[exciting music] [bright music] - [Narrator] In the 1988 hit movie, "Bull Durham", Kevin Costner plays Crash Davis.

There was a real Crash Davis, and he would joke that he was better looking than Costner.

Born in 1919 and raised in Gastonia, Lawrence Davis got the nickname Crash at the age of 14, after colliding with a teammate to catch a fly ball.

He went on to become the captain of the Duke baseball team.

And although the fictional Crash Davis only spent three weeks in the Majors, the real one played for three seasons with the Philadelphia Athletics.

Hitting a couple of home runs before getting drafted into the Navy in 1942.

After World War II, Crash played for a few Minor League teams, including the Durham Bulls.

"I wasn't always the best player on the team but I always got a hit when it counted."

Fast forward three decades later, when Hollywood writer/director, Ron Shelton asked Crash if he could use his name for his main character.

Crash asked, "Do I get the girl?"

In which Shelton said, "Yes".

Crash gave him a thumbs up.

Baseball would remain a large part of Crash's life.

Thanks to Bull Durham.

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