PCL1 Sacramento River Cats

Crosby Named A.L. Rookie of the Year

Published on November 8, 2004 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Sacramento River Cats News Release


WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Baseball Writers Association of America today named former Sacramento River Cats shortstop Bobby Crosby its American League Rookie of the Year for the 2004 season.

Crosby, who anchored Sacramento's infield during its 2003 Pacific Coast League Championship season, becomes the second River Cats alumnus to be honored as the American League's top rookie in the last three years. Third baseman Eric Hinske, a member of the 2001 River Cats, won the A.L. Rookie of the Year award as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays after the 2002 season.

"Bobby [Crosby] is a special player, both on and off the field," River Cats Senior VP & General Manager Gary Arthur said. "He keeps getting better each season, and he's well on his way to becoming one of the premier shortstops in Major League Baseball. Since 2002, we've had two alumni named the American League's Rookie of the Year and one named the American League's Cy Young Award winner [Barry Zito, 2002]. That truly is a testament to the success the Oakland A's have had in drafting and developing players."

Crosby received 27 of the 28 first-place votes in the balloting, which is conducted by two writers from each American League city. He received one second-place vote and a total of 138 points, some 94 points more than second-place Shingo Takatsu of the Chicago White Sox. Earlier this offseason, Crosby received the Players Choice Award for the American League's Outstanding Rookie and was named American League Rookie of the Year by The Sporting News.

While playing in 151 games for the Oakland A's this season, Crosby led all American League rookies in home runs (22), runs batted in (64), runs (70), hits (130), doubles (34), bases on balls (58), total bases (232) and extra-base hits (57). He became just the fourth shortstop in major league history to reach the 20-home run plateau as a rookie. Crosby set an Athletics franchise record for shortstops with 505 assists, breaking the mark set by Miguel Tejada (504 assists) in 2002.

Crosby batted .308 (143-for-465) with 22 HR and 90 RBI in 2003 with the River Cats en route to being named the Pacific Coast League's Rookie of the Year. The son of former major leaguer Ed Crosby, he was selected by the A's in the first round (25th overall) of the 2001 Draft out of Long Beach State University (CA).

During the River Cats' five seasons in Sacramento, they have sent more than 80 players to the major leagues -- more than 25 of whom held a spot on a major league roster for the majority of the 2004 season.

The River Cats will begin their 2005 season on April 7, when they host the Portland Beavers at Raley Field. Season and group tickets for the upcoming season are available now by calling 916-371-HITS. Fans interested in being placed on the priority seating list for Fun Packs (partial season tickets) can do so immediately by calling 916-371-HITS. Season ticket and Fun Pack holders will be guaranteed the opportunity to obtain tickets to the 2005 Triple-A All-Star Game (July 13) at Raley Field before a very limited amount of tickets are made available to the public.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from November 8, 2004


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