Fred McGriff is a former professional baseball player who played for several teams during his career. He was born on October 31, 1963, in Tampa, Florida, and attended Jefferson High School. He was drafted by the New York Yankees in the ninth round of the 1981 Major League Baseball draft but did not sign with them. Instead, he attended college at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa.
McGriff began his professional career in 1982 when he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. He made his major league debut in 1986 and quickly established himself as a power hitter. He hit 20 or more home runs in each of his first six full seasons in the majors and was named to the All-Star team five times during that span.
In 1990, McGriff led the American League in home runs with 36 and helped the Blue Jays win their first-ever World Series championship. He was traded to the San Diego Padres in 1991 and continued to put up impressive numbers, hitting 35 home runs and driving in 104 runs in his first season with the team.
McGriff was traded again in 1993, this time to the Atlanta Braves. He helped the Braves win the National League pennant that year and hit two home runs in the World Series, although the team ultimately lost to the Blue Jays. McGriff continued to play well for the Braves over the next few seasons, hitting 34 home runs in 1994 and 27 in 1995 as the team won the World Series.
After the 1997 season, McGriff was traded to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, where he played for five seasons. He hit his 400th career home run while playing for the Devil Rays in 1999 and was named to the All-Star team in 2000. McGriff finished his career with brief stints with the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Over the course of his career, McGriff hit 493 home runs, which ranks 28th on the all-time list. He also drove in 1,550 runs and had a career batting average of .284. McGriff was known for his smooth swing and his ability to hit for power to all fields. He was also a respected clubhouse leader and was known for his work ethic and professionalism.
McGriff was eligible for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010 but did not receive enough votes to be elected. He remains eligible for induction and is considered by many to be a borderline candidate for the Hall of Fame. Regardless of whether he is ever elected, McGriff's career is widely respected and admired by baseball fans and analysts alike.
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