Announced early last week, Florida native Fred McGriff has been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame via a unanimous selection from the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee.
Known to baseball fans as “The Crime Dog,” McGriff began his baseball journey in Florida, where he attended Jefferson High School in Tampa. After time in the Jefferson program, McGriff was selected in the ninth round of the 1981 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees. The first baseman went on to spend five seasons in the minor leagues prior to making his MLB debut in 1986 with the Toronto Blue Jays.
McGriff spent five seasons in the major leagues with Toronto from 1986-90, a span in which he held a .919 OPS across 578 games. Included in McGriff’s time with the Blue Jays was a memorable 1989 season in which he led the American League with 36 HR, a .924 OPS, and a 165 OPS+.
Traded to the San Diego Padres in 1990, McGriff made his first All-Star team in 1992 and led the National League with 35 HR. His career took another turn in 1993 when he was traded to the Atlanta Braves, which is arguably how the Crime Dog is remembered most.
A key member of the Braves’ 1995 World Series-winning team, McGriff spent five seasons in Atlanta, three of them as an All-Star (1994-96). He recorded a combined .885 OPS with the Braves, along with hitting 130 HR, the most for the first baseman with any team during his career.
McGriff remained with the Braves through 1997, then went on to play seven more seasons – most of them with the then Tampa Bay Devil Rays – prior to retiring in 2004.
McGriff made five All-Star appearances in his 19-year career, won three Silver Slugger awards, and was a .284/.377/.509 hitter in the major leagues. Other notable career totals include 493 HR and a .917 OPS in 50 postseason games.
McGriff, as well as any additional inductees from the BBWAA to be announced on January 24, will be officially inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame on July 23, 2023 in Cooperstown, NY.
