 Giants — Posey, Panik, Crawford — win Gold Glove awards |first=Henry |last=Schulman |date=November 8, 2016 |work=San Francisco Chronicle}}

On April 29, 2017, Crawford was placed on the 10-day disabled list due to a right groin strain.{{cite web|last1=Kramer|first1=Daniel|title=Brandon Crawford heads to DL with right groin strain|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/giants-brandon-crawford-on-disabled-list-c227297538|publisher=MLB|access-date=April 29, 2017|archive-date=November 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113113009/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/227297538/giants-brandon-crawford-on-disabled-list/|url-status=live}} In 2017, he batted .253/.305/.403 with 14 home runs and 77 RBI, and after the season he was awarded his third consecutive Gold Glove Award. He was the first shortstop to win three straight since Jimmy Rollins (2007–09), and the first Giant since J. T. Snow who won four in a row (1997–2000).{{cite news |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/brandon-crawford-wins-3rd-straight-gold-glove-c260892456 |title=Crawford wins 3rd straight Gold Glove Award |first=Chris |last=Haft |date=November 8, 2017 |work=MLB.com |access-date=November 12, 2017 |archive-date=November 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116023426/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/260892456/brandon-crawford-wins-3rd-straight-gold-glove/ |url-status=live }}

File:Brandon Crawford July 17, 2018 (50120692083).jpg

On June 27, 2018, Crawford hit a walk-off home run against the Colorado Rockies to win the game 1–0 for the Giants. Crawford became the first Giants player since Steve Decker in April 1991 to hit a walk-off solo homer to win a 1–0 game.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/tiny/dFt8L|title=Team Batting Game Finder: From 1908 to 2018, Playing for SFG, Team Won, Game ended in a walk-off win, (100 percent complete s. 1974), (requiring R=1 and HR=1), sorted by most recent date |work=Baseball Reference|access-date=July 17, 2018}} Batting .300 with ten home runs and 39 RBIs, Crawford was named the starting shortstop for the 2018 MLB All-Star Game.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/07/08/brandon-crawford-giants-all-star-buster-posey/|title=Brandon Crawford earns first career All-Star starting nod|date=July 8, 2018}} Crawford hit .193 in the second half, battling injuries throughout the second half. A left-handed hitter, Crawford had a higher batting average against left-hand pitching than right-hand pitching at .274. His average against right-hand pitching was .243.

For the season, he hit a .254/.325/.394 batting line.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/crawfbr01.shtml|title=Brandon Crawford Stats|website=Baseball-Reference.com}} He had the slowest baserunning sprint speed of all major league shortstops, at 25.9 feet/second.{{Cite web|url=https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/sprint_speed_leaderboard?year=2018&position=6&team=&min=10|title=Statcast Sprint Speed Leaderboard|website=baseballsavant.com}}

In 2018, Crawford was the Giants team winner of the Heart & Hustle Award.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/heart-and-hustle-award-team-winners-announced/c-286975094|title=MLBPAA announces team winners of 14th annual Heart & Hustle Award|author=MLBPAA|website=MLB.com|date=July 24, 2018|access-date=July 26, 2018}} Crawford lost out on his fourth straight gold glove to Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed.

Against the Rockies on July 15, 2019, he had five hits in six at bats including two home runs and a career-high eight runs batted in during the Giants' 19-2 victory. The eight RBIs tied the San Francisco team record held by Willie Mays and Orlando Cepeda. Crawford became the first shortstop in history to record five hits and eight RBIs in one game, and the first Giant to have at least two home runs and eight RBIs in a game since Willie Mays did it in 1961.

