Fred McGriff
| Birthdate | 10/31/1963 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 1986 |
| Year of Induction | 2023 |
| Teams | Blue Jays, Braves, Cubs, Dodgers, Padres, Rays |
| Positions | Designated Hitter, First Base |
Fred McGriff hit 30+ homers in 10 different seasons. A 5-time All Star and 3-time Silver Slugger, McGriff finished with 493 career home runs.
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Fred McGriff is the subject of a fierce Hall of Fame debate
Fred McGriff is the subject of a fierce Hall of Fame debate
Fred McGriff played for six team during his 19-year big league career. The first baseman built quite a resume for Cooperstown. An All Star and league-leading home run hitter in both the NL and AL, McGriff finished his career just 7 homers short of 500.
He broke in with the Blue Jays with 3 games in 1986. In his three full seasons in Toronto McGriff averaged 35 homers and 87 RBI. In 1989 he led the American League with 36 homers and earned a Silver Slugger. The Jays traded him to San Diego in December, 1990.
McGriff played two and a half seasons for the Padres. During that time he hit 84 homer and drove in 256 runs. His best season in America’s Finest City came in 1992 when he made his first All Star team and earned his second Silver Slugger Award. In July, 1993 San Diego sent him to Atlanta.
McGriff appeared in three All Star games in five years with the Braves. He also earned a World Series ring with them in 1995. Despite his solid production, the Braves sold McGriff to Tampa Bay after the 1997 season.
The first baseman made the All Star team for the final time in 2000. His time with the Rays included two 100-RBI seasons. In July, 2001 Tampa sent him to the Cubs in a trade.
McGriff’s last productive season came in Chicago in 2002. He reached the 30-homer mark for the 10th and final time of his career. It was also the last of his eight 100-RBI years.
The Crime Dog’s final two big league seasons featured one season in LA and a return to Tampa Bay in his last year. The pair of seasons McGriff played in 113 games. He hit .236 with 15 homers and 47 RBI. He retired in 2004.
McGriff received 21.5% of the vote in his first time on the Hall of Fame ballot. He stayed on the writers ballot for 15 years, gaining a high of 39.8% in his final year on the ballot in 2019. Many believe McGriff belongs in Cooperstown. His fate is now in the hands of the Veterans Committee.
Shown here is McGriff’s contract with Topps Chewing Gum. When the 26-year old McGriff signed this contract with Topps in March of ’91 he had yet to make an All Star team. By the time the contract ran out after the 1995 season, he appeared in three All Star games and won two Silver Slugger Awards.
McGriff went on to slug 493 career homers, tied with Lou Gehrig on the all time list. He drove in 1,550 runs, and hit .284 in a 19-year career.
