McGriff celebrates Tampa roots in induction to Rays HOF

ST. PETERSBURG -- For more than 40 years, Emeterio “Pop” Cuesta has been famous for all the wrong reasons. He was known best as the coach who cut future Hall of Famer Fred McGriff from the baseball team as a sophomore at Tampa’s Jefferson High School.

As he prepared to take the stage Sunday afternoon at Tropicana Field for his induction into the Tampa Bay Rays Hall of Fame, McGriff wanted to give Cuesta a moment in the spotlight, to recognize his role in what the first baseman described as an “improbable” career.

“This is Pop’s coming-out party,” McGriff said before taking the stage. “The last 40 years, everybody’s like, ‘Oh, you cut Fred McGriff’ and everything. This is his time to shine. Let him say his piece.”

So after Rays broadcaster Dewayne Staats began Sunday’s ceremony with introductions and a video presentation, McGriff introduced Cuesta as the first person to step to the microphone set up in front of the mound at Tropicana Field.

“As I told him before, Michael Jordan got cut as a sophomore. They both turned out pretty good,” Cuesta cracked. “Fred embraced the challenge, and he started to work to achieve his dream.”

Indeed, he did. McGriff achieved baseball immortality when he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame last summer, and his plaque was on display Sunday throughout a day dedicated to celebrating McGriff’s tenure with his hometown team.

McGriff became the fifth member of the Rays Hall of Fame, which opened last year, joining former teammate Wade Boggs, Carl Crawford and the late Don Zimmer and Dave Wills.

“It’s not every day a kid from Tampa Bay makes it into the Rays Hall of Fame,” McGriff said. “To celebrate this moment now in my hometown, how sweet it is.”

His local ties were front and center throughout his induction ceremony. Kids from the local Boys & Girls Club lined up for high-fives and sat on the field during his speech; McGriff remains a contributor to the organization that benefited him in his youth.

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Friends and family, including children Erick and Ericka, watched from one side of the infield, while McGriff sat on stage alongside Cuesta; his wife, Veronica; and team president Matt Silverman.

McGriff spent parts of five seasons with the then-Devil Rays. He joined the team for its inaugural season in 1998, adding needed credibility and a local draw for an expansion team that lost a lot of games. He made his final All-Star team with Tampa Bay in 2000, remained until he was traded to the Cubs in '01 then returned for the final stop of his 19-year career in '04.

“He did not need to prove anything … but the Devil Rays sure needed Fred,” Silverman said. “Night after night, Fred was a bright spot, a respected veteran player, a hometown hero.”

One of the best power hitters of his generation, McGriff was a five-time All-Star, a three-time Silver Slugger, a 1995 World Series champion and a career .284/.377/.509 hitter with 493 home runs and 1,550 RBIs. He was a model of consistency, with 10 30-homer seasons and eight 100-RBI seasons.

The slugger known as the “Crime Dog” is all over Tampa Bay’s record books, too. He’s the club’s all-time leader in on-base percentage (.380), slugging percentage (.484) and OPS (.864). He ranks among the Rays’ all-time leaders in batting average (second, .291), walks (sixth, .305), RBIs (seventh, 359) and home runs (eighth, 99).

And he holds a special place in Tampa Bay baseball history. He joined Boggs, Tony La Russa and Al Lopez as just the fourth Tampa native to enter Cooperstown last summer.

As Cuesta put it, “He is a credit to our community.”

McGriff grew up in the Tampa neighborhood of Carver City-Lincoln Gardens, working as a vendor at Reds Spring Training games. He played from the time he was 8 years old until he was 40, starting with Little League for Forest Heights and West Tampa. After being cut by Cuesta as a sophomore, he made the Jefferson High team as a junior, got drafted by the Yankees in 1981 and never looked back.

Before receiving a standing ovation, McGriff ended his speech with an encouraging message to young players looking to follow in his Hall of Fame footsteps.

“Dream big and work hard. The journey is a challenge, but with dedication and perseverance, you can achieve great things,” McGriff said. “Never lose sight of your passion and always remember that a love of the game will make it all worthwhile.

“This is more than just an induction. It’s a celebration of dreams coming true and memories being made.”