Bobby Crosby (born January 12, 1980 in Lakewood, California) is a shortstop in Major League Baseball who has played for the Oakland Athletics since 2003. Crosby bats and throws right-handed. He attended California State University, Long Beach along with Seattle Mariner Center Fielder Jeremy Reed, and attended La Quinta High School in Westminster, California along with Texas Rangers catcher Gerald Laird. In 2004 Crosby took over the Athletics' shortstop duties from 2002 American League MVP Miguel Tejada, who signed with the Baltimore Orioles as a free agent.
In his first full season, Crosby hit .239 with 22 home runs and 64 RBI. He also led American League rookies in hits (130), doubles (34) and walks (58), and was third among AL players with 4.17 pitches per plate appearance.
Crosby became the sixth Athletic player to earn Rookie of the Year honors, following Harry Byrd (1952), José Canseco (1986), Mark McGwire (1987), Walt Weiss (1988), Ben Grieve (1998), and preceding Huston Street (2005). He also was the second shortstop in a row to win the award and the eighth in the last 23 seasons, joining Angel Berroa (2003), Nomar Garciaparra (1997), Derek Jeter (1996), Pat Listach (1992), Weiss (1988), Ozzie Guillén (1985) and Cal Ripken (1982).
Crosby, the son of former major league infielder Ed Crosby, was just a vote shy of being a unanimous pick despite his batting average was the lowest ever for a rookie of the year. He also struck out 141 times, fourth-most in the AL, and the team's most since Canseco had 152 in 1991.
