"Griffey bounced back in 1983 after enduring a difficult adjustment to life in the American League in his first season as a Yankee, when he hit 30 points below his career average. Despite a hamstring pull that limited him to 118 games, he was his old self at the plate and had seven game-winning RBI. He was shifted from the outfield to first base, but could wind up back in the outfield this year. Griffey clashed with former manager Billy Martin concerning his role last season. Knee problems have limited his mobility and cut down on his stolen base totals in recent seasons.
Born in Donora, Pennsylvania, the birthplace of Stan Musial, Griffey enjoyed his best years with Cincinnati, who made him a 29th round selection in June 1969. He scored 111 and 117 runs in back-to-back seasons for the Reds (1976 and 1977) and was voted MVP of the 1980 All-Star Game.
A quiet man who might prosper under the direction of Yogi Berra rather than the volatile Martin, Griffey hopes he'll be a regular at one position rather than a part-time player at two."
-Tracy Ringolsby, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1984 Edition
"The poet claims that April is the cruelest month ... but not for Ken Griffey and Yankee fans. The new-look Yankees opened their home season on April 10, a good sign for Ken Griffey because he celebrated his 34th birthday and because he owes something pitchers in the American League.
Griffey is synonymous with two entities- winning and hitting .300. He played on back-to-back World Championship teams with the 1975 and 1976 Cincinnati Reds, hitting .305 and .336. When the Big Red Machine decided that their gears were not meshing, they disassembled the machine and the Yankees quickly grabbed the ill-fated Donnie Gullett after the 1976 season. In 1981, as parts were still being stripped, the Yankees eagerly acquired Griffey and his .307 lifetime batting average- an average that included six .300 seasons.
It is not easy to change leagues, and Ken Griffey found out in 1982. He saw stop and more stop. His timing was off. When he came around- as the whole world knew he would- he suffered a pulled hamstring. In addition, the general calm of the Midwest was gone, and Griffey had to make the switch from right field in the National League to first base/center field in the American League ... and in the Big Apple, with all eyes upon him.
It took a while, but Griffey hit .341 in his last 38 games in 1982. Now, he said to himself and the pitchers, I know what you're up to. Wait 'til 1983.
Would he make good? Of course he would. He learned first base and the pitching patterns, started off hitting .300 and refused to drop below it. He finished at .306, and saved the Yankees from being no-hit on the last day of the season when he singled against the soon-to-be World Champion Orioles.
April- Griffey time- and no time for pitchers who have to face him, any time, any place."
-The New York Yankees Official 1984 Yearbook
"Griffey was simply outstanding in his second year as a Yankee. He batted over .300 the entire year, ranking among the league leaders, and also adapted to first base with ease. Griffey had two home runs in a game twice, April 13 against Detroit and June 6 against Seattle, hit a grand slam against Seattle on August 8 and had a five-RBI game on June 5 against Seattle. He was placed on the disabled list on July 2 with a hamstring pull.
In 1982, Ken batted .277 in his first season in pinstripes, 30 points below his previous major league average. He turned things around at the plate in his last 38 games, however, batting .341 (47-for-138) with seven home runs and 29 RBIs, raising his average from .251 on August 17. On August 18, Ken started on a 13 game hitting streak in which he raised his average 20 points, the hitting streak being the longest by a Yankee in 1982.
In 1980, he was the Reds' MVP and MVP of the All-Star Game. Ken missed the end of the 1979 season with a mid-August operation on his left knee and his thigh bone. In 1972 he was named to the Eastern League All-Star team and in 1973 to the American Association All-Star team.
Griffey was born and grew up in Donora, Pennsylvania, birthplace of Stan Musial."
-1984 New York Yankees Information Guide
No comments:
Post a Comment