(Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
This weekend, the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown will have two new members joining.
Fred McGriff and Scott Rolen will both officially be enshrined in Cooperstown, reaching baseball immortality.
McGriff had a legendary career, splitting time with the Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago Cubs, and Los Angeles Dodgers.
“The Crime Dog,” as he was known, hit for a career average of .284 and crushed 493 home runs.
Hall-of-Fame pitcher John Smoltz was teammates with McGriff during his time in Atlanta, and the two won a World Series together in 1995.
On MLB Network’s “High Heat,” Smoltz spoke with Christopher Russo and recalled McGriff’s career.
“He was the same everywhere he went…what a teammate, what a player.”
John Smoltz reflects on former teammate Fred McGriff ahead of his induction into the @baseballhall this weekend!#HighHeat | @MadDogUnleashed pic.twitter.com/YvLYrhyxad
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 21, 2023
Smoltz recalled how McGriff impacted the Braves during their championship season, even going as far as to say that no matter what team the legendary slugger played on, he would have batted in the same spot in the order.
The right-hander expressed what McGriff means to him as a teammate and a friend and praised him for his legendary career, stating that the slugger was very deserving of this honor.
Smoltz isn’t sure why it took so long for McGriff to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, but said that he is ultimately glad to see his friend receive the honor.
Smoltz also recalled McGriff’s first game as a member of the Braves, when a fire broke out at Fulton County Stadium, but the slugger still managed to hit his first homer as a member of the team.
The right-hander talked about how he knew then that McGriff was going to have a serious impact on the Braves as they made their run to the World Series.
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