Del Crandall

Delmar Wesley Crandall (March 5, 1930 – May 5, 2021) was an American professional baseball player and manager who played as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1949 to 1966. Born in Ontario, California, he was the second of three children of Richard and Nancy Crandall, both employed in the citrus-packaging industry. Raised in Fullerton, he attended Fullerton Union High School, where he caught for the school team and for the local American Legion Baseball team. The Boston Braves signed him as an amateur free agent before the 1948 season.

Crandall spent the bulk of his career with the Boston and Milwaukee Braves, where he was an 11-time All-Star and a member of the 1957 World Series winning team. A four-time Gold Glove Award winner, he was the top defensive catcher of his era, leading the National League in assists a record-tying six times, in fielding percentage four times, and in putouts three times.

Crandall was the last living player to have played for the Boston Braves. In 2003, he was inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame.