Mike Griffin – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Mike Griffin put together a solid career as a Major League Baseball pitcher through the 1980s, bouncing around five different teams before finally hanging up his cleats in 1989. Born Michael Leroy Griffin on June 26, 1957, in Colusa, California, he really embodied the journeyman pitcher—moving from club to club and finding ways to contribute on every pitching staff he joined.

Griffin’s professional baseball journey lasted six seasons in the majors. He finished with a 7-15 record and 101 strikeouts across 67 games for the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Baltimore Orioles, and Cincinnati Reds. He threw his last pitch on June 30, 1989, at age 32. That wrapped up a career that started when the Texas Rangers picked him in the third round of the 1976 amateur draft.

This right-hander’s story feels pretty familiar for a lot of pro athletes who pour years into America’s pastime. From his early days playing high school ball in California to his final season with the Reds, Griffin’s path through baseball gives you a peek at both the grind and the good times of big-league life during the 1980s.

Early Life and Amateur Baseball Career

Mike Griffin started his journey in Northern California, sharpening his pitching at Woodland High School before major league scouts started to notice him. His strong high school showings led straight to his selection by the Texas Rangers in the 1976 MLB Amateur Draft.

Background and Hometown

Michael Leroy Griffin came into the world on June 26, 1957, in Colusa, California. It’s a small farming town in the Sacramento Valley.

He grew up loving baseball in that rural setting. Later, the Griffin family moved to Woodland, California, where Mike spent his high school years.

Woodland had a stronger baseball program, which made a big difference in his development as a pitcher. The agricultural surroundings of Colusa and Woodland gave Griffin a strong work ethic, something he carried with him through his baseball career.

Small-town life meant close community ties. Local coaches could really focus on promising athletes like Griffin.

High School Achievements

Griffin pitched for Woodland High School and quickly stood out. At 6-foot-4, throwing right-handed, he was a pretty intimidating sight on the mound.

He built up solid pitching fundamentals during those years. Scouts who watched Northern California high school games often took note of his fastball and control.

His performances grabbed the attention of more than a few major league organizations. That mix of size, arm strength, and potential made him a pretty attractive prospect for teams looking to stock up on young pitching.

Path to the MLB Draft

Griffin kept performing well in high school, and the Texas Rangers picked him in the third round of the 1976 MLB June Amateur Draft. They saw him as a future big leaguer.

The Rangers’ scouts thought Griffin was worth a shot for their minor league pipeline. That draft selection capped off years of work in California’s competitive high school baseball scene.

Griffin signed with Texas at age 19 and jumped into pro ball. That moment ended his amateur days and kicked off a 13-year run in professional baseball, with the majors waiting down the road.

Major League Baseball Journey

Mike Griffin’s pro career stretched across six seasons from 1979 to 1989. He bounced around from the New York Yankees to the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres, among others, ending up with a 7-15 record and a 4.60 ERA.

Debut with the New York Yankees

Griffin made his MLB debut on September 17, 1979, with the New York Yankees. He was just 22 at the time, drafted by the Rangers in 1976 before winding up in the Yankees’ system.

He faced the Cleveland Indians in his first game. He pitched an inning, gave up two hits and two runs, struck out one, and walked another.

He stayed with the Yankees through 1981. Griffin worked hard to make himself a dependable part of the Yankees’ pitching staff.

He officially lost his rookie status in 1980. Those early years in New York gave him a crash course in big-league baseball.

Chicago Cubs Stint

In 1981, Griffin landed with the Chicago Cubs in a pretty notable trade. The Cubs sent Rick Reuschel to the Yankees, and got Doug Bird plus Griffin (who came over as the player to be named later).

Once he arrived in Chicago, Griffin stuck on the Cubs’ big league roster for the rest of the season. The team gave him nine starts.

He managed only two quality starts out of those nine. While the results weren’t dazzling, the Cubs gave him valuable starting experience.

Moving from New York to Chicago marked a turning point for him. He got to show he could handle both starting and relieving roles.

