tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487834052004001845.post5313868368408322535..comments2023-04-05T00:41:39.483-04:00Comments on 1975 Topps (it's far out, man): #186 - Willie Crawfordnight owlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11673973790245316059noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487834052004001845.post-88349987792440647752013-10-07T23:45:15.785-04:002013-10-07T23:45:15.785-04:00I played junior high school flag football against ...I played junior high school flag football against Willie, Jr. He was an absolute man among boys. He was all thighs and he ran hard and most often in a straight line just daring defenders to get close enough to grab his flags. He scored several touchdowns that day. Charliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866365152704476893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487834052004001845.post-37362946931427821992010-05-03T03:34:16.119-04:002010-05-03T03:34:16.119-04:00That's one difference between the game of toda...That's one difference between the game of today and in Dock's day. Now both benches would be warned after the second hit batter and the pitcher would be gone after the next and so would the manager.Play at the Platehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14231140141558021698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487834052004001845.post-52524555465547404102010-05-02T02:12:13.262-04:002010-05-02T02:12:13.262-04:00Thanks for clearing that up guys. I don't know...Thanks for clearing that up guys. I don't know what I was looking at.night owlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11673973790245316059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487834052004001845.post-87870733945270062862010-05-01T22:52:56.918-04:002010-05-01T22:52:56.918-04:00To expand on the first comment, although Crawford ...To expand on the first comment, although Crawford played in the majors every year starting with his first pro season in 1964, his time in the majors in '64, '66 and '67 was just as a September call-up. He otherwise spent those seasons in the minors (he was also in the minors for part of '68). <br /><br />Crawford spent the entire 1965 season in the majors because he was a bonus baby. He was part of the last class of bonus babies before that rule was rescinded for good with the introduction of the entry draft. According to an article on the bonus rule that I saw a while back, he was the only African-American ever to be a bonus baby.<br /><br />As for Dock Ellis, the story I remember hearing is that he was ticked off at the Reds for some reason, and decided to bean every one of their players the first time through the lineup. He didn't stay in the game long enough to finish what he started, though....MCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08283702499696500079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487834052004001845.post-68175043740043071752010-05-01T20:56:23.490-04:002010-05-01T20:56:23.490-04:00Maybe Murtaugh removed Ellis before his next at-ba...Maybe Murtaugh removed Ellis before his next at-bat (payback time!)Jim from Downingtownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487834052004001845.post-55931276504602528142010-05-01T20:00:01.315-04:002010-05-01T20:00:01.315-04:00Crawford did play in the minors. Just not in 1965....Crawford did play in the minors. Just not in 1965.<br /><br />http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=crawfo003wilAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com