Coco Crisp: Instant Attention Grabber

The name alone, Coco Crisp, is an attention grabber, but the Red Sox 26-year-old center fielder has multiple on- and off-the-field talents that have made him an instant hit with local baseball fans and card collectors.

Crisp is an athletically-gifted switch hitter with a tremendous work ethic. He hit .316 last year with the Cleveland Indians with 61 extra-base hits, including 16 home runs, in just his third season with 400 or more big league at bats. Crisp must adjust from batting second and playing left field last season to leading off and playing center field, where he has played in the past. The Red Sox expect him to develop as a leadoff spot with experience and his exceptional speed will be an asset in Fenway’s vast center field.

Originally drafted by St. Louis in the seventh round of the 1999 draft and named the Cardinals minor league player of the year in 2002, Crisp sports a Cardinals uniform on his 2001 Bowman DP rookie card (#BDP49). This true rookie jumped from $2 to $8 after an off-season acquisition sent Crisp from the small market Cleveland Indians to Boston. This highly sought-after card has since settled at $5. Johnny Damon, Crisp’s popular center field predecessor, saw a similar spike with his popular ‘93 SP rookie after leaving Oakland for Boston four years ago.

Crisp also has impressive off-the-field credentials. He is a rapper who writes his own songs and owns a music label. When he’s not developing his baseball or musical skills, he is developing various television projects. Talent runs abundant in his family. His sister is a figure skater and appeared in Kentucky Fried Chicken commercials as a child. His father, Loyce “Sugar” Crisp, was a professional boxer and his grandfather, Milton Newton, is in the Masters Hall of Fame for track and field.

Crisp has the talent and flair to succeed Johnny Damon, the center fielder and the celebrity. Constant comparisons to Damon will keep Crisp in the national spotlight, which will significantly impact his baseball cards.

The few Crisp autographed and memorabilia cards available are soaring in price. His ‘05 SPx “Autograph” is getting $30, while his ‘05 Ultimate Collection “Autograph”, limited to a production run of 25, is selling for $44. His 2006 Topps Bazooka “Blasts” game-used bat card can be had for $6. Now that Crisp is in the limelight, expect to see more game used cards to be released.