Time with the San Diego Padres

Griffin moved on to the San Diego Padres in 1982, keeping his journey through the majors alive. That made it three teams in four seasons—pretty typical for a journeyman.

His stint with the Padres fit right into the pattern of Griffin bouncing between organizations. San Diego was just another stop on his winding road.

He kept building his experience as a big league pitcher with the Padres. The West Coast scene brought a different vibe compared to his earlier teams.

That year in San Diego added to his overall big league stats. The 1982 Padres season was another step in his six-year career.

Later Career Highlights and Final Season

Mike Griffin’s last years in MLB brought him to two more teams, where he tried to find consistency whether starting or coming out of the bullpen. He got his biggest shot in years with the Baltimore Orioles in 1987, then wrapped up his career with a brief run for the Cincinnati Reds in 1989.

Baltimore Orioles Contributions

Griffin joined the Orioles in 1987 after spending two years in the Kansas City Royals’ minor league system. He opened the season with the Rochester Red Wings, posting a 5-1 record and a 3.28 ERA over 74 innings.

The Orioles called him up in June. Griffin started out in the rotation, going 2-3 with a 3.56 ERA in his first five starts. Things looked promising at first.

Then the team shifted him to the bullpen. He struggled in relief, giving up at least one run in 12 of his last 18 appearances. His ERA shot up to 4.91 over the last couple months.

For the full 1987 season with Baltimore, Griffin pitched in 23 games, starting six. He ended up 3-5 with a 4.36 ERA. That was his busiest big league year since his early days with the Yankees.

Cincinnati Reds and Retirement

Griffin signed with the Cincinnati Reds after the 1988 season. Most of 1989, he spent with the Nashville Sounds, the Reds’ Triple-A affiliate, working only as a reliever.

He put up strong numbers in the minors that year. Griffin finished with a 2.30 ERA in 74⅓ innings over 41 games, tallying a 2-3 record and six saves.

The Reds called him up to the majors in June 1989. Griffin got into three games for Cincinnati, but things didn’t go well. He allowed 10 hits and three walks in just 4⅓ innings.

Those three games with the Reds ended his major league career. His last MLB appearance came on June 30, 1989, exactly ten years after his debut with the Yankees.

Griffin’s MLB career covered six seasons from 1979 to 1989. He finished with a 7-15 record and a 4.61 ERA in 67 games for five teams.

Career Statistics and On-Field Performance

Mike Griffin went 7-15 with a 5.04 ERA in 67 big league appearances from 1979 to 1989. He leaned on control and locating pitches instead of pure velocity during his decade-long run.

MLB Career Stats Overview

Griffin’s numbers as a major league pitcher were modest. He posted 7 wins and 15 losses over 67 games. His ERA landed at 5.04, which shows just how tough the majors can be.

The Texas Rangers picked him in the third round of the 1976 draft. He made his MLB debut on September 17, 1979, with the Yankees at 22.

He pitched for five different teams: the Yankees, Cubs, Padres, Orioles, and Reds. He spent his longest stretch with the Reds, where he wrapped up his career in 1989.

Most of Griffin’s outings came in relief. He worked mainly as a pitcher out of the bullpen, not as a regular starter. That bullpen role fit his skills and let him help out several teams.

Notable Games and Achievements

Griffin’s biggest contributions came during his time with the Cincinnati Reds. He spent his last seasons splitting time between the big league club and their Triple-A team, the Nashville Sounds.

His debut with the Yankees kicked off a true journeyman career. He showed enough flashes to get chances with several franchises. Each team saw something in his arm, even if the stats weren’t always eye-popping.

The pitcher kept his big league career alive for six seasons. He kept earning roster spots and chances through the 1980s. That kind of persistence let him stick around the majors for almost a decade.

Griffin’s career stretched from the late ‘70s through the end of the ‘80s. He saw the game change a lot during that time, and he managed to stay in the mix.

Pitching Style and Strengths

Griffin pitched with command and location, not overpowering stuff. He focused on hitting his spots and keeping hitters guessing. That approach helped him survive despite not having a blazing fastball.

