SAN FRANCISCO — Brandon Crawford’s answer remains steadfast since his early days in Pleasanton. So when the MLB Network asked the newly minted All-Star starter to name his idol, Crawford fielded the question as smoothly as a one-hopper.
“Honestly, my favorite player, being a Giants fan and loving to play shortstop, was Royce Clayton,” Crawford said. “He was my guy.”
Watching in the television audience that day was Clayton himself. Now 48 and a high school coach in Southern California, he smiled to himself. Clayton already knew Crawford was a fan (they’ve spoken several times) but this shout-out had extra meaning.