#30 Fred McGriff

About the Front: That is one right pretty lookin' swing. Have you ever met anyone who didn't like the Crime Dog?

About the Back: Yes indeed, the Yankees let Fred McGriff get away. On December 9, 1982, New York traded McGriff, outfielder and free agent bust Dave Collins, and young pitcher Mike Morgan to the Blue Jays for outfielder Tom Dodd (whose MLB career consisted of eight games with the 1986 Orioles) and reliever Dale Murray (who had a 4.73 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP in three seasons in the Bronx). I miss horrendously overbearing 1980s Steinbrenner.

Triple Play:

1. Back when it still meant something, Fred hit at least 30 home runs in each of seven consecutive seasons (1988-1994). He wasn't just a hacker, either, as he retired with a .377 on-base percentage and 1,305 total walks to go along with his 493 homers.

2. The day McGriff was traded to the Braves, the press box at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium caught fire a few hours before game time. In 68 games post-trade, he hit .310/.392/.612 with 19 home runs and 55 RBI; Atlanta went 51-17 and overcame a nine-game deficit to squeak out the National League Western Divison crown over the Giants.

3. Tom Emanski. Enough said.

11-Year-Old Kevin Says: My introduction to the cruelty of trade rumors was early July of 1993, when there was buzz about McGriff being dealt to my Orioles for perennial pitching prospect Arthur Rhodes. Obviously he went to the Braves for Melvin Nieves and a couple of other minor leaguers, and the O's were stuck with David Segui down the stretch. Rats!

Bill James Said: In comparing McGriff to Willie McCovey at the same age, "McGriff's batting average is five points better; McCovey's slugging percentage was five points better." At the end of their careers, Fred had a .284 average and .509 slugging percentage, and Willie was at .270 and .515.

On This Date in 1993: July 5. Electrochemist Faiza Al-Kharafi becomes the first woman to head a major Middle Eastern university when she is appointed rector of Kuwait University.