Todd Crosby chose college, then saw 7 pro seasons, made AAA

Todd Crosby didn't have many options out of high school, but he did have options.

The Padres chose him in the fourth round of the 1983 draft. The University of Hawaii wanted him on a scholarship. Crosby chose Hawaii.

"I want to play pro baseball," Crosby told The Los Angeles Times two years later, "but I felt Hawaii was the best opportunity for me at that point. It was the only real college opportunity I felt I had. I don't regret a single thing."

Crosby got his second opportunity to play pro ball in 1986, taken by the Phillies in the fifth round of the draft. Crosby, though, never got the opportunity to play ball in the majors.

Crosby went to Hawaii out of El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, Ca. It was at El Camino that Crosby caught the eye of the Padres, with his "excellent defensive skills, single-A Spokane GM George Gross told The Spokane Spokesman-Review.

Crosby, though, didn't play for the Padres, or Spokane, instead going to Hawaii. With Hawaii, Crosby got four hits in one May 1986 game against San Diego State. That year Crosby also won All-Western Athletic Conference honors.

Crosby's college career also took him to Korea in 1985, with the U.S. national baseball team. In the July series in Seoul, Crosby was named MVP.

Crosby also made his way to Alaska, playing summer ball. There, his glove was also praised, The Anchorage Daily News including him as a major league prospect. He also just got more playing time.

"That's one of the things that helped the most," Crosby told The Daily News. "You've got to keep playing. We stayed sharp up there."

As a pro, Crosby started in Florida, at single-A Clearwater. There, Crosby hit .243 in 54 games. He moved to single-A Spartanburg in 1987, then got a look at AA Reading in 1988. At Reading, Crosby hit .293 in 33 games.

After that look at AA, Crosby returned to single-A St. Petersburg for 1989, moving to the Cardinals system. He hit .258 there. Crosby then made the jump to AAA Louisville for 1990, hitting .294, with four home runs.

Crosby returned to Louisville for 1991. He played just one more season beyond that, with the Giants in 1992. He played at AA Shreveport and 14 games at AAA Phoenix, ending his career.

Originally published Jan. 28, 2012

• Spokane Spokesman-Review, June 11, 1983: Speed, raw talent mark Spokane baseball team
• Anchorage Daily News, Feb. 15, 1985: Hawaii baseball program feeds on Alaska connection
• Los Angeles Times, Aug. 8, 1985: Todd Crosby Takes On the Globe With His Glove

More: 1990 Louisville Redbirds