Will you stand above me? Look my way, never love me. Rain keeps falling, rain keeps falling down, down, down. -Simple Minds
Public Service Announcement: Ok, here we go! Well, it’s that time of year again. Last week, the Hall of Fame ballot was announced. Preserving history. Honoring Excellence. Connecting generations. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. Yes, it’s that time of year again where a select few have the chance at immortality. Like my main man Edgar Lee Masters always says, “Immortality is not a gift, immortality is an achievement; and only those who strive mightily shall possess it.” I’ll tell you somebody who strove mightily. I’ll tell you somebody who should posess it. That somebody is the crime dog. That somebody is Fred McGriff.
Crime Time! Few players in major league history have been as consistent as McGriff. He began his career in 1986. He finished his career in 2004. 18 long years in the show. For 15 of those years, from 1988-2002, McGriff averaged 31 bombs a season. For 15 of those years, from 1988-2002, he hit .288. For 15 of those years, from 1988-2002 he averaged 97 base knocks. Knock knock. Who’s there? Fred McGriff bitch!
Those numbers sound pretty good, don’t they? Sure they do. They sound even better when you consider only 10 other players in history have averaged those those triple crown numbers over a 15-year period. Six of those ten are already in the Hall. (Jimmie Foxx, Babe Ruth, Lou Gherig, Wiilie Mays, Hank Aaron and Frank Robinson) The other four aren’t eligible yet. They may never make it. (Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds and Rafael Palmiero)
Now, if that weren’t enough for you, over nine seasons between 1988-96, McGriff led baseball in ding dongs. with 297. He hit 30 or more ding dongs in 10 ten different seasons. Seven in a row. Yowza! That’s a lot of ding dongs. That’s more ding dongs than CC Sabathia could eat in one sitting. But what’s even more special, what’s even more special is, Fred became the first player to ever lead both leagues in ding dongs. Frank Robinson never did that. Mark McGwire did, but I’m not here to talk about the past. Yes I am. Here are some more eye popping numbers from Fred McGriff’s past:
- Hit 30-plus bombs 10 times. Tied with Lou Gherig for 4th all-time among first baseman.
- Hit 20-plus bombs 15 times. 14 times as a first baseman. 1st all time.
- Totaled 100-plus RBis eight times. Tied for 4th all-time among first baseman.
- Five time All-Star. MVP of the All Star Game.
- His 493 HRs are the same as Gherig’s. Of the 25 players with more HRs, 15 are in the Hall. Nine are not yet eligible.
- One of only four players with 200-plus HRs in both leagues.
Fred McGriff’s prowess was not just limited to the regular season. Oh, no. He hit in the post-season too. Hit like a sledge hammer. I want to be your sledgehammer. Why don’t you call my name? They called Fred’s name in 50 post-season games. In those 50 games, he hit .303 with ten home runs and 37 base knocks. Knock knock. Who’s there? Fred McGriff bitch! Only three other players in Major League history have hit .300 in the post-season with 10-plus HRs and 35-plus base knocks. Knock knock. Who’s there? Lou Gherig, Derek Jeter and Albert Pujols bitch!
Oh what could have been. In 1994, Major League Baseball was cut short by the work stoppage. In 1994, McGriff was working on what could have been one of the greatest offensive seasons ever. He played in 113 of the Braves’ 114 games. He hit .318. He smashed 34 taters. He knocked in 94 runs. Knock knock. Who’s there? Aww, you know! In a full season that translates to 48 taters. That translates to 134 RBI and 85 extra base hits. That translates to some kinda year. The whole thing translates to a Hall of Fame career. Vote Fred McGriff. My name is Josh Q. Public and I approve this message.
Public Spectacle:
[pro-player width='455' height='260' type='video']http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7g75ZGSPoo[/pro-player]
PS: When Fred gets in, he should wear that goofy cap he wears in Tom Emanski’s Defensive Drills Video commercial.
Peace out homies. Six two and Even!
Need More? Fred McGriff, MLB
.jpg){kind=small}
