Doug Griffin, Former El Monte High Star and Red Sox 2nd Baseman, Dead at 69

EL MONTE, CA — Doug Griffin, a former El Monte High School standout and a Gold Glove award-winning second baseman for the Boston Red Sox, died Wednesday in Central California after a lengthy illness, the team announced Thursday. He was 69.

Born in South Gate, California, Griffin helped Boston reach the World Series in 1975, serving as the team's everyday second baseman prior to the Red Sox acquiring Denny Doyle from the then-California Angels a day before the then-June 15 Trade Deadline.

While at El Monte High, Griffin received All-Pacific League, All-Valley, and All-California Interscholastic Federation honors.

Griffin was selected right out of high school in the 21st round of the 1965 Draft by the Angels and made his Major League debut in 1970. He played 18 games with the Angeles before being traded to Boston at the end of the season.

Far from a superstar, Griffin isn't a name Red Sox fans of a certain age have forgotten. He was acquired by Boston as part of the trade that sent Tony Conligiaro to the Angels, but he might be best known for being knocked unconscious by a Nolan Ryan fastball in 1974. The beaning left him with temporary hearing loss and a concussion.

The accident hastened his retirement from baseball. He was beaned again by Oakland's pitcher Dick Bosman in 1975. Griffin retired from baseball in 1977 after playing sparingly in 1976 and 1977.

Griffin's 603 games at second base is the sixth most in team history. He hit .245 with seven home runs and 165 RBIs in his eight-year career, seven of which were with Boston.

He is survived by his wife, Lorraine Bernard; his two children, Chad and Natalie, six granddaughters; his mother and three sisters.

— Patch editor Mike Carraggi contributed to this report. Photo courtesy of Allison Miller via Flickr