Joe Crede

Crede with the Chicago White Sox on April 17, 2008.

Joseph Taylor Crede (pronounced CREE-DEE, born April 26, 1978^[1] in Jefferson City, Missouri) is a former Major League Baseball third baseman. Crede attended high school at Fatima High School in Westphalia, Missouri^[2] which he led to 3 district championships (1991, 1992, 1996) and two final four berths ('95, '96) as a pitcher. Crede was drafted by the White Sox in the 5th round of the 1996 amateur draft and made his debut with the team in 2000.

Crede was a member of the White Sox when they won the World Series in 2005, their first championship in eighty-eight years. The highlight of his postseason came in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series when he hit a walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Chicago White Sox

In 2005 he hit 22 home runs with 62 RBIs. He also was a clutch performer in the playoffs, hitting several game winnings hits during the White Sox World Series run. In 2006 he broke out with a career-high 30 home runs, 92 RBIs and a .283 average, winning the Silver Slugger Award for third base. In 2007 he only hit 4 home runs and drove in 17 due to surgery. In 2008 Crede hit a grand slam on opening day. He made the 2008 MLB All-Star Game. He hit .248 with 17 home runs and 61 RBIs. 2008 also ended with back surgery.

Minnesota Twins

Crede signed a contract with the Minnesota Twins prior to the 2009 season.^[3] In his one season with the Twins, Crede had a .225 batting average and hit 15 home runs in 90 games. On September 20, Crede announced he would undergo a third season-ending back surgery.^[4]

Colorado Rockies

Crede signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Colorado Rockies after a 1-year absence from baseball.^[5] He became a free agent on February 17, 2011, when he decided not to show up for spring training. Crede then retired.^[6]

Personal life

On October 22, 2005, the due date of his second daughter, Lucy, Joe Crede hit his first World Series home run. On November 6, 2005, Crede was honored by his hometown of Westphalia, Missouri, with "Joe Crede Day," where he was presented the key to the city.^[2] In February 2006, Crede's high school, Fatima High School in Westphalia, Missouri, retired his jersey.^[2] Joe's older brother Brad won a high school baseball state championship with Fatima High School in '92, and an NCAA Division II National Championship with CMSU in '94. He was drafted by the Orioles after high school but chose to play in college first. He was drafted again after college by the Phillies on the same day Joe was drafted.^[7] Crede and his wife Lisa have two daughters, Anna and Lucy and one son, Jace. He lives in mid-Missouri, and is a season-ticket holder for Missouri Tigers basketball.

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube
• - salary information
• - high school bio