A Record No One Cared About

Today is the birthday of Mike Griffin, born in Utica, New York in 1865.

As a kid growing up in Northern New York, Griffin split time between playing baseball and his father Patrick’s cigar shop, learning the trade. He never made real use of the skill. By the age of 19, he had joined a semi-pro club in Utica, and was promptly drafted into the American Associate by the Orioles.

On opening day in Oriole Park, in front of a crowd of 4,000 bundled-up fans, Griffin hit a home run in his first at bat. No one in the crowd or in the press quite appreciated the fact that it was the first time any player had done so.

While Griffin wouldn’t go on to become a power hitter, he established himself as an early star. In his rookie season, he hit .301, with 32 doubles, 13 triples, 3 home runs and 94 RBI. He also stole 94 bases — more than any other rookie — a record that wouldn’t be topped until Vince Coleman swiped 110 in 1985. In 1889, he scored 152 runs in 137 games — an average of 1.11 runs per game — one of the highest in baseball history.

But his success in the sport ended earlier than expected. Late in his career, he signed a contract worth $3,500 to manage the Brooklyn Bridegrooms. Before the season started, however, the club merged with Baltimore, and despite the contract, he was out of a job. Eventually, a court awarded him $2,300 in damages, but the experience left such a bad taste in his mouth that he retired from baseball and returned to his hometown of Utica to manage a local brewery.

Twenty-one years after hitting his debut home run on that cold April day in Baltimore, Griffin died of pneumonia. He was 43.

MLB News

Cheap Hot Dogs, Long Bombs, and Hurt Feelings

• Shohei Hits A Long One – But was it long enough? That’s the talk today. During game two of the Tokyo Series, Shohei Ohtani hit a long bomb out to right center. Even announcers doubted the call, but on review the umps gave it to the Dodgers.

• Jackie Robinson Erased, Then Restored – As a part of the Trump administration’s efforts to remove references to diversity, equity and inclusion from every government web page, an article on Jackie Robinson’s military career on the Department of Defense website was removed. The move prompted outrage. Then it was restored.

• Manfred Hurts ESPN’s Feelings – ESPN opted out of the final three seasons of its $550 million per year deal with the MLB and Manfred said in a memo that, “We do not think it’s beneficial for us to accept a smaller deal to remain on a shrinking platform”. A concrete deal to replace the broadcaster isn’t yet in the offing, but Fox Sports and streamers like Netflix and Amazon are likely to pick up where ESPN left off.

• New Season, New Food – Personally, a Jibarito sounds pretty good.

• Meanwhile, In Tokyo – Sodas for $2.69, beers for $6, and hot dogs for $4. Imagine.

On This Day

Clemente Gets His Flowers

• 1973 — In a special election, the late Roberto Clemente was posthumously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, receiving 393 of 424 votes. The Hall's board had waived the customary five-year waiting period following his tragic death in a plane crash. ​