He worked best in relief situations. Griffin knew his role and adjusted to those short-inning appearances. Playing for multiple teams gave him a wide perspective on different pitching philosophies.

Teams appreciated his professionalism, even if his numbers didn’t jump off the page. Griffin’s career showed that hard work and adaptability could keep a pitcher in the majors.

After he retired from playing, Griffin moved into coaching. He eventually became a pitching coach, passing on what he’d learned to younger players. That next step just made sense for someone with his deep knowledge of pitching mechanics and game situations.

Post-Retirement Activities

Mike Griffin shifted into baseball instruction after leaving the mound in 1989. He found his main gig as a pitching coach with different pro organizations.

Coaching Roles and Impact

After retiring, Griffin took over as pitching coach for the Norfolk Tides. The Tides are a Triple-A minor league team. Coaching there let him work directly with developing pitchers.

He focused on helping young players sharpen their skills. Griffin drew on his six years in Major League Baseball to mentor prospects. He worked with pitchers trying to make the jump to the majors.

A lot of ex-players go into coaching. Griffin’s background with teams like the Orioles gave him plenty to offer. Playing for so many organizations gave him insight into different coaching styles and clubhouse cultures.

Affiliations in the Baseball Community

Griffin stayed connected to pro baseball through his coaching job. The Norfolk organization became his new home after retiring as a player.

His work with the Tides kept him close to the game. Plenty of former players stick around as coaches, passing along what they know. Griffin’s role let him help the next wave of pitchers.

The baseball world often leans on ex-players to mentor and teach. Griffin fit right into that tradition, guiding young guys through the minors and helping them chase their big-league dreams.

Legacy, Recognition, and Net Worth

Mike Griffin played six seasons in Major League Baseball from 1979 to 1989. He left a modest impact on the sport, mostly remembered for bouncing around five different organizations.

People mostly recognized him for his draft status and the trades he was involved in. His financial earnings mirrored the salary structures you’d expect from 1980s baseball.

Legacy in Major League Baseball

Griffin built his MLB legacy as a journeyman pitcher, sticking it out through several organizations in the late 1970s and 1980s. He spent six seasons with the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Baltimore Orioles, and Cincinnati Reds.

He finished his career with a 7-15 record and a 4.60 ERA over 203.2 innings. Griffin pitched in 67 games, started 24 of them, and picked up three saves along the way.

In 1987, he had his best season with the Baltimore Orioles. That year, he went 3-5 with a 4.36 ERA in 23 appearances, including six starts and a complete game.

Griffin got involved in a big trade back in 1978. The Texas Rangers had picked him in the third round of the 1976 amateur draft, then sent him and Dave Righetti to the New York Yankees in a massive 10-player deal.

Awards and Honors

Griffin didn’t collect any major individual awards or honors at the Major League level. Most of the recognition he received came from his draft selection and his early career in the minors.

The Texas Rangers picked him in the third round of the 1976 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Woodland High School in California. That draft selection was really the main formal nod to his talent during his amateur days.

During spring training in 1980, the Yankees named him their best rookie. Still, he had trouble finding consistency and ended up back in the minors after posting a 2-4 record.

His career statistics show a pitcher who struggled to maintain his effectiveness at the highest level. Without major awards or postseason appearances, Griffin didn’t really get a shot at broader recognition in the sport.

Estimated Net Worth

You won’t find specific details about Mike Griffin’s net worth or exact career earnings anywhere. Baseball salaries in the 1980s just didn’t compare to today’s numbers, especially for guys who didn’t spend much time in the majors.

Griffin spent six seasons in the league, right before the big free agency boom. Back then, most players with average stats brought home pretty modest paychecks.

After his playing days, he took on coaching gigs, like working as a pitching coach for the Norfolk team. Minor league coaching usually doesn’t pay all that much, to be honest.

Since there aren’t any public records of his contracts or any big business moves after baseball, it’s safe to guess Griffin’s finances look a lot like those of a typical journeyman from the 1980s.