Michael went to his first game at the age of four and has been hooked ever since. He lives in Queens with his fellow Mets fan wife, their son, three cats and bearded dragon. He’s worked in the past for MLB.com as an editor. Connect with Michael on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjgfreelance/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">LinkedIn</a>.
Michael Griffin 
Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael GriffinRemember those Maytag commercials about how their appliances were so dependable, their repairman was lonely? Whatever team Don Sutton pitched for, their team trainer knew they’d never have to treat him. He took the ball year after year. More on that in a bit. But Sutton was far more than an innings eater. He won games and racked up strikeouts throughout his 23-year career. Here are the things …
Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael GriffinWhen people think about that Big Red Machine team of the ’70s, they usually think of Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, and Joe Morgan first. They might have been the beating heart of the squad, but Tony Perez, Big Doggie, was the backbone. The Cuban was there to drive in those who got on base before him and help them win big. That’s why he’s up in Cooperstown with …
Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael GriffinBruce Sutter was one of the new guard of relievers. He wasn’t seen as someone to just hold off the other team if the starter faltered. No, he would come in and pitch to nail down the save, a stat that became official in 1969. He racked up quite a few of them with his legendary split-finger. Here are 12 times when he showed why he deserved the …
Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael GriffinIf you open the dictionary and look up “work ethic,” you’re going to see Cal Ripken Jr.’s picture. He was the essence of going to work day in and day out and not taking a day off. Heck, he didn’t even take an INNING off for a long time. Of course, he had to be great to be able to consistently be in the lineup, which is why …
Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael GriffinGeorge Brett was, for lack of a better word, a throwback. He didn’t wear batting gloves at all, preferring the feel of his bat. There were times he’d have a huge wad of chaw in his cheek (though that’s not something to emulate, kids!). He wore his emotions on his sleeve. Just ask umpire Tim McClelland about that; he was the home-plate umpire who had to weather Brett’s …
Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael GriffinAtlanta fans should always be thankful that Todd Van Poppel told the Braves he wouldn’t pitch for them if they picked him at No.1 in the 1990 Draft. Instead, they chose Larry “Chipper” Jones, a man who showed toughness, overcoming an early injury to come back and forge a Hall of Fame career that left many cheering for him — save for Mets fans, who loved to boo …
Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael GriffinIt’s not surprising that Lee Smith once thought about playing basketball. The 6’5” hulk had hands that made a baseball look like a cue ball when he held it. He started pitching later in his childhood than most, but he had an arm that impressed scouts. The Cubs grabbed him in the second round of the 1975 Amateur Draft out of high school, and he was in the …
Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael GriffinJim Rice, the South Carolina-born legend, was far more than just a slugger for the Red Sox. He was a caring human being, which was never more evident than when he saved a boy hit by a foul ball and rushed him to the team trainers. Rice might have followed Ted Williams cues by being wary of the media, but he was beloved by teammates. That aloofness might …
Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael GriffinWhen 20-year-old CC Sabathia, a mountain of a man with a dominant left arm, took the mound for the first time, announcers speculated that they were seeing someone special. For nearly two decades, CC proved them right, collecting wins, strikeouts, and a Cy Young award en route to a first-ballot Hall of Fame induction. Here are 15 times that he showed just how dominant he was. CC’s 2007 …
Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael GriffinMike Piazza was baseball’s Cinderella story. Drafted by the Dodgers in the 62nd Round of the ’88 Draft as a favor to his father, a close friend of manager Tommy Lasorda, he was an afterthought. After being drafted as a first baseman, he made the switch to catcher. By the time ’93 rolled around, he was in the Majors and never left, making his mark as one of …
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