Griffin, a shortstop, was never much of an offensive threat, but he made his only All-Star appearance during a particularly subpar season. Discipline wasn’t Alfredo’s forte: in 262 plate appearances during the first half of ’84, he hit .241 and drew a mind-numbing three walks (over 179 second-half appearances, he would walk once more). Griffin’s selection might have just been a matter of convenience. As the Washington Post‘s John Feinstein reported from San Francisco, site of that year’s All-Star game, “Major League Baseball pays the expenses for each player here and for one guest. In most cases, players bring wives or girlfriends. Damaso Garcia, the Toronto Blue Jays’ second baseman, brought his shortstop, Alfredo Griffin. When the Tigers’ Alan Trammell hurt his arm and could not play tonight, Manager Joe Altobelli named Griffin to the team, partly because he’s a fine player, but mostly because he was here.”