Derrell Griffith died.
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Who was Derrell Griffith?
Derrell Griffith was an American outfielder and third baseman who appeared in parts of four Major League seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1963 to 1966. A highly regarded prospect out of Southwestern Oklahoma State University, he impressed in the minor leagues before earning an extended opportunity with the Dodgers in 1964. That season proved to be his best, as he batted .290 with 16 doubles, four home runs, and five three-hit games while splitting time between third base and the outfield. He finished his major league career with a .260 batting average, five home runs, and 33 RBIs in 124 games.
Griffith's promising career was derailed by a shoulder injury suffered in 1966, an ailment he kept private for nearly 50 years before revealing it publicly in 2015. After being traded to the New York Mets following the 1966 season, he spent one final year in the minor leagues with the Mets, Houston Astros, and Atlanta Braves organizations before retiring from professional baseball. A native of Anadarko, Oklahoma, Griffith later returned to his hometown, where he owned and operated a liquor store. He died on June 25, 2026, at the age of 82.
Who was Ron Hunt?
Ron Hunt was a two-time National League All-Star second baseman who played 12 major league seasons from 1963 to 1974 with the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Montreal Expos, and St. Louis Cardinals. A career .273 hitter, Hunt was the first Mets player to start an All-Star Game, earning the honor in 1964 after batting .303. He later became a standout with the Expos, winning the club's Player of the Year award in 1971 and finishing his career with 39 home runs and 370 RBIs.
Hunt is best remembered as one of baseball's greatest hit-by-pitch specialists. He led the National League in hit-by-pitches for seven consecutive seasons (1968-1974), setting a modern-era record by being hit 50 times in 1971—a mark that remains the highest single-season total since 1900. Although later research restored Hughie Jennings' 1896 total of 51 as the all-time record, Hunt's feat remains one of the most extraordinary statistical accomplishments in baseball history relative to his era. After retiring, he operated businesses in Missouri and founded the Ron Hunt Eagles Baseball Association to develop young players. He died on July 15, 2026, at age 85 after battling Parkinson's disease and cancer.