1980 Profile: Mike Griffin

"After coming to the Yankees in 1979 via a ten-player trade with the Texas Rangers, Mike split his first pinstriped season between West Haven and Columbus. The 6'5", 195-pound 22-year-old fastballer won eight games at West Haven with a fine 2.95 ERA. At Columbus, he posted an impressive 1.76 ERA to go along with a 3-1 record."

-The New York Yankees Official 1980 Yearbook

"Maybe it's because he's only 22 years old and maybe it's the freckles that dot his face which make him seem almost half his age, but hardly anyone gave young Mike Griffin much of a chance to hurl his way onto the 1980 Yankee pitching staff. But Dick Howser saw something in the 6'5" right-hander with the excellent fastball and Mike found himself in Yankee Stadium, wearing the proud pinstripes on Opening Day, 1980.
After spending just half a season at Columbus (Triple-A) last year, Mike came up to the Bronx in September to earn a save in three appearances. In spring training of '80, Mike defied all odds and earned the James P. Dawson Award as the outstanding Yankee rookie in camp against some pretty tough competition. And early this season, he pitched his way into the Yankees' starting rotation.
As you watch the boy with the Huckleberry Finn-like face mow down batters as easy as pie, you'd wonder if he really did play hooky as a youngster ... or if he really did ride the riverboats down the Mississippi. But all that doesn't really matter as long as Mike rides the crest of another championship season as he did last year with the Columbus Clippers."

-The New York Yankees Official 1980 Yearbook

"Griffin made his major league debut with the Yankees last year, coming up in September, appearing in three games and earning a save on September 30 against Toronto. He spent most of his first Yankee season at West Haven, where he was 8-7 with a 2.95 ERA and walked just 26 batters in 125 innings. He was promoted to Columbus, where he was an impressive 3-1 with a 1.76 ERA.
Mike was part of the Yankees' 10-player deal with the Rangers in the winter of '78. Just 22 years old, this is his fifth year in professional baseball. He signed with the Rangers after graduating from Woodland (California) High School. Mike broke in with Asheville of the Western Carolina League in 1976, where he had a super season in 1977 in which he led the league with 17 wins, 19 complete games, 209 innings pitched, 201 strikeouts and a 3.49 ERA. He was promoted to Tulsa (AA) in 1978. Mike was the Topps Minor League Player of the Month in both June and July of 1977.
He earned three letters in baseball at Woodland High School and was the team's MVP his senior year, along with being named All-Northern California and All-Sacramento Valley. As a youngster, Mike was a Red Sox fan whose favorite player was Carl Yastrzemski.
Mike is of German, Scott and Irish descent. He struck out the first batter he faced in a major league game, Andre Thornton."

-New York Yankees 1980 Media Guide