Born in Utica on March 20, 1865, Michael Griffin spent 12 years in major league baseball. His accomplishments, though dating back to the 19th Century, still are prominent in the record books.

He grew up playing baseball on the playgrounds of east Utica, a right-handed outfielder who batted left. He began to attract notice in 1885 while a member of the Nine Spots, Utica's team in the New York State League (NYSL). Griffin clubbed the first home run in Utica's Riverside Park and recorded a .280 average in his first pro season.

In 1886, the Nine Spots and the NYSL became part of the new International League. Utica captured the pennant with a 62-34 record. Griffin hit nearly .300, stole 34 bases and had the third-highest fielding percentage in the IL.

He moved up to the majors in 1887, playing for Baltimore's American Association (AA) team. On April 16, 1887, Griffin homered off Philadelphia's Ed Seward, becoming one of the first two players in major league history to homer in his first appearance (Cincinnati's George Tebeau also accomplished the feat the same day).

Griffin's rookie season was considered an unqualified success: he hit .301 with 32 doubles, 13 triples, 3 home runs, 94 runs batted in (a career high), and 142 runs scored in 136 games. He also stole 94 bases, a rookie record that stood until 1985 when Vince Coleman (St. Louis Cardinals) stole 110. In 1889, Griffin led the AA with 152 runs scored in 137 games, an average of 1.11 that ranks him among baseball's all-time leaders.

In 1890, Griffin signed with Philadelphia. He pulled off 10 double plays that year, the best in the Players League. He joined Brooklyn of the National League in 1891, leading the league with 36 doubles. He scored 100 runs each over 10 seasons, a mark reached by only 17 major leaguers in baseball history.

In addition, he hit .300 or better in his last five seasons and finished with a lifetime average of .296. Five times he led the National League in fielding percentage for outfielders and he led in putouts three times.

Griffin was Brooklyn's team captain from 1885-1899. He was appointed club manager for four games in 1898, and posted a 1-3 record while continuing to play the outfield, all for a salary of$3,500.

The next year, he refused Brooklyn's lower salary offer, and took the team to court. Though he won a small monetary judgment, he decided to retire. In 1900, he became vice-president of the Utica Base Ball Association, operators of the NYSL champion Utica Reds.

He was a successful businessman in Utica until his sudden death at age 43 in 1908.