Norm Griffin

Norman Griffin

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 7", Weight 164 lb.

• Born 1934

Norm Griffin played shortstop on the 1953 Oshkosh Giants, a member of the Class D Wisconsin State League. I was a pitcher on that team. This was Norm's rookie year in pro ball. The previous year, he had played summer baseball in Farnham, Quebec in a college summer league. However, I believe Norm had been a high school player and not in college. He was quite short in stature, but was very powerfully built and heavily muscled. Norm was an African-American, and I believe had been a good football player in high school. He was considered a very good prospect by the New York Giants, as Norm was part of their Minor League system. I remember Norm as being a very fast runner, with a very powerful throwing arm. He also had great power at the plate, despite his small stature. In a sense, however, he did not live up to expectations playing for Oshkosh, mainly because he seemed unusually anxious, both at the plate, and defensively in the field. He was not consistent in his hitting or fielding. I think Norm continued his pro career after Oshkosh, but I'm not sure what other teams he played for. I believe his hometown was White Plains, NY, but I'm not certain.

--Submitted by Bill O'Donnell as a personal remembrance