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John Melvin Crimian
Kansas City Athletics
Pitcher
Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 5'10" Weight: 180
Born: February 17, 1926, Philadelphia, PA
Signed: Signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent before 1944 season
Major League Teams: St. Louis Cardinals 1951-52; Kansas City Athletics 1956; Detroit Tigers 1957
The Philadelphia Phillies signed local product Jack Crimian prior to the 1944 season, but the right-handed pitcher would never suit up for either of the two major league teams then playing in his hometown. Crimian spent six seasons in the minors, with a year of playing time lost while he served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He'd earn brief promotions in 1951 and 1952 with the Cardinals, pitching in 16 games, all in relief, but struggling with a 9.24 ERA over 25 1/3 innings pitched. He'd be back in the minors for three more full seasons between 1953 and 1955, finding success with the International League's Toronto Maple Leafs. Crimian's sole full year in the majors came in 1956 with the Athletics and he led the 102-loss team with 54 appearances, including seven starts.
Building the Set
September 15, 2007 from Dad's eBay purchases - Card #302
Our first son Doug was born in December 2006, and this happy event led directly to my Dad visiting us on a more regular basis. Dad was living by himself at this point in Mays Landing, New Jersey and he detested the 40 minute ride north to our house. Among all the very positive memories I have of my Dad, one of my few negative memories is the fact that he absolutely seemed to loathe driving and that loathing increased exponentially if there was traffic or if it were dark. But he made the trips anyway, sometimes staying no more than an hour, because he was so incredibly anxious and excited to spend time with his grandson.
By the time his second grandson (Ben) was born in April 2010, my Dad's health had begun failing and whatever visits we had were pre-arranged or consisted of us visiting him. Which is why these visits during Doug's infancy and first few years are so special to me. My Dad would show up, ecstatic to see Doug, there would be some small talk and we'd complain about the Phillies, and then he'd leave. But on his way out, he'd always say he'd see us again in a few days and I'd look forward to these visits.
This background is needed to better explain how this Crimian card came into our set. In 2007, My Dad's days mostly consisted of an occasional round of golf, calls and visits to his kids - my sister and me, watching cable news, an afternoon nap and scouring eBay. Most (but not all) of his eBay purchases benefitted me in the form of 1956 Topps cards we needed for our set. He'd show up at our house for a visit with Doug and nonchalantly hand me one of his recent purchases. He handed me this Harshman card on September 15, 2007, along with a Jack Harshman (#29) card.
Throughout 2007, I suspect he had a backlog of purchased 1956 Topps cards piled up on his desk at his house, and he'd grab one or two to deliver to me as he was heading out the door to make the 40 minute drive to visit Doug. Not to ruin the ending for this blog, but this is how we finished the 1956 Topps set. Not with one last glorious purchase at a baseball card show, but with my Dad systematically and methodically checking off cards from our checklist through eBay purchases.
Together with my Mom, he'd deliver the last 29 cards we needed to complete the set as a Christmas present to me that year.
The Card / Athletics Team Set
This is Crimian's rookie card, and he'd appear on one more Topps card in 1957. His only other baseball card following 1957 came in the form on a reprint of his 1957 Topps card for the 2006 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs insert set, which Crimian signed. The back of this card highlights his MVP win in 1955 while pitching for the Maple Leafs. It was by far his best professional season, leading directly to his spot in the Athletics' bullpen in 1956. Crimian was 19-6 in 1955 with a 2.10 ERA in 40 appearances, including 21 starts. He threw 16 complete games, with four of those shutouts.
1956 Season
As mentioned above, Crimian was frequently used throughout the season by manager Lou Boudreau, and over 80% of his major league output came during the 1956 season. He was 4-8 with a 5.51 ERA in 129 innings pitched, converting three saves. On December 5th, Crimian, Jim Finigan (#22), Bill Harrington and Eddie Robinson (#302) were traded to the Tigers for Wayne Belardi, Ned Garver (#189), Gene Host, Virgil Trucks (#117) and $20,000.
Phillies Connection
Crimian pitched for the Wilimington Blue Rocks and the Bradford Blue Wings, both low-level Phillies minor league teams, during the 1944 season. He'd miss all of 1945 while in military service, and then return to the Blue Rocks in 1946. On November 5, 1946, the Cardinals selected Crimian from the Phillies in the minor league draft.
