Westel or Wesley H. Griffin (June 30, 1894 in Helena, Missouri

Helena, Missouri

Helena is an unincorporated community in southeastern Andrew County, Missouri . It is located about twelve miles northeast of St. Joseph and is part of the St. Joseph, MO–KS Metropolitan Statistical Area....

 - July 26, 1956 in Tifton, Georgia

Tifton, Georgia

Tifton is a city in Tift County, Georgia, United States. The population was 15,060 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Tift County.-Major highways:* Interstate 75* U.S. Highway 41* U.S. Highway 82* U.S...

) was both a longtime minor league baseball player and manager.

Playing career

Griffin played 22 seasons from 1914 to 1917 and from 1919 to 1936. He played until he was 42 years old. Over the course of his career, he hit .290 with 1,710 hits, 369 doubles, 55 triples and 118 home runs in 1,945 games. He hit as many as 22 home runs and 41 doubles in a season. He also went 41-40 in seven years as a pitcher.

Managing career

Griffin first managed the St. Joseph Saints

St. Joseph Saints

The Saint Joseph Saints were a Western Association and Western League baseball team based in St. Joseph, Missouri, USA. They were affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1930, the Chicago Cubs in 1940 and the New York Yankees in 1954.They won three straight league championships, from 1933 to...

 in 1934, but was replaced by Earle Brucker

Earle Brucker, Sr.

Earle Francis Brucker, Sr. was an American catcher, coach and interim manager in Major League Baseball. After a long minor league career in the Pacific Coast and Western leagues — and after missing three full seasons in his prime due to arm trouble — Brucker was an unusually old rookie player in...

 partway through the season. In 1935 and 1936, he managed the Winnipeg Maroons

Winnipeg Maroons

The Winnipeg Maroons were a minor League Baseball team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada that played in the Northern League from 1902-1942. They played at Happyland Park from 1906-1922. It had a seating capacity of 4,000. They subsequently played at Sherbourne Park, which had a seating capacity...

, winning the league championship in 1935. He managed the Indianapolis Indians

Indianapolis Indians

The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...

 from 1939 to 1940, being replaced by Jewel Ens

Jewel Ens

Jewel Winklemeyer Ens was an American infielder and manager in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, he died at age 60 in Syracuse, New York.-External links:...

 in the latter season. After losing his job with the Indians, he replaced Chester Bujaci of the Fargo-Moorhead Twins

Fargo-Moorhead Twins

The Fargo-Moorhead Twins were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1933 to 1942 and from 1946 to 1960. They played in the Northern League and were affiliated with the Cleveland Indians from 1934 to 1940 and from 1953 to 1957, the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1947 to 1948 and the New York...

, which he managed until being replaced by Mike Blazo

Mike Blazo

Michael Blazo was a minor league baseball player and manager.-Playing career:Blazo played 12 seasons as catcher in the minors, hitting around .247 in 1011 games.-Managing career:...

 in 1941. He headed the Uniontown Coal Barons

Uniontown Coal Barons

The Uniontown Coal Barons were a Pennsylvania-Ohio-Maryland League , Pennsylvania-West Virginia League and Middle Atlantic League baseball team based in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, USA. From 1947 to 1949, they were affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates.Under manager James Groninger, they won a...

 in 1949 and the Hutchinson Elks

Hutchinson Elks

The Hutchinson Elks were a Western Association baseball team based in Hutchinson, Kansas, USA that existed from 1949 to 1954. They were affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1950 to 1954. They won two league championships - 1950 and 1953 - both under Wes Griffin....

 from 1950 to 1953, leading them to league championships in his first and last years with the team. The final team he managed was the Tifton Phillies

Tifton Phillies

The Tifton Phillies were a Georgia-Florida League baseball team based in Tifton, Georgia, USA that played during the 1956 season. They were affiliated with the Philadelphia Phillies. They were managed by Wes Griffin and later Edward Miller....

in 1956. Following his mid-season death, he was replaced by Edward Miller.