On May 25, 1960, George Crowe lifted the Cardinals to a dramatic 5-3 victory with a pinch hit two run walk off shot in the ninth inning at Busch. The big blast was the 11th pinch hit home run of Crowe's career, which was a record at the time. The walk off overshadowed a two home run day for Ken Boyer that set the stage for the walk off heroics. The big blast was the only walk off home run of George Crowe's career. He hit 81 home runs total, with 14 of those being pinch hit home runs, which was a record at the time of his retirement. However, it has since been surpassed. While Crowe was a role player of sorts, he was a very influential member of the Cardinals. He brought a work ethic to the team that was contagious, once telling Stan Musial "The more time you spend on the bench the harder you've got to work to be ready when you're called." That attitude gained the respect of his peers and the admiration of fans as well.Check out the box score here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN196005250.shtml
Crowe's baseball tale came to an end the next year. At 40 years of age one would think he would have had a lot to offer to a big league club. However, he coached just briefly, then became a part of baseball's past. He held several jobs and lived as a mountain man who had no need for the luxuries that most people enjoy in life. His life was quite interesting.
You can read all about it here: http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/7226fd06
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