Crawford's Homecoming: A Bay Area Icon Returns to Familiar Turf

When Brandon Crawford takes the field this week at the Oakland Coliseum, donning the iconic birds-on-bat emblazoned across his chest, it will mark a homecoming of sorts for the Bay Area baseball icon. Though the jersey may be different, the surroundings will feel comfortingly familiar for the former San Francisco Giants shortstop as he returns to the region where his storybook career began.

For 13 seasons, Crawford patrolled the infield at Oracle Park, his steady glove and timely hitting integral parts of the Giants’ even-year magic that delivered World Series titles in 2012 and 2014. A four-time Gold Glove winner, Crawford’s signature plays - from his iconic Grand Slam in 2014 that punctuated San Francisco’s playoff berth to his effortless fielding wizardry - have been etched into the franchise’s lore.

Now a member of the St. Louis Cardinals after the Giants opted to move on following a down 2022 campaign, Crawford will experience the peculiarity of playing a visitor in his own backyard when the Cardinals clash with the Oakland Athletics for a three-game set beginning Monday night. It’s a scenario that has Alex Wood, Crawford’s former Giants teammate who now pitches for the A’s, eagerly anticipating an emotional reunion.

“It will be strange for sure,” Wood admitted. “In this day and age, not many guys play the length of time he played with an organization. He’s an icon in the Bay. It will be strange, but it will be nice to catch up with him and see how things are going in St. Louis.”

While hardly the dramatic spectacle that will unfold when Crawford returns to Oracle Park for the Cardinals’ final series on September 27-29, this week’s games against Oakland still carry significant weight. As Kevin Frandsen, a Giants broadcaster who played alongside Crawford, explained, “It’s still going to matter. He’s still a huge part of the Bay Area. He came to the Coliseum and played, and whether you’re an A’s fan or a Giants fan, if you live here you know each team.”

Born in Pleasanton and a prep standout at Foothill High School, Crawford’s baseball journey traces back to the very fields he’ll tread this week. Though he grew up idolizing the Giants, Crawford’s first taste of big league action came at the Coliseum in 2011 when San Francisco visited Oakland. Over a decade later, in the twilight of his career, a chance to relive those early memories awaits.

“I honestly kind of got the chills when I saw that,” Crawford admitted of realizing he’d play in Oakland before his final Bay Area homecoming. “Butterflies in my stomach. I’m probably not a very emotional guy, but I probably will be.”

While his Cardinals tenure is still in its nascent stages, Crawford’s impact on the Bay Area baseball landscape is indelible. Frandsen, who took the local kid under his wing when they were Giants teammates, remains in awe of Crawford’s humility and consistency across a career that has spanned 13 years and over 1,500 games.

“He was the same,” Frandsen reflected. “First spring training he was with us, his locker was next to mine. I love him. All the mistakes I made as a rookie, I didn’t want him to make because I really care about Bay Area guys. He’s a phenomenal human. Doesn’t matter the millions he’s made, the World Series rings he has, the Gold Gloves. He’s the same guy.”

As the twilight of Crawford’s playing days draw near, debate has already begun about whether his exploits warrant consideration for the ultimate honor - a statue immortalizing his Giants’ legacy outside Oracle Park’s walls, joining the likes of Willie Mays, Juan Marichal, and Gaylord Perry. For now, those conversations can keep as Crawford simply cherishes the opportunity to come home, reconnecting with the Bay Area fans who cheered his every defensive gem and memorable hit.

Whether he gets into a game during this Oakland series is almost ancillary; just being back in his old stomping grounds is sure to stir the emotions of a player who became a folk hero through his grit, brilliance, and humility. This week marks the first of two homecomings for the beloved shortstop, setting the stage for an even grander farewell tour when he returns to San Francisco in September.

The journey has come full circle for Brandon Crawford. While he may no longer call San Francisco home, the Bay Area will always be a part of him, and he a part of it. As he takes the field in Oakland, the cheers are sure to follow - a reminder that even in another uniform, he’ll always be one of our own.