In 2019, he batted .228/.304/.350 with 11 home runs and 59 RBIs.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/crawfbr01.shtml |title=Brandon Crawford Stats |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=2019-10-09}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=1&season=2019&month=0&season1=2019&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&startdate=2019-01-01&enddate=2019-12-31&sort=9,a |title=Major League Leaderboards » 2019 » Batters » Advanced Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball |publisher=Fangraphs.com |date=2019-01-01 |access-date=2019-10-09}}

In 2020 he batted .256/.326/.465 (the highest slugging percentage of his career) with eight home runs and 23 RBIs. He had the slowest sprint speed of all major league shortstops, at 25.7 feet per second.{{Cite web|url=https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/sprint_speed?year=2020&position=6&team=&min=10&sort=7&sortDir=desc|title=Statcast Sprint Speed Leaderboard|website=baseballsavant.com}}

On June 8, 2021, Crawford started in what was his 1,326th game playing shortstop for the Giants, passing Travis Jackson for the most games played at the position in franchise history. On August 13, Crawford agreed to a 2-year extension worth $32 million through 2023.

In the 2021 regular season, Crawford batted .298(9th in the NL)/.373(10th)/.522 with 79 runs, 24 home runs, 11 stolen bases, and 90 RBIs (all career highs). In 138 games he had 549 at-bats. On defense, he had a .983 fielding percentage (third in the NL), and a 3.76 range factor/game (3rd). At the end of the season, he was third of all active players in games played at shortstop, at 1,409.

In Game 3 of the 2021 NLDS, Crawford made a leaping catch to preserve a crucial 1–0 lead for the Giants, which held to give the Giants a 2–1 series lead.

He won the 2021 National League Gold Glove Award at shortstop.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/brandon-crawford-wins-2021-nl-gold-glove-award-at-shortstop|title=Crawford snags 4th Gold Glove Award|website=MLB.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.knbr.com/2021/10/28/2-giants-named-finalists-for-gold-glove-award/|title=2 SF Giants named finalists for Gold Glove award|website=www.knbr.com}} With four Gold Glove Awards he became tied with former first baseman J.T. Snow for third-most in Giants history.

He was named a 2021 Silver Slugger Award finalist.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/silver-slugger-award-finalists-2021|title=Silver Slugger Award finalists announced|website=MLB.com}} He placed fourth in National League MVP voting.

File:Ccrawford2023.jpg

In 2022 with the Giants he batted .231/.308/.344 in 407 at bats, with nine home runs and 52 RBIs, as on defense he led the NL in range factor per game at shortstop (3.88). He was second of all active players in career games at shortstop (1,525).

Following the offseason departure of fellow infielder Brandon Belt, Crawford became the longest tenured member of the Giants.{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/giants/brandon-crawford-discusses-giants-wild-offseason-what-his-future-holds |title=Craw Q&A: Longest-tenured Giant talks odd offseason, MLB future |first=Alex |last=Pavlovic |date=February 3, 2023 |accessdate=May 30, 2023 |publisher=NBC Sports Bay Area}} He made his first major-league appearance as a pitcher with a scoreless ninth inning of relief in a 13–3 victory over the Chicago Cubs on June 11.{{cite web|last=Footer|first=Alyson|title=That was easy! Crawford relishes pitching debut|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/brandon-crawford-pitches-scoreless-ninth-inning|publisher=MLB.com|date=June 11, 2023|access-date=June 12, 2023}} In 2021, Crawford had mentioned his desire to eventually pitch in a big league game, although at the time manager Gabe Kapler declined to allow it, citing Crawford’s extreme value at shortstop.{{cite web |last1=Pavlovic |first1=Alex |title=Crawford still has hopes of pitching for Giants one day |url=https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/crawford-still-has-hopes-of-pitching-for-giants-one-day/1146622/ |website=NBC Sports Bay Area |access-date=7 October 2024}} During the appearance, Crawford’s fastball reached 89.7 mph, a speed he matched in a bullpen session earlier in the season.{{cite web |last1=Baggarly |first1=Andrew |title=Extra Baggs: Giants’ Brandon Crawford has gone from expendable to integral again |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4604927/2023/06/13/giants-brandon-crawford-keaton-winn/ |website=The Athletic |access-date=7 October 2024}} On July 7th, he hit a two-run home run off Austin Gomber of the Colorado Rockies, moving him into 6th place on the Giants’ San Francisco-era RBI leaderboard.{{cite web |title=Brandon Crawford's Milestone Home Run - 6th-Place for RBI in San Francisco Giants History |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrdQALOLXM8 |website=Youtube |publisher=San Francisco Giants |access-date=7 October 2024}} Crawford’s 2023 season included multiple trips to the 10-day injured list. His season finished with him setting career lows in batting average and on-base percentage, with a slash line of 0.194/0.273/0.314.{{cite web |title=Brandon Crawford #35 |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/brandon-crawford-543063?msockid=186f9fa7946b6e1e3ff78ccd95096fe6 |website=MLB.com |publisher=Major League Baseball |access-date=7 October 2024}}

