People, Locations, Episodes

Jimmie Crutchfield, Baseball Player born

Jim Crutchfield, 1932

*Jimmie Crutchfield was born on this date in 1910. He was a Black baseball player and a household name in Pittsburgh’s Black baseball community.

From Ardmore, Missouri, the little 5’ 7" John William “Jimmie” Crutchfield began his 15-year career with the Birmingham Black Barons in 1930. As a rookie outfielder for the Black Barons, he earned a spot in the everyday lineup with his solid fielding skills and reliable performance. Although he demonstrated little power as a hitter, Crutchfield was an excellent slaphitter who could place the ball in play behind runners on the base path. In addition to compiling impressive RBI totals, he has always maintained a respectable batting average of nearly 300 throughout his career.

After a brief stint with the Indianapolis ABCs, Crutchfield jumped to the Pittsburgh Crawford’s, joining Cool Papa Bell and Ted Strong to form the finest outfield in the Negro Baseball League. While with the Crawfords, Jimmie’s performance earned him three trips to the East-West All-Star game. As the Crawfords dynasty began to crumble in the mid-1930s, Crutchfield moved on, first to the Newark Eagles and then to the Chicago American Giants. In Chicago, his affable personality and consistent willingness to interact with fans at the ballpark made him a favorite with the local regulars.  In 1941, he was again honored by election to the West squad in the East-West game.

Crutchfield never rose to "league-leading" stature in any category as a player, yet they demonstrated better-than-average skills in almost every aspect of play.  He was, in essence, the epitome of the well-rounded ballplayer — a solid everyday performer. However, he possessed one exceptional talent – the ability to make friends wherever he went and to serve as a unifying force on every team he played. Cool Papa Bell once observed that Jimmie Crutchfield was the best team player in baseball. If he never played in a game, he would still have been an important part of any baseball team. He cheered you up when things weren’t going too well, whether you had troubles on or off the field.

You always knew you could count on Jimmie to be on the bright side of everything." Jimmie Crutchfield died on March 31, 1993, in Chicago, Illinois.

To become a Professional Athlete