During the 20th century the Western Pennsylvania borough of Donora maintained a population between 5,000 and 15,000. Despite it’s small size, Donora has produced three big leaguers who combined for 8,554 hits, 1,257 homers, and 4,646 RBI.

Ken Griffey was born in Donora, Pennsylvania on April 10, 1950. Despite his 2,143 hits, three All Star selections and two World Series rings, Griffey remains the third-best player born in little Donora.

While in Donora, Griffey’s wife gave birth to a son who bears his father’s name. Junior followed his dad’s path to the big leagues. Behind the strength of 630 homers in an outstanding 22-year big league career, he became a first-ballot selection for the Baseball Hall of Fame.

One of the game’s most-popular players, Griffey isn’t even the best Donora player born on November 21st. That honor goes to Stan “The Man” Musial. Beyond sharing the same birthplace, the two men were also born the same day albeit nearly a half-century apart.

An inner-circle Cooperstown man, Musial has more hits than everyone not named Aaron, Cobb, or Rose. Among position players, Stan’s career WAR of 128.5 is passed only by Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Cobb, Aaron, Tris Speaker, and Honus Wagner. Musial’s career stats include 3,630 hits, 725 doubles, 475 doubles, 1,951 RBI and a .331/.417/.559 slash line.

Shown here is a letter written by Musial as a 21-year old. Notice the return address of Donora, Pa. in the top right corner.

Best known as the father of the Hall of Fame outfielder who bears the same name, Ken Griffey was a fine ball player in his own right. In the collection is this questionnaire filled out entirely by a 19-year old Griffey Sr. just three months after his high school graduation in 1969, a full four years before his big league debut.

Griffey lists his birthplace as Donora, Pennsylvania, the same small town that produced Stan Musial and lays claim as the hometown of the younger Griffey as well. Senior also lists his race as, “Negro” and notes that he earned high school letters in football, basketball, baseball, and track.

Though he wouldn’t debut in the bigs until nearly four years to the day after filling out the questionnaire, Griffey was in the midst of his first season as a professional. This piece provides a glance into the early career of the three-time All Star and two-time World Series champion.

As a footnote, notice the date of the document, August 29, 1969. That means his wife was 6 months pregnant with his namesake son who went on to a Hall of Fame career.

Ken Griffey was the right fielder for both of the Big Red Machine’s World Series championships. In 1975 he he hit .305 with a .395 on-base percentage. The Reds won a still-standing franchise record 108 games.

In the postseason Cincinnati swept Pittsburgh in the NLCS then outlasted Boston in a thrilling seven-game Fall Classic. As World Series champs, the Reds enjoyed the off-season.

After their triumph Cunard Cruise Lines offered an all-expenses-paid voyage to the Reds. GM Bob Howsam, skipper Sparky Anderson, announcer Marty Brennaman and players Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, Tony Perez accepted the proposition.

In return the cruise line used the Cincinnati men for advertising purposes on their sold-out cruise. Above is the baseball itinerary for the cruise line signed by the six participating members of the organization. The itinerary makes for a fun read.

Donruss came out with a special set of baseball cards commemorating each team’s Opening Day lineup. Only the players in the starting lineup were featured in the 1987 offering.

Shown here is Ken Griffey’s card from that set depicting him with the Atlanta Braves. The outfielder’s career was winding down by the time he was in Atlanta though he did manage to hit .285 over parts of two seasons with the Braves.

The outfielder finished with 2,143 hits and a .295 average.

The card is signed boldly in blue sharpie.

Blessed with athletic talent and youthful exuberance, Ken Griffey Jr. became known as “The Kid”, and “The Natural” during his playing career. A former Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player, Griffey finished with 630 career home runs.

In this letter, he reflects on the beauty of baseball. “People ask me my favorite part of the game and I tell them: the whole thing. It’s making that impossible catch; it’s gunning down a speeding baserunner at home plate from deep in centerfield. And it’s the feeling you get when you see your pitch. Then you hear the crack of the bat and you know the ball is gone.”

It’s no wonder that fans who saw Griffey play always picture him smiling.

Ken Griffey Jr. grew up in and around big league clubhouses. His father and namesake showed him the inner workings of baseball.

Not all of the early education was positive. One lesson Junior learned at an early age stuck with him forever.

His father and namesake broke in with the Reds in 1973 and was a key cog in back-to-back World Series champions. After 9 seasons in Cincinnati, he was traded to the New York Yankees. George Steinbrenner promptly signed him to a six-year deal.

During Griffey’s time in the Big Apple, Junior learned he never ever wanted to play for the Yanks.

In his own words, the reason becomes clear.

“I came up to visit my dad. It was just me and him and got to the ballpark early. I’m sitting in the dugout. The security guard comes over and says, ‘Hey, George [Steinbrenner] doesn’t want anybody in the dugout.’ My dad was like, ‘What? That’s my son.’

“So he goes, alright, ‘Hey go to my locker. But before you go, look at third base.’

“It’s Craig Nettles’ son taking ground balls at third base.

“And at that time my dad was 38 years old and he’s like, ‘I ain’t fightin’ this no more. I got somebody a little younger and a little bit better.’

“You know there are certain things that a dad drills into you as a kid that just stick with you. And that was one of them.”

Junior never forgot the double standard imposed by Steinbrenner. Throughout his career he said he’d rather retire than play for the Yankees.

Shown here is a Yankee payroll check issued to Nettles on August 15, 1973. For more on Nettles, click here.