Los Gatos Weekly-Times Los Gatos Weekly-Times file photograph Frank Crosetti was a sickly child, but he grew up to be a serious baseball player. Picture from the Past John S. Baggerly Los Gatan Frank Crosetti had long baseball career Our town has had its share of baseball players over the years. Los Gatos native Hal Chase played first base for the New York Highlanders. Chase, who was born on University Avenue, redefined play at first base. More about him next week. Frank Crosetti, who was brought to Los Gatos as a sickly child, grew up to become a longtime New York shortstop and eventually the regular third base coach. Crosetti's tenure with the Yankees, from 1932 to 1968, included 17 years as a player, the balance as a third base coach, 22 pennant-winning seasons and an array of awards, including World Series rings, watches, a shotgun and other gifts. By phone from his Stockton home, Crosetti explained that the name Highlanders was used to indicate a location in New York City not far from the Bronx where present-day Yankee Stadium stands--the house that Babe Ruth built. Ruth was acquired from the Boston Red Sox in the most famous trade in the game's history. New York welcomed the Babe with open arms. Dubbed the Sultan of Swat, his homerun record is the standard by which modern "sluggers" are measured. In the 1920s, Ruth appeared on tour at San Jose's Sodality Park on San Carlos Street. Schools were let out early so kids could see the big lefty hit a homer. That he did on his second time at bat, sending the ball onto the railroad tracks beyond right field. Kids swarmed the field and Ruth called it a day, carrying youngsters on his shoulders en route to the exit. As a Yankee, Crosetti--called "The Crow" by manager Casey Stengel--hit only one homer, but it was a big one against the Chicago Cubs' Dizzy Dean in the second game of the 1938 Series. Crosetti said to the press, "At that time, I was lucky to hit it. Dean had been a great pitcher, but his arm was gone. If he had his stuff, I wouldn't have hit anything against the Diz." As a boy, Crosetti became a follower of the Los Gatos town team that played on a field located at what today is the swimming pool and Los Gatos High School's main gymnasium. As bat boy/ball shagger, Crosetti particularly admired Dee Dee Vodden, a top pitcher. When it came time for high school, Crosetti enrolled in Santa Clara Prep on the Santa Clara University campus. The school later became Bellarmine College Preparatory and moved to San Jose. When the Crosetti family returned to San Francisco, Crosetti said, he became a truant, playing baseball as long as there was daylight. His skills became refined as a shortstop, and while still under 18, he was signed to a San Francisco Seals contract. His first season with the Seals, of the Pacific Coast League, was played at Recreation Park on l7th and Valencia streets. Crosetti recalled vendors greeting fans with peanuts, popcorn and all kinds of candy, including the Zenith Bar with baseball cards of players. These cards today are a major industry. Crosetti, who now resides in Stockton with his wife, Norma, says he still fishes in the Sierra and attends Oakland A's games. [ Back to Contents Page | Los Gatos Weekly-Times Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, October 14, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.