Bobby Crosby

Robert Edward Crosby (born January 12, 1980, in Lakewood, California) is an infielder in Major League Baseball who has played for the Oakland Athletics since 2003. The son of former major league infielder Ed Crosby, he bats and throws right-handed. He was Rookie of the Year in 2004.

Career

Crosby attended La Quinta High School in Westminster, California alongside Detroit Tigers catcher Gerald Laird and California State University, Long Beach with Seattle Mariners outfielder Jeremy Reed.

In 2004, his first full season, he took over the Athletics' shortstop duties from 2002 American League Most Valuable Player Miguel Tejada, who signed with the Baltimore Orioles as a free agent. That year, Crosby hit .239 with 22 home runs and 64 RBIs. He also led American League rookies in hits (130), doubles (34) and walks (58), and was third among AL players with 4.17 pitches per plate appearance. These numbers earned Crosby Rookie of the Year honors, the sixth Athletics player to do so after Harry Byrd (1952), José Canseco (1986), Mark McGwire (1987), Walt Weiss (1988), and Ben Grieve (1998).

In addition to becoming the sixth Athletics player to be named Rookie of the Year, he was the second shortstop in a row to win the award (after Angel Berroa of the Kansas City Royals). He was also the eighth shortstop in 22 seasons to earn top rookie honors, the others being Cal Ripken, Jr. (1982), Ozzie Guillén (1985), Walt Weiss (1988), Pat Listach (1992), Derek Jeter (1996), Nomar Garciaparra (1997), and Berroa (2003).

Crosby was just a vote shy of being a unanimous pick, despite his batting average being the lowest ever for a Rookie of the Year. He also struck out 141 times, fourth-most in the AL, and the team's most since Canseco had 152 in 1991.

In 2005, Crosby was followed as Rookie of the Year by Athletics closer Huston Street.

Due to the signing of free agent shortstop Orlando Cabrera prior to the 2009 season, Crosby has since been moved into a utility infielder role. However, with injuries to everyday second baseman Mark Ellis, third baseman Eric Chavez and infielder Nomar Garciaparra (another free agent signing), Crosby is expected to see significant starting roles at third base, as well as at second base.

Mark McGwire has served as his hitting coach since the 2009 offseason.

Personal

His younger brother, Blake Crosby, played college baseball at Brigham Young University and currently plays college baseball at Sacramento State. His older brother, Brian Crosby, is an artist for Walt Disney Imagineering.

Statistics

Year	Ag	Tm	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	TB	BB	IBB	SO	SH	SF	HBP	GDP	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
2003	23	OAK	AL	11	12	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	5	0	0	1	0	0	0	.000	.143	.000	.143
2004	24	OAK	AL	151	545	70	130	34	1	22	64	232	58	0	141	5	6	9	20	7	3	.239	.319	.426	.745
2005	25	OAK	AL	84	333	66	92	25	4	9	38	152	35	0	54	1	1	1	10	0	0	.276	.346	.456	.802
2006	26	OAK	AL	96	358	42	82	12	0	9	40	121	36	1	76	2	2	0	11	8	1	.229	.298	.338	.636
2007	27	OAK	AL	93	349	40	79	16	0	8	31	119	23	1	62	0	0	2	11	10	2	.226	.278	.341	.619
2008	28	OAK	AL	145	556	66	132	39	1	7	61	194	47	0	96	0	2	0	18	7	3	.237	.296	.349	.645
Totals:				580	2,153	285	515	126	6	55	234	818	200	2	434	8	11	13	70	32	9	.239	.306	.380	.686
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See also

• List of second generation MLB players

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube

Preceded by: Angel Berroa	American League Rookie of the Year 2004	Succeeded by: Huston Street
Preceded by: Angel Berroa	Players Choice AL Most Outstanding Rookie 2004	Succeeded by: Huston Street

References

Awards
Preceded by: Kevin Youkilis	AL Rookie of the Month June 2004	Succeeded by: Robb Quinlan