| Full Name: |
Craig John Counsell |
 |
| Birthplace: |
South Bend, IN |
| Height: |
6'0" |
| Weight: |
185 |
| Born: |
08/21/1970 |
| MLB Debut: |
09/17/1995 |
| Bats: |
Left |
| Throws: |
Right |
| College: |
Notre Dame |
| MLB Experience: |
14 |
Craig John Counsell plays third base for the Milwaukee Brewers. He was born on August 21, 1970, in South Bend, Indiana. He stands 6'0' and weighs 184 lbs. Craig was a 1988 graduate of Whitefish Bay (WI) High School, then graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1992 with a degree in accounting. Counsell was was a 4-year baseball letterman for the Fighting Irish, playing for current Arizona State head baseball coach Pat Murphy. Counsell is married to Michelle who he has been with Craig since high school and also grew up in Whitefish Bay. The couple relocated from Arizona to Mequon in 2001. The couple have two sons, Brady (5/3/03) and new arrival, Jack Taylor (2/6/05). Craig scored the winning run in Game 7 for the Florida Marlins, in the 1997 World Series. The cleats that Craig wore when he scored the game-winning run in the game are on permanent display at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. Craig also hit .429 for the Marlins in the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves. In the 2001 NLCS Craig hit .381 in the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves earning him the NLCS MVP award. That year in the World Series for Arizona, Craig hit a home run that helped lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to a World Series title. Craig's best season was in 2002, when he hit .282 and finished the year with a career-high 51 RBIs. The season however, was cut short due to a neck injury followed by fusion surgery. In 2003, he missed two months of play, because of a torn thumb ligament and played mostly third base in the second half of the season. He finished the year with a .234 batting average, which was his worst since joining the Diamondbacks in 2000. Recently, Craig missed two days of play in July 2004, when he bruised his right knee and was forced to leave one game in the sixth inning. Craig can play any position: first base, second base, third base and shortstop. He is fundamentally sound, with good hands on defense and good glove work. Counsell has enough speed to steal bases.
Craig's father, John Counsell, was an outfielder in the Minnesota Twins' organization from 1964-68, then worked in the Milwaukee Brewers' organization as Director of Community Relations in the 1980's.
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