Jerry Crawford

Crawford in 2009.

Gerald Joseph Crawford (born August 13, 1947 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a former umpire in Major League Baseball. He first umpired in the National League in 1977, from 2000 through 2010 worked in both major leagues. He was a crew chief from 1998 through 2010. He is the brother of National Basketball Association (NBA) referee Joe Crawford and the son of former major league umpire Shag Crawford.

He has worked in the playoffs 18 times, and every season from 1998 through 2006, including the World Series in 1988, 1992, 1998, 2000, and 2002, serving as crew chief in 1992 and 2002; the League Championship Series in 1980, 1983, 1985, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2006, with all but the last two being in the NL; and the Division Series in 1981, 2000, 2002 and 2004. His 11th appearance in the League Championship Series in 2005 broke the record he had previously shared with Bruce Froemming. He also umpired in the All-Star Game in 1989 and was the home plate umpire for the 2006 All-Star Game. As his father worked the first game at Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium on April 10, 1971 at home plate, Crawford worked home plate in the last game at "The Vet" on September 28, 2003 and repeated the honors when Citizens Bank Park opened April 12, 2004.

Crawford was the president of the Major League Umpires Association in 1999 when the umpires attempted a mass-resignation strategy. The strategy was unsuccessful. While Crawford kept his job, 22 umpires' resignations were accepted. Some have since regained their major league positions, others have been promised a position as soon as a vacancy occurs, and some were offered settlements that did not include a return to the field.

One of the crew chiefs in Major League baseball, and wearer of uniform number 2, his crew in 2010 included Chris Guccione, Phil Cuzzi and Brian O'Nora. Crawford announced his retirement effective at the end of the 2010 season for health concerns.

External links

• Major league profile
• Retrosheet

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Name	Crawford, Jerry
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Date of birth	August 13, 1947
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