Fred McGriff was one of baseball’s most consistent power hitters of the late 1980s and 1990s, finishing with 493 home runs and a reputation for quiet excellence at first base. His famous nickname, “The Crime Dog,” came from a clever marketing moment early in his career when someone noticed his name sounded like crime-fighting TV character McGruff the Crime Dog. The comparison stuck, and McGriff embraced it, even appearing in crime prevention ads that made him a fan favorite with kids. While he wasn’t flashy, pitchers knew he was dangerous every time he stepped in the box, and his steady production eventually earned him a well-deserved place in the Hall of Fame.