SF Giants legend to be inducted into Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame

Former SF Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame. No...not that one. But Crawford's induction into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame is a more than fitting honor for a guy who is synonymous with the Bay Area.

Born in Mountain View, the All-Star shortstop grew up cheering for the Giants and got to live out his childhood dream by playing for his hometown team. Not only did he play for the Giants, but he wound up being one of the best shortstops in franchise history.

SF Giants legend Brandon Crawford to be enshrined in Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame

Across 14 big league seasons, 13 of them with the Giants, Crawford went from being a glove-first shortstop known primarily for his defensive prowess to a legitimate threat with a bat in his hands.

Giants fans will never forget the grand slam he blasted in the 2014 Wild Card game agaisnt the Pittsburgh Pirates. That blast gave Madison Bumgarner all the cushion he needed and more as that victory spurred the team to its third title in five seasons.

He won four Gold Gloves and was an All-Star three times. He also took home a Silver Slugger in 2015 which was arguably one of his best seasons, although the surprising resurgence he had in 2021 which helped spur the team to 107 wins was truly remarkable.

The long-haired infielder played the game with a style and confidence that was not cockiness or arrogance, but just supreme self-assurance in his abilities. He knew that he could make any throw on the diamond and could get to just about any ball.

His cannon of a right arm is a big reason why Alex Gordon did not dare try to go home in Game 7 of the 2014 World Series after Gregor Blanco and Juan Perez gave Giants fans everywhere a heart attack. The Royals third base coach knew challenging Crawford's arms would result in Gordon being out by some 30 feet.

Last season the Giants celebrated Crawford with his very own day as he made a speech prior to a game against the Texas Rangers which allowed manager Bruce Bochy to be in attendance. While there was some drama over whether Justin Verlander should wear No. 35, it seems likely that the Giants will retire that jersey number someday in the future.

Crawford most definitely deserves a place in the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame and he will always be a Bay Area legend for what he did in a Giants uniform.