Rememering Rodney Craig

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Rodney Craig.
I hadn't thought about the former Tribe outfielder in decades.
"Bucket Head."

I'm embarrassed to admit that was the first thing coming to mind when I received an email from Ben Anderson with story about the death of Craig.

But that was the nickname given to him by some Indians players when he was with the team for part of the 1982 season -- its source was the size of Craig's batting helmet.

I covered the Indians for The Plain Dealer from 1980-84.

I recall Craig being very quiet, perhaps even a gentle soul. I'm sure I talked to him, but I can't recall a single conversation.

Craig had once been a highly-regarded prospect in the Seattle Mariners organization. He was the first player signed by that expansion team to reach the Majors.

By the time he came to the Tribe in 1981 in a trade for a prospect named Wayne Cage, Craig was an extra outfield -- a switch-hitter with some speed.

His Tribe career consisted of 65 at bats.

Craig was killed on the mean streets of Los Angeles on August 17. He was 56.
Based on a L.A. Times story, it seems Craig had been homeless for more than 10 years. He drifted in and out of shelters, and often lived on the streets.

The Times reported: "Craig set up camp and apparently encroached upon the territory of a transient group … As he walked away he attempted to kick a dog belonging to someone in the group, sparking a fight that left him dead."

The L.A. Times also wrote: "It's unclear how Craig ended up sleeping on downtown L.A. sidewalks, far from the lights of Major League Baseball stadiums.

Craig played in 145 big league games over four seasons from 1979 to 1986 for the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox."

He had 2,906 career at bats in the minors, his career ending in the Mexican League in the late 1980s.
When he was with the Indians, I recall him often in card games on team flights. He was known as a "fish," because he was not very good at cards and sometimes lost his meal money in games.
It turns out that Craig had emotional problems for years -- perhaps even when he played for the Tribe.
No one knew it then.

But then again, not sure how many people ever knew the real Rodney Craig.