Happy Birthday Carl Crawford

Rather than discussing Big Papi (if you would like to revel in his brilliance then I would direct you to any of a number of excellent Sox Blogs!) I shall instead wish Carl Crawford a very happy 25th birthday.

And to do so I will bring to you these statistics that I have taken almost directly from this article in the St Pete Times.

Before turning 25, CC has:

• 749 hits
• 202 steals
• 60 triples
• 104 doubles
• 48 homeruns

Carl's 749 hits before age 25 is the same number accumulated by Ted Williams at that age.  Wade Boggs, the only member of the 3000-hit club to wear a Rays uniform, only had 195 when he turned 25.

The only left-handed hitter to have as many hits and steals is Ty Cobb.

Only 10 players since 1900 had more triples - and only one of them did it in the last 60 years, Garry Templeton with 61.

Only four players have exceeded his numbers in doubles, triples and homers - Joe Medwick, Freddie Lindstrom, Jimmie Foxx and Arkie Vaughn.  All are Hall of Famers.

CC is on pace to reach 1000 hits, 300 steals and 100 homers before he turns 28.  Only one other player has done that: Ty Cobb.

I think its pretty clear that in CC us Rays fans are watching someone very special.  We've known about him since he first made his debut, and I think that the rest of baseball is starting to catch on.  The Rays have plenty of players who get more publicity than Carl (and not always for good reasons!), but I don't think that there is a more exciting player in the whole of baseball.  Happy Birthday CC, and keep up the good work!