Sam Crawford - Player, Coach and Umpire in California: 1918-1936

Player, Coach and Umpire in California: 1918-1936

Despite being discarded by the Tigers, Crawford was not ready to quit playing. He joined the Los Angeles Angels in the Pacific Coast League, helping them to win league championships in 1918 and 1921. Perhaps hoping to show the Tigers were wrong in casting him aside, Crawford exploded on the scene for the Angels, as he got two hits, stole a base and threw out two runners in his first game. Crawford played four seasons for the Angels (1918–1921). In 1919, he hit .360 with 239 hits, 41 doubles, 18 triples, 14 home runs and 14 stolen bases. He collected another 239 hits, 46 doubles and 21 triples in 1920, and even in 1921 managed 199 hits and 44 doubles.

Crawford decided to stay in Southern California, and in 1924, he accepted a position as the head coach of the University of Southern California baseball team. Crawford was the USC baseball coach from 1924 to 1929 and was instrumental in the development of the California Intercollegiate Baseball Association in 1927. He led USC to a second-place finishes in his last two seasons. Crawford was 59-46-3 as the USC coach and 55–33 against other college teams. Crawford later worked as an umpire in the Pacific Coast League from 1935 to 1938. Crawford found it to be a thankless job and a lonely life, and quit after four years.