<TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD>MCGRIFF'S 1ST BITE AT COOPERSTOWN By GEORGE A. KING III
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August 1, 2009 --
When the Baseball Hall of Fame ballots are printed later this year, Fred McGriff will appear for the first time.
And if he eventually gets into Cooperstown, McGriff will give thanks to a pair of men with Yankee ties who helped pour the foundation for a career that produced 493 homers by one of baseball's most feared sluggers during a major-league journey that started in 1986 with the Blue Jays and ended in 2004 with the Rays. He is currently employed by the Rays.
"My first year in the Yankee organization I was at Bradenton, Fla., in 1981," McGriff recalled this past week at Tropicana Field.
"Joe Pepitone and Mickey Vernon were working there and they taught me how to play the game."
Based on McGriff's career, Pepitone and Vernon taught the Tampa native very well. From 1988 to 1996, the left-handed first baseman led the majors in homers with 297. From 1988 to 2002, he averaged 31 homers, 97 RBIs and hit .288.
Of course, none of those stats were produced in pinstripes. In 1982, McGriff, Dave Collins and Mike Morgan were dealt to Toronto for Dale Murray and Tom Dodd in what easily ranks among the worst trades in Yankee history.
Seemingly forever, 500 home runs meant an automatic Hall of Fame plaque. Then homers rose dramatically in the Steroid Era, in which McGriff never was mentioned.
He finished playing in 2004 for the Rays tied for 26th on the all-time homer list with Lou Gehrig. Five active players are ahead of him. Barry Bonds (762), Sammy Sosa (609) and Rafael Palmeiro (569) are done but not yet eligible for the ballot.
The only eligible player ahead of McGriff not in the Hall of Fame is Mark McGwire, who is eighth with 583 homers. Bonds, Sosa, Palmeiro and McGwire have been linked to steroid use.
So, what does McGriff think of his Hall of Fame chances?
"I never checked a lot of numbers when I was playing," McGriff said. "Lately, I have checked the different stats I put up, and I am proud. I was able to hang in there and played the game the right way."
Career .284 hitter ( not spectacular for the HALL )
And not for nothing , but I was just going over his stats , and it wouldn't surprise if the Ol' crime dog took a bite of a needle in his final years ... Check out these stats i compiled ... I know you guys don't want to admit , but the numbers don't lie.
From 1995-1998 ages 31-34 for Mcgriff
avg .284 ( career avg )
96 Hrs , 378 RBis
HR every 23.67 ABs
Now from 1999-2002 ages 35-38 for Mcgriff
avg .293
120 Hrs , 420 Rbis ( 4 consecutive 100+ Rbi seasons )
HR every 17.68 abs
So basically Mcgriff improved in every category during the known steroid years ... Hrs , Rbis and amount of Hrs per ABs ... during a time when his physical skill should have been on the decline , his stats saw a sudden jump in production. Mcgriff knew he was on the decline and probably got a little help along the way.
And not for nothing , but I was just going over his stats , and it wouldn't surprise if the Ol' crime dog took a bite of a needle in his final years ... Check out these stats i compiled ... I know you guys don't want to admit , but the numbers don't lie.
From 1995-1998 ages 31-34 for Mcgriff
avg .284 ( career avg )
96 Hrs , 378 RBis
HR every 23.67 ABs
Now from 1999-2002 ages 35-38 for Mcgriff
avg .293
120 Hrs , 420 Rbis ( 4 consecutive 100+ Rbi seasons )
HR every 17.68 abs
So basically Mcgriff improved in every category during the known steroid years ... Hrs , Rbis and amount of Hrs per ABs ... during a time when his physical skill should have been on the decline , his stats saw a sudden jump in production. Mcgriff knew he was on the decline and probably got a little help along the way.
