Ken Griffey Sr. And The Sioux Falls Packers

Ken Griffey Sr. appeared as the Guest Speaker at the Kids Around First Banquet in Sioux Falls in the Fall of 2022. The event brought Ken Sr. back to Sioux Falls for the first time in fifty-two years. Ken’s presentation included many stories from his years in professional baseball. Ken recalled one memorable game during his 1970 season with the Sioux Falls Packers.

Photo: Ken Griffey Sr.; David Kemp

The July 29,1970 game involved the Sioux Falls Packers vs. the St. Cloud Rox of the Northern League. The Northern League was a Short Season, Class A team in the Cincinnati Reds organization. Bill Wall was the starting pitcher for the Packers. Both teams had poor season records. The Packers finished the season with a 24-46 record. They were a poor fielding team. Any chance to win a game was special. Wall had a chance to get a win. (See narrative)

Ken Griffey recalls that he had received a brand-new glove. It was perhaps a Rawlings glove. It was not broken in and was very stiff. It was very difficult to catch a flyball with. Wall entered the top of the Ninth inning at the Sioux Falls Stadium with a lead. There was an outfield error. He gave up two runs. He was taken out. LHP Al Faix was brought in as a relief pitcher. The St. Cloud Rox batter hit a flyball to the warning track in left field. The ball hit his glove. It popped off his new glove and flew over the fence. Griffey was charged with a three run, error. St. Cloud won the game, 7-6. Years later, when Griffey was playing for the Yankees he had a chance to talk to Bill Wall. Wall recalled that Griffey had cost him a rare win. There was a newspaper story published describing the meeting between Griffey and Wall. Griffey thought that Wall was the pitcher. Al Faix remembers that he was the pitcher. The error did cost Wall a rare win.

The Ken Griffey Family in Sioux Falls.

The Griffey’s were a young family when they arrived in Sioux Falls. Ken had played the previous season in Bradenton, Florida. Griffey’s wife, Bertie was a year younger than Ken. Ken Griffey Jr. was an eight-month-old baby, when the family arrived in Sioux Falls in June of 1970. Housing for African Americans in Sioux Falls was segregated. The Sioux Falls Packers’ management was prepared to house the African American athletes who sent to play for the Packers. They were not prepared to have a Black player with a young family come to Sioux Falls. The players were to be housed in a sponsoring motel. No place for a new mother, with a young baby. (see photo from Argus-Leader).

The Griffey family was moved to a dormitory room at Augustana College after the first homestand ended. The dormitories were empty during the Summer, except for a small number of summer school students. The Griffey’s were not authorized to be staying in the dorm. They would come into the dorm in the evening. Ken Sr. recalls that they had to get out of the dorm very early in the morning, before the Augustana College workers arrived for the day.

The Griffey’s considered the situation not feasible. They discussed going home to Lenora, Pennsylvania, ending Ken Sr.’s dream of continuing as a professional baseball player. It was at this time that Rita Dysart came into the picture. Rita had just graduated from Sioux Falls O’Gorman High School. The Dysart/Demars lived in a house on 4th Street and Spring Avenue, below the St. Joseph’s Cathedral. Rita and Bertie established a new friendship. Rita was able to secure an apartment across from their house on Spring Avenue. The Griffey family was able to rent an apartment for the rest of the Packers’ season. Ken Sr. would complete his second season in the Cincinnati Reds organization. He would play his first season with the Cincinnati Reds in 1973. Ken became an integral player in the legendary Big Red Machine teams of the 1970s.

Russ Nixon was the Packers’ Manager. The average age of the Packers was 19.

Ken Griffey was a twenty-year-old outfielder. He had played for Brandenton in the Gulf Coast League in 1969. Griffey was from Lenora, Pennsylvania. Ken hit.
244, with 2 homeruns and 24 RBI in 51 games for the 1970 Sioux Falls Packers.

Al Faix was a Left-Handed Pitcher. Al is married to Patty Dolan Faix. Patty is the daughter of Lee Dolan. The outstanding athlete award at Sioux Falls Bishop O’Gorman High School is named in his honor. Lee was the first athletic director when Sioux Falls O’Gorman opened in 1961. Patty is a 1970 Sioux Falls O’Gorman graduate.

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