Bisons mourn former Buffalo mayor
Griffin was inducted to the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988 for his efforts to bring a professional baseball team back to Buffalo in 1979 and for his work in creating a home for the team at Dunn Tire Park.
"The Bisons organization has lost a true fiend and supporter today with the passing of Mayor Griffin," said Bisons vice president/general manager Mike Buczkowski. "There was no bigger fan of the team and of a downtown ballpark for the entire region to enjoy than the Mayor.
"Our hearts and our sympathy go out to the Griffin family."
The Bisons also announced Sunday that they will hold a moment of silence prior to their next home game, Friday, May 30 at 7:05 p.m. against the Columbus Clippers.
Bisons baseball would not be what it is today without the efforts of Mayor Griffin. In 1979, he worked with city leaders to purchase a struggling Double-A team from Jersey City and bring professional baseball back to Buffalo for the first time in eight years. The deal included pledging $1,000 of his own money to purchase the team.
In 1988, Mayor Griffin cut the ribbon on another of his longtime dreams, a downtown ballpark for the Bisons to play in. Pilot Field opened in '88, set the gold standard for Minor League parks and ushered in the return of baseball to downtown cities across the country. Today, Dunn Tire Park remains one of the largest ballparks in Minor League Baseball and the home of the top six attendance marks in the history of the Minors.
Griffin last appeared at Dunn Tire Park on Aug. 25, 2007. He threw out a ceremonial first pitch as the team and the city celebrated 20 years together downtown.
Griffin, Buffalo mayor from 1978-94, died at Father Baker Manor in Orchard Park, where he had been a patient for several weeks. No cause of death was given.