"There are not a lot of major leaguers today who can boast about a .300 lifetime batting average. Aside from Don Mattingly, the talent-laden Yankees only have one other player with a career .300 average- left fielder Ken Griffey.
Griffey turned two consecutive .300 seasons into back-to-back World Championship seasons with Cincinnati's Big Red Machine in 1975 and 1976. In 1983, his second year in pinstripes, Griffey returned to form by hitting an impressive .306. After a slow start last year, Griffey came on strong to drive in 56 runs, his Yankees career high and the most since since his 85 RBI with the Reds in 1980.
Griffey's had a lot of jobs with the Yankees, but he's now the regular left fielder."
-The New York Yankees Official 1985 Yearbook
"Griffey alternated between first base and the outfield in 1984. In the first half of the season he batted only .267 with no homers and 22 RBI but came on very strong in the second half, hitting for power (seven homers) and driving in timely runs (34 RBI) while raising his average. His 56 RBI were a personal high as a Yankee and his highest since he had 85 with Cincinnati in 1980. Ken recorded the 1,500th hit of his career on June 12 at Boston and hit safely in 12 of 13 games from September 4-18, including a four-hit performance against Baltimore on September 17.
In 1983 Ken was simply outstanding- he batted over .300 the entire year, ranking among the league leaders. In 1982, his first season in pinstripes, Ken batted .277, 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 Ken was the Reds' MVP and MVP of the All-Star Game. He 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."
-1985 New York Yankees Information Guide
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