Terrence Michael Crowley (born February 16, 1947) is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder, first baseman and pinch hitter from 1969 through 1983, most notably as a member of the Baltimore Orioles dynasty that won three consecutive American League pennants from 1969 to 1971 and, won the World Series in 1970. He serves as an organizational hitting instructor for the Baltimore Orioles. Crowley has been inducted into the Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame.

Terry Crowley
Outfielder / Designated hitter
Born: (1947-02-16) February 16, 1947 (age 77)
Staten Island, New York, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
MLB debut
September 4, 1969, for the Baltimore Orioles
Last MLB appearance
October 2, 1983, for the Montreal Expos
MLB statistics
Batting average.250
Home runs42
Runs batted in229
Teams
As player

As coach

Career highlights and awards

Playing career edit

Crowley played for the Orioles from 1969 to 1973 and from 1976 to 1982. He was a backup player who could play the outfield and first base. When the designated hitter rule was implemented, he was the first Oriole to fulfill this role. However, he was best known during his playing career for being a pinch hitter. As of the end of the 2011 season, Crowley's 108 career pinch-hits is still the 13th-most all-time, tying him with Denny Walling. Teammate Jim Palmer called him "a really great pinch hitter who studies pitchers to get himself psyched to hit."[1]

Crowley's contract was sold by the Orioles to the Texas Rangers at the Winter Meetings on December 6, 1973.[2] He never appeared in a regular-season contest with the Rangers, as he was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds during spring training on March 19, 1974.[3] He was traded from the Reds to the Atlanta Braves for Mike Thompson on April 7, 1976.[4]

In 865 games over 15 seasons, Crowley compiled a .250 batting average (379-for-1,518) with 174 runs, 62 doubles, 1 triple, 42 home runs, 229 RBI, 222 base on balls, 181 strikeouts, .345 on-base percentage and .375 slugging percentage. He posted a .987 fielding percentage. In 13 post-season games, all in a pinch-hitting role (3 WS, 2 ALCS, 1 NLCS), he hit .273 (3-for-11) with 3 RBI.[5]

 
Crowley coaching with the Baltimore Orioles in 2006

Coaching career edit

Crowley has served as the hitting coach for the Baltimore Orioles from 1985 through 1988, the Minnesota Twins from 1991 through 1998, and the Orioles again from 1999 through 2010. Crowley served as a roving hitting instructor in the Orioles organization in 2011.[6] He was an interim bullpen coach in 2011, following Mark Connor's resignation and the subsequent promotion of bullpen coach Rick Adair.[7] In 2014, Crowley worked with Oriole Chris Davis on his hitting.[8]

Personal life edit

Crowley attended Curtis High School after graduating he attended Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus, before being drafted by the Orioles in 1966.

References edit

  1. ^ Palmer, Jim; Dale, Jim (1996). Palmer and Weaver: Together We Were Eleven Foot Nine. Kansas City: Andrews and McMeel. p. 83. ISBN 0-8362-0781-5.
  2. ^ Rappoport, Ken. "National League Tentatively Agrees to Move Padres to Washington, D.C." The Associated Press (AP), Friday, December 7, 1973. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  3. ^ Durso, Joseph. "Mets Rout Reds In Quiet Rematch," The New York Times, Wednesday, March 20, 1974. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  4. ^ McGowen, Deane. "People in Sports," The New York Times, Thursday, April 8, 1976. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  5. ^ "Terry Crowley Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  6. ^ Ghiroli, Brittany (October 26, 2010). "Crowley won't return as O's hitting coach". Baltimore Orioles. MLB.com. Archived from the original on November 7, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
  7. ^ "Orioles pitching coach Mark Connor resigns; Rick Adair to assume pitching coach duties". Baltimore Orioles. MLB.com. June 14, 2011. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  8. ^ Schmuck, Peter; Connolly, Dan (August 2, 2014). "Orioles' Chris Davis working with hitting coaches to try to recapture 2013 magic". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 9, 2014.

Sources edit

Preceded by Baltimore Orioles hitting coach
1985–1988
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minnesota Twins hitting coach
1991–1998
Succeeded by
Preceded by Baltimore Orioles hitting coach
1999–2010
Succeeded by