Bisons unveil statue of former mayor

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - A tribute now stands at the 'ballpark that Mayor Jimmy Griffin built.'

The Bisons unveiled a statue of the late former mayor on James D. Griffin plaza Friday at Coca-Cola Field in downtown Buffalo. Bisons General Manager Mike Buczkowski says Mayor Griffin saved Buffalo baseball by putting together efforts to bring a team back to town.

"And without the foresight of Mayor Griffin at that time and the team of people that he put together, we would probably be without professional baseball and there would be no Coca-Cola Field and there would be no past 25 years of great memories that have happened here at the corner of Washington and Swan Streets," said Buczkowski.

James "Jimmy" Griffin was Buffalo's longest tenured mayor, serving 16 years in City Hall's top office. He passed away in 2008, but his baseball legacy lives on.