This post is part of a media project called SoCal Sports History 101: The Prime Numbers from 00 to 99 that Uniformly, Uniquely and Unapologetically Reveal The Narrative of Our Region’s Athletic Heritage. Pick a number, and consider the list of athletes attached to it. Who wore it best? Or, what’s the most compelling story linked to it? Any person, place or thing is in play with Southern California connections. Star power, transformational achievement, longevity, notoriety and quirkiness all factor in. Whatever leads to a lively discussion and interpretation.
The most obvious choices for No. 27:
Mike Trout: Los Angeles Angels
Vladimir Guerrero: Anaheim Angels/Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Matt Kemp: Los Angeles Dodgers
Scott Niedermayer: Mighty Ducks of Anaheim/Anaheim Mighty Ducks
The not-so-obvious choices for No. 27:
Kevin Brown: Los Angeles Dodgers
Theotis Brown: UCLA football
Alec Martinez: Los Angeles Kings
Jennie Finch: La Mirada High School softball
Mike Scott: Pepperdine baseball
The most interesting story for No. 27:
Willie Crawford, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder (1964 to 1975)
Southern California map pinpoints:
South Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium, Hollywood Hills
Reference books on the subject:
“Before They Wore Dodger Blue: Tommy Lasorda and The Greatest Draft Class in Baseball History,” by Eric Vickery, 2025
In the summer of 1964, the Los Angeles Dodgers could not afford to lose Willie Crawford. He had talent. He had potential. He was right in their backyard. They had to protect their territory.
Despite coming off a World Series championship, the franchise knew it was pitching rich and offensive poor. Imagine the idea of a local high-school phenom as the future centerpiece of a new and improved batting order.
If the rival San Francisco Giants had a sweet spot in the lineup with Willie Mays and Willie McCovey, L.A. had a dream of their own Willie Davis and Willie Crawford.
The catch — having to brand Crawford with “bonus baby” status. It guaranteed him at least two seasons on the big-league roster, no matter how much learning was required for him to perform well at the MLB level of that time.
History wasn’t kind to these kind of decisions. The “bonus rule” of 1953-1957 ended up with a handfull of Baseball Hall of Famers — Al Kaline, Harmon Killebrew, Sandy Koufax, Catfish Hunter and Roberto Clemente.
There were more stories of John Edelman, Bruce Swango, and Paul Martin.
The rule would be a tipping point in how Major League Baseball discontinued a Wild West signing frenzy and finally figured out how to implement a true draft.
Willing to take their shot, the Dodgers signed Crawford, a 17-year-old from South Central L.A.’s Fremont High. The results speak for themselves.
The motto of Fremont High: “Find a path, or make one!” It is how the school’s sports teams nickname became the Pathfinders.
College recruiters first beat a path to Crawford’s family home on 69th Street in L.A. long before his senior year at Fremont ended. They were attracted by his ability as an All-City running back on the football team. The knew his performance on the track team produced a 9.7 second 100-yard dash — or, it was 9.6 if you eventually saw mention of it on the back of his 1970 Topps baseball card, which also proclaimed he had a 21.2 second-mark in the 220, and twice clear 25 feet in the long jump.
More to the Dodgers’ point, Crawford also hit .444 his senior year playing baseball. Power, speed and a throwing arm provided him with a five-tool package before the phrase was even used.
Dodgers scouting director Al Campanis’ report said of Crawford: “Thin waist, strong upper body, strong legs, unusual speed, graceful fielder, strong arm, good character (and ) hits with the power of Roberto Clemente and Tommy Davis at a similar age.” Campanis would know. He scouted and helped sign both those player for the Dodgers. The comparisons continued.
On the baseball fields of “The Mont,” nestled onto San Pedro Street between Florence and Manchester, the path to success was paved by coach Phil Pote. Before he went ono be one of the most heralded MLB scouts, Pote’s 1963 L.A. City championship team had Crawford on the roster along with fellow future pro players Bob Watson and Bobby Tolan. There was also Brock Davis, an outfielder who went to Cal State L.A. and would be signed by the Houston Colt 45s.
Fremont’s baseball history already had Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr, plus heralded manager Gene Mauch. It would later claim Eric Davis, Chet Lemon, George Hendrick and Dan Ford.
Crawford’s timing to sign depended on who would get him first. Two days after he graduated from Fremont, he sat at his parents’ dining room table with Campanis, acting on what Dodgers scouts Tommy Lasorda and Kenny Meyers believed to be a worthy of bonus status
But 15 of the other 20 MLB teams were also ready to make formal offers.
That included the Los Angeles Angels and owner Gene Autry, who had just paid 21-year-old outfielder Rick Reinhardt a record $205,000 bonus out of the University of Wisconsin. They were about to give another $100,000 bonus to 18-year-old catcher Tom Egan from El Rancho High in Pico Riviera.
Kansas City Athletics’ owner Charlie Finley was the wild-card. He made a special trip to Crawford’s home to impress the family. Finley called Crawford “a Willie Mays with the speed of Willie Davis.” He even gave the Crawford family an autographed photo of him to put up on their wall. They did as they were asked.
Finley’s offer was a reported $200,000, plus the chance to start in center field right away. (Spoiler alert: Those ’64 Athletics, without Crawford, would still finish with a 57-105 record).
The Dodgers offered just half that amount. They banked on the franchise’s fame, displaying how they had maybe moved to L.A. just six years earlier but already won two World Series titles.
It was also important to note Crawford was in new territory — no other African-American player right out of high school or college had been offered this kind of money. In 1960, Philadelphia had signed Richie Allen for $70,000. A year later, the Cleveland Indians gave Tommie Agee a $60,000 bonus.
The deal breaker for the Dodgers turned out to be when Lasorda attended the funeral of his Crawford’s grandfather, and was even asked to get up and speak. He did. The congregation was enthralled. Days later, Crawford’s signature was on a Dodgers contract, dated June 22, 1964.
Continue reading “No. 27: Willie Crawford”
