In 1991 a brilliant commercial titled “Be like Mike” was broadcast starring the greatest basketball player of all time Michael Jordan. While Jordan is undeniably an extremely consummate and talented professional athlete and clearly a positive example for many, not all of us will be the best in our field. And for some of us simply getting by each day is a challenge. So let me propose to you a different role model for these trying times: Blue Jays shortstop Alfredo Griffin. He was not the greatest shortstop of all time and perhaps not even the best of his generation. However, Alfredo Griffin did three things exceptionally well in his long professional baseball career: he never gave up on himself, he always adapted to change, and most of all he enjoyed the show. If you do these things who knows you might find career success or more importantly happiness, just like the always resilient Alfredo Griffin. So, be like Alfredo.

Rookie of the Year

Alfredo Claudino Baptist Griffin Read was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (DR). His grandparents immigrated from St. Kitts to the DR which explains his English sounding surname. He grew up in San Pedro de Macorís which went on to be known as “the shortstop capital of the world” due to all the great shortstops hailing from there.

In 1979 Alfredo Griffin began his Major League Baseball (MLB) career playing for our Toronto Blue Jays. While immediately he impressed everyone with his field play as a shortstop he often struggled at bat. Until one day he made a modification. He started to choke his bat with the help of an end cap borrowed from a veteran player and almost immediately his hitting improved, and that year 1979 Alfredo Griffin was named MLB Rookie of the Year. In 1979 the Blue Jays were a new expansion team who often lost games to their opponents. Alfredo Griffin’s award-winning year was the first of many victories to come over the years for our beloved Blue Jays.

Never give up on yourself

The transition from minor league player to MLB player is a difficult one. Consider this fact, only 6% of minor league players make it to the “big show” (MLB). In a challenging situation like this there are many factors which a rookie ballplayer cannot control. For example, they cannot control if the coach will put them in the starting lineup or not. Yet they can choose to control one thing. They can choose to not give up on themselves. Alfredo Griffin made that choice, and perhaps that is one of the key reasons he made it to the “big show”.

Similarly early in my life, whenever my brothers and I were not sure if we should apply to a university or a job that seemed out of reach to us, our dad would tell us, “Don’t say no to yourself”. If others say no to you that is fine, you cannot control that, but do not be the one to turn yourself down. In essence, it means do not give up on yourself. Others may, but you will not. There are no guarantees in life, but who knows if you don’t close doors on yourself maybe one day an important door will open.

Adapt to change

It could not have been easy for Alfredo Griffin to modify his batting style back in 1979. Yet sometimes we all must humble ourselves and realize not all of us can swing for the fences by holding the very bottom of the bat like Vladdy. Some of us must choke the baseball bat to succeed and simply aim to get on base. Perhaps, Griffin realized one day that what helped him succeed in the minor leagues was not going to work in MLB. We all have to put past success behind from time to time as to not let it cloud potential future success. What worked yesterday might not work today. Accepting change and adapting to it is part of what makes a professional successful in their field. Alfredo Griffin’s humbleness and open mindedness may have saved his career at a critical point when very easily he could have been sent to the minors had he not improved his hitting. Instead, he embraced change and became Rookie of the Year. And while he never was a homerun slugger, Alfredo Griffin became prolific at hitting doubles even triples in part to his aggressive baserunning skills.

Enjoy the show

In 1983 Tony Fernández joined the Blue Jays and shared the shortstop position with Alfredo Griffin. It is admirable that Alfredo Griffin unselfishly mentored his gifted fellow Dominican Fernández who clearly was going to eventually replace him. Perhaps, playing third base was a possibility for Alfredo Griffin, yet in 1984 he was traded to Oakland. And in 1985 Fernández became the full-time shortstop for the Jays. In 1988 Griffin was traded yet again this time to the Dodgers.

Years ago, a CEO once told me, “Enjoy the process”. What I think he meant was that in our careers there will be ups and downs, so enjoy the show. We do not always know where the journey will take us our how it will end, yet we can choose to appreciate what we are doing and achieving each day of our lives and our careers.

The selfless Alfredo Griffin enjoyed the show, and his generosity was rewarded with his first of three World Series rings playing for the Dodgers in 1988.

Three World Series rings

In 1992 the versatile Griffin returned to the Blue Jays and would retire a Blue Jay in 1993. The expectation was clear when he returned, he became a reliable bench player who could easily replace starters such as Fernández and Alomar when needed and he played his role in an effective manner. Alfredo Griffin and Tony Fernández were the only two remaining players left from those magical 80’s Jays teams in 1992 and 1993 the golden years when they won the World Series.

Life goes on

Alfredo Griffin’s best friend was Dámaso García the great Blue Jays second baseman. In 1991 García had a malignant brain tumour removed and was told he only had six-months to live. He outlasted every prognosis and passed away in 2020 the same year Fernández would pass away.

In 1992 despite having been debilitated by the tumour Dámaso García threw the first pitch in a Blue Jays playoff game. The picture below shows him elegantly dressed for this unforgettable occasion.

Alfredo Griffin lost two of his best friends the same year. I can only imagine the pain he went through. Yet always resilient he carried on. After his long baseball career, he coached for the Jays from 1996 until 1997, and he was first base coach for the Angels from 2000 until 2018. Today he is still active in baseball youth development in his beloved República Dominicana. In 2002 Alfredo Griffin was named to the Pabellón de la Fama del Deporte Dominicano (the Sports Hall of Fame of the DR) the highest honour given to Dominican athletes.