Joe Crede
Crede with the Minnesota Twins
Third baseman
Born: (1978-04-26) April 26, 1978 (age 43) Jefferson City, Missouri
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 12, 2000, for the Chicago White Sox
Last MLB appearance
September 13, 2009, for the Minnesota Twins
MLB statistics
Batting average	.254
Home runs	140
Runs batted in	470
Teams
Chicago White Sox (2000–2008) Minnesota Twins (2009)
Career highlights and awards
All-Star (2008) World Series champion (2005) Silver Slugger Award (2006)

Joseph Taylor Crede (pronounced CREE-dee, born April 26, 1978) is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox (2000-2008) and the Minnesota Twins (2009). 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.^[1][2]

Crede was a member of the White Sox when they won the World Series in 2005, marking their first championship in 88 years.

Professional Career[]

Chicago White Sox[]

Crede with the Chicago White Sox on April 17, 2008

In 2005, he hit 22 home runs with 62 RBIs. He also was a clutch performer in the playoffs, hitting several game winning 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 same day as the due date of his second daughter, Lucy, 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.^{[citation needed]} He was drafted by the Orioles after high school but chose to play in college first.^{[citation needed]} 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.

Teammate Aaron Rowand praised Crede's ability to deliver in big moments. “There’s nobody better than that guy in the clutch,” Rowand told reporters. “He’s done it over and over and over again. It’s not the first time, and it definitely won’t be the last time.”^[8]

References[]

External links[]

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)