Downtown in Buffalo in Erie County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
James D. Griffin Plaza
Photographed By Connor Gill, May 27, 2020
1. James D. Griffin Plaza Marker
Marker found on the Stadium in Mayor James D. Griffin Plaza.
Inscription.
James D. Griffin Plaza. . James D. Griffin served as Mayor of Buffalo from 1978 to 1993. Under Mayor Griffin's leadership, downtown Buffalo and Buffalo's waterfront experienced an unprecedented period of growth and revitalization. One of the cornerstones of this development was the return of professional baseball to Buffalo and the building of this great ballpark. Minor-League baseball had existed in Buffalo since 1877 but left the city in 1970. The department of baseball was symbolic of thew region's larger decline as industries closed and neighborhoods decayed during the hard times of the 1970s. Mayor Griffin said, "We were pretty far down back in those days, but I knew baseball could help this city ..." In 1979, Mayor Griffin organized a group of investors that brought minor league baseball back to Buffalo at War Memorial Stadium. In 1982, the investor group secured long-term, stable ownership for the team, selling the franchise to Bob Rich, Jr. Mayor Griffin then worked tirelessly to bring a state-of-the-art baseball facility to downtown Buffalo. On April 14, 1988, the Buffalo Bisons played their first game in this fine ballpark. Baseball was back and Buffalo renaissance continued. We honor Mayor Griffin for his leadership in bringing professional baseball back to Buffalo and for building this great ballpark. This Plaza was dedicated on June 30th, 2009 to the memory of Mayor James D. Griffin
James D. Griffin served as Mayor of Buffalo from 1978 to 1993. Under Mayor Griffin's leadership, downtown Buffalo and Buffalo's waterfront experienced an unprecedented period of growth and revitalization. One of the cornerstones of this development was the return of professional baseball to Buffalo and the building of this great ballpark.
Minor-League baseball had existed in Buffalo since 1877 but left the city in 1970. The department of baseball was symbolic of thew region's larger decline as industries closed and neighborhoods decayed during the hard times of the 1970s. Mayor Griffin said, "We were pretty far down back in those days, but I knew baseball could help this city ..." In 1979, Mayor Griffin organized a group of investors that brought minor league baseball back to Buffalo at War Memorial Stadium. In 1982, the investor group secured long-term, stable ownership for the team, selling the franchise to Bob Rich, Jr. Mayor Griffin then worked tirelessly to bring a state-of-the-art baseball facility to downtown Buffalo. On April 14, 1988, the Buffalo Bisons played their first game in this fine ballpark. Baseball was back and Buffalo renaissance continued.
We honor Mayor Griffin for his leadership in bringing professional baseball back to Buffalo and for building this great ballpark.
This Plaza was dedicated on June 30th,
Location. 42° 52.883′ N, 78° 52.455′ W. Marker is in Buffalo, New York, in Erie County. It is in Downtown. Marker is on Swan Street, on the right. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Buffalo NY 14205, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Stone underneath statue found in plaza, states his name, year he was born and when he died, and the name of the statue: "The first pitch".
Photographed By Connor Gill, May 27, 2020
3. James D. Griffin Plaza Marker
This is statue of James D. Griffin found in plaza, this can be found right of the plaque. Called "The First Pitch"
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 29, 2020, by Connor Gill of Amherst, New York. This page has been viewed 166 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on May 29, 2020, by Connor Gill of Amherst, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.