Fred McGriff
One of the most consistently productive power hitters of the 1990s, McGriff led both leagues in home runs.
Frederick Stanley McGriff, nicknamed 'the Crime Dog,' is a legendary American former first baseman who played for six teams between 1986 and 2004. While he achieved his greatest success later with the Atlanta Braves and Tampa Bay Devil Rays, his early career began in Toronto. A consistently productive power hitter of the 1990s, McGriff led both the American League and National League in home runs at different points in his career. He is remembered for posting over 80 RBIs every year from 1988 through 2002 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2023.
- nickname
- Crime Dog
- position
- First Baseman / Designated Hitter
- team_affiliation
- Toronto Blue Jays (1986–1990)
- hall_of_fame_status
- Inducted in 2023
- career_home_runs_total
- 493
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
McGriff's connection to Toronto began after being traded from the New York Yankees to the Blue Jays in 1982. He reached the majors full-time in 1987 and emerged as a top power hitter by 1988, starting a streak of seven consecutive seasons with over 30 home runs. In 1989, he led the American League with 36 home runs, including the first home run ever hit at the SkyDome, helping the Blue Jays win the AL East division title. His power remained steady in 1990 as he batted .300. However, his time in Toronto ended on December 5, 1990, when the team traded him and Tony Fernández to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter.
In Their Own Story
The trade that sent McGriff away from Toronto is now considered one of the most one-sided deals in baseball history. The Blue Jays acquired All-Star caliber players in return, while the Yankees had previously dealt a young McGriff to them for Dale Murray and Tom Dodd, a move Rob Neyer later called particularly lopsided. Before his departure, McGriff had established himself as the franchise's premier slugger. He was traded again on July 18, 1993, this time from San Diego to Atlanta, where he became a major component of their division run. His legacy in Toronto is defined by that initial stretch of dominance, including his 1989 AL title and the historic SkyDome home run, before he moved on to capture MVP honors elsewhere.
Reader's Guide
Frederick Stanley McGriff was born on October 31, 1963, in Tampa, Florida. After being cut from his high school team as a sophomore, he made it back the following year and eventually signed with the New York Yankees in the 9th round of the 1981 amateur draft for a $20,000 bonus. He was quickly traded to Toronto in 1982, where he debuted on May 17, 1986. His first career hit was a line drive off Don Schulze in his second game. McGriff spent the 1986 through 1990 seasons with the Blue Jays before being dealt to San Diego. He finished his career with 493 home runs and 1,550 RBIs, and in 2023, he was finally inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Did You Know?
- McGriff was the first player since the dead-ball era to lead both leagues in home runs (AL in 1989, NL in 1992).
- He hit the very first home run at the SkyDome during his time with the Blue Jays.
- McGriff won the All-Star Game MVP Award in 1994 after hitting a game-tying pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the ninth inning.
- The trade sending him to Toronto from the Yankees is considered one of the most one-sided deals in baseball history.
- He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2023, finishing just seven home runs shy of the 500 club.
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