Coco Crisp

Covelli Loyce "Coco" Crisp (born November 1, 1979) is an American former professional baseball outfielder and MiLB team manager.

He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Kansas City Royals, and Oakland Athletics.

While primarily a center fielder throughout his career, Crisp also played left field for the Athletics and during his stints with the Indians.

Crisp was born in Los Angeles on November 1, 1979.

He is the son of Loyce Crisp, a fast food restaurant owner and former amateur boxer, and Pamela Crisp, a former champion sprinter.

He graduated from Inglewood High School in Inglewood, California before playing one season at Los Angeles Pierce College.

Crisp is a graduate of Major League Baseball's Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities Program.

His maternal grandfather is Nick Newton, a masters high jump world record holder from 1994 to 1996 and inventor of cast aluminum starting blocks.

He played on the 1995 Senior Division RBI World Series champions from Los Angeles.

Crisp was originally nicknamed "Coco" by his sister who teased him that he looked like one of the characters on the Cocoa Krispies cereal box.

The nickname was short-lived, until he started playing AA baseball when the team had all the players fill out a questionnaire to get to know one another.

Covelli listed "Coco" as his nickname on the form and his teammates thought the name was funny so they had it put on the scoreboard during the game.

He was traded to another team after a week and a half, but the nickname stuck and he has been "Coco Crisp" ever since.

The St. Louis Cardinals selected Crisp in the seventh round of the 1999 MLB Draft.

In his minor league career, Crisp played for Cardinals Minor League Baseball affiliates in four different leagues from 1999 to 2001 and was the Cardinals 2001 Minor League Player of the Year.

He opened the 2002 season with the New Haven Ravens, then the Double-A Eastern League affiliate of the Cardinals.

Crisp was traded to the Cleveland Indians on August 7, 2002, to complete an earlier trade for pitcher Chuck Finley.

In the Indians organization, he played for their Double-A affiliate, the Akron Aeros, and their Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons.

Crisp had 69 hits, one home run, and 24 runs batted in (RBIs) before being called up by the Indians.

Crisp became the starting center fielder with the Indians in mid-2002, replacing the injured Matt Lawton.

For the next few seasons, Crisp established a reputation as an excellent fielder and speedy baserunner.

Despite his success, Crisp had to fight for his roster spot each spring.

In 2005, Crisp moved to left field following the emergence of another young outfielder, Grady Sizemore.

In his final two seasons with the Indians, Crisp showcased his offensive talent by batting .297 and .300 with 31 total home runs and 35 steals.

After Johnny Damon signed with the New York Yankees, the Red Sox sought Crisp to fill Damon's role as both leadoff hitter and in center field.

In January 2006, the Red Sox sent prospect third baseman Andy Marte, pitcher Guillermo Mota, catcher Kelly Shoppach, a player to be named later (minor leaguer Randy Newsom), and cash considerations to the Indians for Crisp, catcher Josh Bard and pitcher David Riske.

On April 12, 2006, Crisp signed a three-year contract extension with the Red Sox worth $15.5 million.

Crisp broke his left index finger attempting to steal third base earlier in the month and spent the next 42 games on the disabled list.

After returning to the Red Sox outfield on May 28, Kevin Youkilis had taken over the leadoff spot, and Crisp usually batted seventh or eighth in the line-up for the rest of the year.

In 105 games, he had a .264 batting average with eight home runs and 36 RBI.

Besides his injury, Crisp's 2006 season may be best remembered for a catch against the New York Mets on June 29.

With the Red Sox, he won the 2007 World Series over the Colorado Rockies.

He served as manager of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the MLB Draft League in 2021.

Crisp began the 2007 season struggling offensively due to lingering effects of off season surgery to his left index finger.

On April 20, 2007, Crisp fell over a short wall at Fenway Park while trying to catch a home run by Alex Rodriguez.

Although he was unable to make the catch, missing by inches, he hit a game-tying triple off Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the eighth, then scored the go-ahead run on Alex Cora's soft line drive single.

The Red Sox went on to win 7–6.

During this season, he made numerous impressive catches in the outfield.

It has even been claimed by one major league club that Crisp is easily the best defensive center fielder in all of Major League Baseball.

He officially changed his name on March 5, 2013.