Thanks to a late-night training video and Chris Berman’s Crime Dog nickname, casual fans pictured Fred McGriff as a flashy TV pitchman. In reality he was the sport’s quietest, most ruthlessly consistent star, a stoic craftsman who built a durable resume while avoiding the theatrics of his era.

This episode traces his nomadic brilliance from a Tampa stadium vendor to a unanimous Hall of Fame vote, and the arbitrary milestone that nearly cost him Cooperstown.

• Was cut from his high school varsity team as a sophomore before a growth spurt, then homered off a young Dwight Gooden in front of scouts.
• Refined his swing playing intense Dominican winter ball, drawing praise from Ted Williams, who recognized his greatness by the sound of the bat.
• Became the first player since the deadball era to lead both the American and National Leagues in home runs.
• Hit 30 home runs in a season for five different franchises and won a World Series with the Atlanta Braves in 1995.
• Finished seven home runs short of 500 after the 1994 strike wiped out at-bats, then was elected unanimously by the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee and inducted in 2023.