Top Blue Jays Player #24: Fred
McGriff
Position: First
Base
Seasons With the
Jays: 5 (1986-1990)
MLB Awards: Silver
Slugger (1989)
Stats: Games Played 578 Batting Average .278
Base Hits 540 Runs
Scored 348
Home Runs 125 RBIs 305
Doubles
99 Triples 8
Stolen Bases 21
Walks 352
When Fred McGriff hit a home
run, there was never any doubt about it clearing the wall once it left his bat.
McGriff hit some towering, majestic drives and with his uppercut swing, and it
was apparent he was going for the knockout every time he came to the plate.
Perhaps one of the greatest sluggers in the team’s history, but not being a
very good clutch hitter cost McGriff a chance at being further up the list.
He was originally drafted by the
New York Yankees in the ninth round of the Amateur Draft in 1981, then was
traded as part of the Dave Collins for Dale Murray deal with the Blue Jays in
1982. But it wasn’t until 1986 that McGriff debuted in the Big Leagues, albeit
for only three games.
He started to play more
regularly in 1987, spending time at first base while also being in the lineup
as the designated hitter. Incumbent Willie Upshaw still held the first
baseman’s job in 1987 but after a few months of watching McGriff play, it was
obvious Upshaw’s days as a Blue Jay were numbered. In 1987, McGriff played in
107 games while batting .247, slugging 20 home runs and adding 43 RBIs.
After winning the everyday job
in 1988, McGriff responded with an improved .282 average, 34 home runs and 82
RBIs. in 1989, he led the American League in home runs with 36 and looked in
line to be a front runner for the Most Valuable Player Award, but a horrible
stretch run (he didn’t hit a single home run after September 3rd)
dropped him to sixth in the voting. His average dipped to .269 and he had 92
RBIs. He did, however, win a Silver Slugger Award and helped the Jays to the AL
East Division title and a spot in the ALCS against the Oakland Athletics.
In that series, Toronto lost in
five games and McGriff hit a dreary .143 without a home run.
1990 saw his average jump to
.300 for the first time, and he smashed 35 home runs. But the lack of RBIs
(only 88) was causing concern. McGriff would rarely come up with a two-out hit
with runners on base, and appeared to be gunning for a home run every time at
bat, even at times when a single would have sufficed.
After the season, he was traded
along with Tony Fernandez to the San Diego Padres for Joe Carter and Roberto
Alomar. After two and a half years with the Padres, McGriff was sent to the
Braves. While with Atlanta, he would help the team to the World Series
Championship in 1995.
After Atlanta, he would play
with Tampa Bay, the Cubs, the Dodgers and back to Tampa for one more season
before retiring at the age of 40 after the 2004 season.
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