Nearing the end of the season, speculation began to grow about Crawford’s future, not just within the organization but with regards to a potential retirement as well. In the latter half of a season in which he set offensive career lows, Crawford remained mute about his future within the sport.{{cite web |last1=Pavlovic |first1=Alex |title=Crawford preparing for likely final Giants game, unsure MLB future |url=https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/brandon-crawford-final-game-mlb-future/1658952/ |website=NBC Sports Bay Area |access-date=7 October 2024}} On October 1st, 2023, Crawford played in what many speculated could be his final game for the Giants, a 5-2 loss against the Los Angeles Dodgers.{{cite web |last1=Simon |first1=Alex |title=SF Giants' Brandon Crawford says goodbye in possible final game |url=https://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/brandon-crawford-says-goodbye-final-giants-game-18400196.php |website=SF Gate |access-date=7 October 2024}} Prior to the game, Crawford’s four children threw the ceremonial first pitches. Throughout the game, Crawford received standing ovations from fans, and was removed from the game by manager Kai Correa in the 9th inning, allowing him to walk off the field to one final standing ovation from the Giants fans. He went 0–4 that game.

After the season drew to a close, Crawford expressed his desire to remain with the Giants in any capacity, including significantly reduced playing time.{{cite web |last1=Baggarly |first1=Andrew |title=Brandon Crawford on the end of his Giants tenure: ‘I was not wanted back’ |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5309645/2024/03/01/brandon-crawford-sf-giants-not-wanted/ |website=The Athletic |access-date=7 October 2024}} In response to the Cardinals offering Crawford a 1-year $2 million dollar contract, his agent Joel Wolfe reached out to the Giants to explore the possibility of Crawford returning to the team. However, President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi declined to guarantee him a roster spot, citing the difficulty in maintaining a club legend as a backup, instead inviting him to training camp as a non-roster invitee. Crawford referred to this as the “nail in the coffin” that led him to pursue other opportunities in the league.

Crawford finished his Giants career with the 7th most games played, 16th most hits, 8th most doubles, 17th most home runs and 12th most RBI in team history. {{cite web |title=All Time Totals |url=https://www.mlb.com/giants/stats/batting-average/all-time-totals |website=MLB.com |publisher=Major League Baseball |access-date=7 October 2024}}

On February 27, 2024, Crawford signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.{{cite web|last=Denton|first=John|title=Crawford happy to join Cardinals after signing one-year deal|url=https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/news/brandon-crawford-deal-with-cardinals|publisher=MLB.com|date=February 27, 2024|access-date=February 27, 2024}}{{cite news |title=St. Louis Cardinals sign infielder Brandon Crawford |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39605837/st-louis-cardinals-signing-brandon-crawford |access-date=February 28, 2024 |publisher=ESPN.com |date=February 26, 2024}} In 28 games for St. Louis, he slashed .169/.263/.282 with one home run and four RBI. Crawford was released by the Cardinals on August 20.{{cite news |title=Cardinals release Brandon Crawford, reinstate Matt Carpenter |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40931454/cardinals-release-brandon-crawford-reinstate-matt-carpenter |access-date=August 21, 2024 |publisher=ESPN.com |date=August 20, 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Denton |first1=John |title=Mozeliak talks Cards' roster shuffle, offensive struggles |url=https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/news/john-mozeliak-on-cardinals-decision-to-option-jordan-walker |access-date=August 21, 2024 |publisher=MLB.com |date=August 20, 2024}}

