 He was a native of Crabtree, Ohio, a populated place within Scioto County.Crabtree made his major league debut on April 18, 1929, as a pinch-hitter in a 3–1 loss to the Cardinals at Crosley Field.Though his most regular playing time came in 1931 and 1932, his best season was 1941, when he returned to the big leagues at age 37.