1982 Profile: Ken Griffey

"Just when it seemed injuries might retard his skills, the veteran outfielder bounced back with a strong season. Griffey batted .300 in the first half and only Pete Rose had more hits. He improved to a .324 second half, including a .357 August. He finished sixth in the NL batting race and is among the active leaders with a .307 lifetime average.
Born in Donora, Pennsylvania, also the birthplace of Stan Musial, Griffey has hit over .300 in five of his last seven years, though his career was interrupted by a knee injury in '79. He has a .313 average in nine playoff games and was the All-Star Game MVP in 1980. He was acquired from the Reds for a pair of minor leaguers when it was apparent he'd be lost to free agency, and signed a multi-year $1.2-million-a-year pact."

-Bill Madden, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1982 Edition

"Now here's a name we've all heard before: Ken Griffey. Late of the legendary Cincinnati teams of the mid-seventies. Six feet, 200 pounds of a solid, play-to-win ballplayer. Has played alongside such baseball greats as Johnny Bench, Tony Perez, Joe Morgan, Dave Concepcion and Pete Rose. An offensive machine who will add speed, defense and depth to any club. One of eight lifetime .300 hitters active in the American League with four or more years of major league experience. Hails from Donora, Pennsylvania, also the birthplace of Stan Musial.
This season, Mr. Griffey's headlines will originate from New York City. After enjoying a wonderful relationship with the fans in Ohio, his bat will do its talking from the home plate area in Yankee Stadium as he brings his .307 lifetime average to The House That Ruth Built. The experience of playing on two World Championship teams, three division championship teams and three victorious All-Star teams should recharge the already high-powered Yankee lineup.
American League fans, as well as Yankee fans, think his addition to another great lineup is a feather in their cap."

-The New York Yankees Official 1982 Yearbook

"Griffey had his fifth .300 season at the plate in 1981. He had two nine-game hitting streaks, hit an inside-the-park homer in Pittsburgh on May 17 off Eddie Solomon, and was 4-for-5 in Los Angeles on September 20.
In 1980, Ken was the Reds' MVP and MVP of the All-Star Game, and his All-Star Game homer was hit off Tommy John. He missed the end of the 1979 season with a mid-August operation on his left knee and his thigh bone. In 1972 Ken was named to the Eastern League All-Star team and in 1973 to the American Association All-Star team. He is one of eight lifetime .300 hitters active in the American League with four years in the majors.
Griffey was born and raised in Donora, Pennsylvania, the birthplace of Stan Musial."

-1982 New York Yankees Media Guide