On November 27, 2024, Crawford announced his retirement from professional baseball.{{cite news |title=Brandon Crawford, 2-time World Series champ with Giants, retires |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/42650070/brandon-crawford-2-world-series-champ-giants-retires |access-date=November 27, 2024 |agency=Associated Press |publisher=ESPN.com |date=November 27, 2024}}

Crawford married former UCLA gymnast Jalynne Dantzscher in Kona, Hawaii, on November 26, 2011.{{cite news |title=Two more Giant weddings |date=December 9, 2011 |publisher=Comcast SportsNet Bay Area |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/giants/two-more-giant-weddings |access-date=December 24, 2011 }} They have three daughters and two sons.{{cite web|last1=White|first1=Paul|title=Clubhouse confidential: Giants staff ready to return to form|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2014/03/13/clubhouse-confidential-san-francisco-giants/6376469/|website=USA Today|access-date=October 2, 2014}}{{cite tweet|user=SFGiants |number=688182375075823619 |date=January 16, 2016 |title=Congrats @bcraw35 and @JalynneC35! Welcome to the #SFGiants family, baby Braxton.}}{{cite web |first=Amy |last=Graff |title=Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford announces birth of fourth child in cute tweet |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Brandon-Crawford-baby-dad-children-photo-Bryson-13007055.php |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=June 19, 2018 |access-date=June 20, 2018}} They reside in Scottsdale, Arizona.{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/giants/article/Day-in-the-life-with-Giants-Brandon-Crawford-15179567.php|title=Day in the life with Giants' Brandon Crawford: Sheltering in a busy place|last=Shea|first=John|date=April 5, 2020|work=San Francisco Chronicle}}

Crawford is the brother-in-law of Olympic gymnast Jamie Dantzscher. Crawford's sister Amy is married to pitcher Gerrit Cole.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/cut4/gerrit-cole-is-engaged-to-brandon-crawfords-sister/c-144728716|title=Family feud: Amy Crawford watched her brother Brandon face off against fiance Gerrit Cole|first=Chris|last=Landers|date=August 23, 2015|work=Major League Baseball|access-date=November 13, 2015}} His sister-in-law, Jennifer Pippin (the sister of Crawford's wife), died in 2017 due to an asthma attack.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19164282/san-francisco-giants-shortstop-brandon-crawford-hits-emotional-home-run-sister-law-sudden-death|title=Crawford hits emotional home run after sister-in-law's sudden death|date=April 15, 2017|website=ESPN.com}}

Since 2017, Crawford has hosted the Crawford Family Charity Golf Tournament, raising funds for research to cure ALS.https://www.crawford-golf4charity.com In 2022, Crawford was named the recipient of the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award.

{{Portal|San Francisco Bay Area|Biography|Baseball}}

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• List of Major League Baseball annual triples leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career assists as a shortstop leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career games played as a shortstop leaders
• List of Major League Baseball single-game hits leaders
• List of University of California, Los Angeles people

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{{reflist|30em}}

• [https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/13059465/san-francisco-giants-brandon-crawford-no-longer-one-trick-pony "Brandon Crawford 'looks like a movie star,' and definitely enjoying the ride"] ESPN, June 15, 2015

{{baseballstats |mlb=543063 |espn=30469 |br=c/crawfbr01 |fangraphs=sa454517 |brm=crawfo001bra |retro=C/Pcrawb001}}

• {{Official website|http://brandon.mlblogs.com/}} (shared with Brandon Belt)
• [http://www.uclabruins.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=30500&ATCLID=208182765 Brandon Crawford profile] at UCLA Bruins

{{NL SS Gold Glove Award}}

{{NL SS Silver Slugger Award}}

{{Lou Gehrig Memorial Award}}

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