Biography

James Otis "Doc" Crandall is generally regarded as the premier relief specialist of the deadball era. In 1908 when "Doc" arrived for spring training as a rookie, Crandall found that the Giants had no uniforms that would fit his stocky frame. McGraw eventually found him a uniform and a position on the Giants ball club when the season started. Doc was a good groundball pitcher, and McGraw had the infield to take advantage of that style of play. The 20-year-old rookie said little, listened intently, learned quickly, and worked tirelessly. In his first big-league season Crandall started 24 games, completing 13, and relieved in eight others. It was the only year of his six with the Giants in which the right hander started more games than he relieved. "Crandall was one of the coolest pitchers I ever saw," McGraw recalled. "He had no fear, no nerves." Though he never led the National League in saves, Crandall did lead the league in relief appearances each year from 1909 to 1913. From 1910 to 1912 he led the NL in relief victories, compiling an overall record of 45-16. Crandall's best overall year was 1910, appearing in 42 games, a career high. His record was a remarkable 17-4, built by relieving in 24 games and starting 18. Nine of his starts came during September that year when filling in for the injured Red Ames.

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