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 GriffinLet’s be honest—throwing out a first pitch comes with a lot of pressure. While many celebrities on this list are used to performing in front of large crowds, some are ordinary people. Still, these are the moments that made both the crowd at the game and viewers at home say, “What was that?” Here are 12 unforgettable first pitches: Mary Ruich’s 2019 White Sox First Pitch—Direct Hit on …
Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael GriffinThis one’s a bit of a lightning rod, to say the least. While I think he’s worthy—and I felt that way even while he was playing—it was the Today’s Era Committee, not the baseball writers, who ultimately voted him in. Here are 10 reasons why I believe his induction was justice delayed, not simply a case of a ‘Very Good’ player getting into the Hall. 2,866 Career Hits: …
Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael GriffinAndre Dawson is a case of “What If?” Wait, wait—before you start yelling, yes, he’s a Hall of Famer. But he could have had an even more tremendous career if he hadn’t spent his first 10 years in Montreal on Olympic Stadium’s unforgiving turf. That turf wrecked his knees and robbed him of the speed that let him reach double digits in steals every year he wore an …
Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael GriffinDick Allen was the type of player you had to see to believe. He brought a heavy bat to the plate—the kind that evoked Babe Ruth—and he swung it with ferocity through the zone. While he was the prototypical slugger who racked up strikeouts, he could also win games with his legs or his arm. Though Allen remains one of the most deserving players not yet inducted into …
Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael GriffinWant to know something incredible about Billy Wagner, the lefty who hurled thunderbolts to close games? To quote Inigo Montoya from the classic movie “The Princess Bride”: “I am not left-handed.” Yup. Wagner is right-handed, but since he broke his dominant arm twice at a young age, he taught himself to throw lefty. Pretty impressive results, huh? Here are 10 feats that he accomplished in a career that …
Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael GriffinFirst things first: How did Fred McGriff get the nickname “Crime Dog”? For those not in the know, there was a commercial for CrimeStoppers featuring a dog mascot named McGruff. He wore a trench coat, and his motto was “Take a Bite Outta Crime!” The Hall of Famer believes it was Kirby Puckett, a fellow Cooperstown inductee, who first came up with the moniker. There’s video of the …
Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael GriffinOn the surface, baseball seems like a simple game. There are nine players on the field, including the pitcher. Each side tries to get three outs an inning, and there are nine innings in a game. However, there are many complex strategies at play during each contest that might go unnoticed by the uninitiated. For example, before the pitch clock era, Pedro Martinez would vary the time between …
Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael GriffinThis turned out to be a pretty interesting thought exercise for me. I decided to eliminate several players who are already shoo-ins once they retire, like Miggy Cabrera, Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, and Clayton Kershaw. Instead, I’m focusing on players who, while they have put together a good resume, need things to go their way to solidify their chances. Then there are some younger ones, like Pete Alonso, …
Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael GriffinBarry Larkin was one of those players you had to watch day in and day out to truly appreciate his greatness. He wasn’t flashy and didn’t exude the star power that made fans delay their concession stand runs until he’d batted. Still, when you look at his numbers, you see why Cincinnati Reds fans adored him and why the Hall added his plaque. Here are 13 reasons why …
Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael GriffinIf you attend or watch a baseball game on TV, you’re going to see a ceremonial first pitch. Most are thrown by local community members or celebrities. But sometimes, the marketing department thinks outside the (batter’s) box and brings in some… unusual choices. Here are 10 examples of those. Darth Vader Throws Out the First Pitch Can Darth Vader get the ball over the plate? The Dark Lord …
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