Pitcher
Born: February 17, 1926, Philadelphia, PA
Signed: Signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent before 1944 season
Major League Teams: St. Louis Cardinals 1951-52; Kansas City Athletics 1956; Detroit Tigers 1957
Died: February 11, 2019, Middletown, DE (age 92)
The Philadelphia Phillies signed local product Jack Crimian prior to the 1944 season, but the right-handed pitcher would never suit up for either of the two major league teams then playing in his hometown. Crimian spent six seasons in the minors, with a year of playing time lost while he served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He'd earn brief promotions in 1951 and 1952 with the Cardinals, pitching in 16 games, all in relief, but struggling with a 9.24 ERA over 25 1/3 innings pitched. He'd be back in the minors for three more full seasons between 1953 and 1955, finding success with the International League's Toronto Maple Leafs. Crimian's sole full year in the majors came in 1956 with the Athletics and he led the 102-loss team with 54 appearances, including seven starts.
Before the 1957 season, Crimian was part of an eight-player deal with Detroit, and he'd pitch in his final four big league games with the Tigers. Crimian returned to Toronto for the 1958 and 1959 seasons before retiring from baseball. In 74 big league games, he was 5-9 with a 6.36 ERA, collecting 69 strikeouts and 65 walks in 160 innings pitched. Crimian was inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame in 1985.
September 15, 2007 from Dad's eBay purchases - Card #302
Our first son Doug was born in December 2006, and this happy event led directly to my Dad visiting us on a more regular basis. Dad was living by himself at this point in Mays Landing, New Jersey and he detested the 40 minute ride north to our house. Among all the very positive memories I have of my Dad, one of my few negative memories is the fact that he absolutely seemed to loathe driving and that loathing increased exponentially if there was traffic or if it were dark. But he made the trips anyway, sometimes staying no more than an hour, because he was so incredibly anxious and excited to spend time with his grandson.
By the time his second grandson (Ben) was born in April 2010, my Dad's health had begun failing and whatever visits we had were pre-arranged or consisted of us visiting him. Which is why these visits during Doug's infancy and first few years are so special to me. My Dad would show up, ecstatic to see Doug, there would be some small talk and we'd complain about the Phillies, and then he'd leave. But on his way out, he'd always say he'd see us again in a few days and I'd look forward to these visits.
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| August 2007 - Dad with Jenna, Doug and me riding a merry-go-round in Ocean City, NJ |
Throughout 2007, I suspect he had a backlog of purchased 1956 Topps cards piled up on his desk at his house, and he'd grab one or two to deliver to me as he was heading out the door to make the 40 minute drive to visit Doug. Not to ruin the ending for this blog, but this is how we finished the 1956 Topps set. Not with one last glorious purchase at a baseball card show, but with my Dad systematically and methodically checking off cards from our checklist through eBay purchases.
Together with my Mom, he'd deliver the last 29 cards we needed to complete the set as a Christmas present to me that year.
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| 1957 Topps #297 |
This is Crimian's rookie card, and he'd appear on one more Topps card in 1957. His only other baseball card following 1957 came in the form on a reprint of his 1957 Topps card for the 2006 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs insert set, which Crimian signed. The back of this card highlights his MVP win in 1955 while pitching for the Maple Leafs. It was by far his best professional season, leading directly to his spot in the Athletics' bullpen in 1956. Crimian was 19-6 in 1955 with a 2.10 ERA in 40 appearances, including 21 starts. He threw 16 complete games, with four of those shutouts.
1956 Season
Phillies Connection
Crimian pitched for the Wilimington Blue Rocks and the Bradford Blue Wings, both low-level Phillies minor league teams, during the 1944 season. He'd miss all of 1945 while in military service, and then return to the Blue Rocks in 1946. On November 5, 1946, the Cardinals selected Crimian from the Phillies in the minor league draft.
Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card: 1956 Topps #319
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (2): 1956-57
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2006 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs #ROA-JCR
5 - Crimian non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 1/26/25.
Sources:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
First Mainstream Card: 1956 Topps #319
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (2): 1956-57
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2006 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs #ROA-JCR
5 - Crimian non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 1/26/25.
Sources:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
The Trading Card Database
Previous Card / Next Card
Set Order: #318 Fred Hatfield - Detroit Tigers / #320 Joe Adcock - Milwaukee Braves
Order Collected: #29 Jack Harshman - Chicago White Sox / #301 Marv Grissom - New York Giants
