Frank Croucher
Encyclopedia
Frank Donald Croucher nicknamed "Dingle," was a Major League Baseball
shortstop
who played four years in Major League Baseball
for the Detroit Tigers
(1939–1941) and Washington Senators
(1942).
Born in San Antonio, Texas
, Croucher played for the minor league Toledo Mudhens in 1937 http://www.mudhens.com/info/all_time_roster.asp?view=2&type=L&letter=C and missed the 1938 season with a broken leg. In 1939, Croucher broke into the major leagues, taking over the shortstop position from longtime Detroit favorite, Billy Rogell
. Croucher lost the starting job in 1940 to Dick Bartell
, but regained it 1941. Croucher played 1 inning in Game 6 of the 1940 World Series at shortstop, as a replacement for Dick Bartell
, but did not bat. On December 12, 1941, Croucher was traded by the Detroit Tigers with Bruce Campbell
to the Washington Senators
for Jimmy Bloodworth
and Doc Cramer
. Croucher missed most of 1942 with a sore arm, playing only 26 games for the Senators. Croucher then went into military service during World War II. Croucher attempted a comeback after the war in 1946, playing for the Mudhens,http://www.mudhens.com/info/all_time_roster.asp?view=2&type=L&letter=C but never made it back to the major leagues.
In four major league seasons, Croucher played in 296 games and had a .251 batting average
, a .295 On base percentage
and a .324 slugging percentage. Croucher died in Houston, Texas
in 1980 at age 65.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
who played four years in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1939–1941) and Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
(1942).
Born in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, Croucher played for the minor league Toledo Mudhens in 1937 http://www.mudhens.com/info/all_time_roster.asp?view=2&type=L&letter=C and missed the 1938 season with a broken leg. In 1939, Croucher broke into the major leagues, taking over the shortstop position from longtime Detroit favorite, Billy Rogell
Billy Rogell
William George "Billy" Rogell was an American baseball player who played 14 years in Major League Baseball, primarily as a shortstop for the Detroit Tigers. He made his major league debut on April 14, 1925 and played his last game August 25, 1940...
. Croucher lost the starting job in 1940 to Dick Bartell
Dick Bartell
Richard William Bartell , nicknamed "Rowdy Richard," was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball. One of the most ferocious competitors of his era, he won both admirers and critics at each stop during a career which saw him traded every few seasons, often under acrimonious circumstances...
, but regained it 1941. Croucher played 1 inning in Game 6 of the 1940 World Series at shortstop, as a replacement for Dick Bartell
Dick Bartell
Richard William Bartell , nicknamed "Rowdy Richard," was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball. One of the most ferocious competitors of his era, he won both admirers and critics at each stop during a career which saw him traded every few seasons, often under acrimonious circumstances...
, but did not bat. On December 12, 1941, Croucher was traded by the Detroit Tigers with Bruce Campbell
Bruce Campbell
Bruce Lorne Campbell is an American film and television actor. As a cult movie actor, Campbell starred as Ashley J. "Ash" Williams in Sam Raimi's Evil Dead series of films and he has starred in many low-budget cult films such as Crimewave, Maniac Cop, Bubba Ho-tep, Escape From L.A. and Sundown:...
to the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
for Jimmy Bloodworth
Jimmy Bloodworth
James Henry Bloodworth was a second baseman for the Washington Senators , Detroit Tigers , Pittsburgh Pirates , Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies...
and Doc Cramer
Doc Cramer
Roger Maxwell Cramer [Doc] was an American center fielder and left-handed batter in Major League Baseball who played for four American League teams from 1929 to 1948.-Career:...
. Croucher missed most of 1942 with a sore arm, playing only 26 games for the Senators. Croucher then went into military service during World War II. Croucher attempted a comeback after the war in 1946, playing for the Mudhens,http://www.mudhens.com/info/all_time_roster.asp?view=2&type=L&letter=C but never made it back to the major leagues.
In four major league seasons, Croucher played in 296 games and had a .251 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, a .295 On base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
and a .324 slugging percentage. Croucher died in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
in 1980 at age 65.