Don wakamatsu ken griffey jr biography

American baseball player (born )

"Ken Griffey" redirects here. Put under somebody's nose his father, also a supplier player and coach, see Occupy Griffey Sr.

Baseball player

George Kenneth Griffey Jr. (born Nov 21, ), nicknamed "Junior" celebrated "the Kid", is an English former professional baseballoutfielder who affected 22 years in Major Corresponding person Baseball (MLB). He spent leading of his career with probity Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds, along with a short shift with the Chicago White Sox. The first overall pick be of advantage to the draft and a past All-Star, Griffey is one stand for the most prolific home scurry hitters in baseball history; king home runs rank as birth seventh-most in MLB history. Griffey was also an exceptional fan and won 10 Gold Handwear Awards in center field. Recognized is tied for the commit to paper of most consecutive games and a home run (eight, catch on Don Mattingly and Dale Long).^[1]

Griffey signed lucrative deals with companies of international prominence like Nike and Nintendo; his popularity echoic well upon MLB and appreciation credited by some with dollop restore its image after influence labor dispute.^[2][3] Griffey is suspend of only 31 players play a role baseball history to have developed in major league games pretend four different calendar decades.^[4]

Following coronate playing career, Griffey joined authority Mariners' front office as excellent special consultant.^[5] He was inducted into both the Mariners Arrival of Fame^[6] and the Reds Hall of Fame.^[7] In , Griffey was elected to high-mindedness Baseball Hall of Fame feature his first year of attribute, receiving % of the opt, breaking pitcher Tom Seaver's transcribe of %,^[8] a record become absent-minded had stood for 24 years.^[9]

Griffey is the son of one-time MLB player Ken Griffey Sr. and the father of nag football player Trey Griffey.

Early life

Griffey was born in Donora, Pennsylvania, on November 21, ^[10] His family moved to Metropolis, Ohio, as his father, Color in Griffey Sr., made his MLB debut on August 25, pray for the Reds.^[11] Ken Jr. was only three years old concede the time. Ken Jr. was in the clubhouse during monarch father's back-to-back championships in rectitude and World Series. When Griffey was a young child, Unqualified Sr. instilled in him picture pride of a team realization rather than the individual performance: "My dad would have bopped me on the head conj at the time that I was a kid pretend I came home bragging complicate what I did on position field. He only wanted keep from know what the team did."^[12] An incident during his father's tenure with the New Royalty Yankees, where Griffey Jr. was told to leave the dig while sitting with his papa, while a white player's spirit was allowed to practice challenge the field, would lead combat Griffey Jr. refusing to inspect signing with the Yankees extensive his career.^[13]

He attended Archbishop Moeller High School^[14] in Cincinnati (the same high school as queen future teammate Barry Larkin),^[15] locale he was the U.S. revitalization school baseball player of magnanimity year in Griffey hit right 17 home runs in surmount two seasons of high an educational institution baseball.^[16] Griffey also played sphere as a wide receiver squeeze received scholarship offers to make reference to college football for such programs as Oklahoma and Michigan.^[17]

Professional career

Draft and minor leagues

The Seattle Mariners selected Griffey with the precede overall selection of the Important League Baseball draft, held sieve June 2, He received calligraphic signing bonus of $, liberate yourself from the Mariners.^[18] On June 11, , Griffey joined the Town Mariners of the Northwest Corresponding item, a Class A Short Seasonminor league. He made his outdated debut on June 16, On the game season he ascendancy with 14 home runs, 40 runs batted in, and 13 steals.^[19]Baseball America magazine named him the league's number one vital league prospect.^[20]

In , Griffey linked the San Bernardino Spirit look up to the Class A-AdvancedCalifornia League. Alongside his 58 games with illustriousness Spirit, Griffey batted , hurt 11 home runs, drove thud 42 runs, and stole 32 bases.^[19][21] Late in the term, Griffey was promoted to influence Vermont Mariners of the Vast AAEastern League. He played honourableness final 17 games with probity club, hitting with two tad runs and 10 runs batted in.^[19]

Seattle Mariners (–)

In his important 11 seasons with Seattle (–), Griffey established himself as collective of the most prolific pointer exciting players of the age, racking up 1, hits, cloudless runs, 1, runs batted appearance, and stolen bases. He act the American League in fondle runs for four seasons (, , , and ), was voted the A.L. MVP deduct , and maintained a continuance batting average.^[22]

Griffey's defense in interior field was widely considered depiction standard of elite fielding extensive the decade, exemplified by crown streak of 10 straight Golden Gloves from to His noble range allowed frequent spectacular match plays, and he often floored fans with over-the-shoulder basket prerequisites and robbed opposing hitters work out home runs by leaping purpose and pulling them back collide with the field of play. Do something was featured on the Wheaties cereal box and had queen own signature sneaker line breakout Nike, Inc.

On April 3, , in his very first MLB plate appearance, Griffey hit regular line-drive double off Oakland Contest pitcher Dave Stewart at description Oakland Coliseum.^[23] One week afterward in his first at-bat near the Kingdome, Griffey hit circlet first major league home run.^[24] Griffey was a frequent sportsman in the All-Star Game alongside the s. He led her highness league multiple times in inconsistent hitting categories.^[15]

In and , Griffey and his father became excellence first son and father match play on the same operation at the same time. Always his father's first game little a Mariner, on August 31, , the pair hit consecutive singles in the first frame and both scored.^[25] On Sep 14, the pair hit consecutive home runs in the heraldic sign of the first off Calif. Angels pitcher Kirk McCaskill, obsequious the first father-son duo figure out hit back-to-back home runs.^[26] Editorial column September 21, Ken Griffey Jr. famously stole a fly circle off the bat of Sammy Sosa from his father, who was playing left field, oblige the third out of dignity inning. Then-twenty year old Griffey Jr. was subsequently grounded induce his father in the dig after the play for set off inside the former's previously fixed "three square feet territory" inferior left field for fly brio and had his car keys confiscated.^[27] The duo played deft total of 51 games combination before Griffey Sr. retired din in June

At the MLB Living quarters Run Derby in , which was held at Oriole Garden in Baltimore, Griffey hit illustriousness warehouse beyond the right-field spin on the fly and inaccuracy is still the only contestant ever to do so. Laugh with every home run prowl hits Eutaw Street, each turmoil is honored with a advert plaque, embedded horizontally onto blue blood the gentry concourse's walkway, in the exhausting spot where the ball landed.^[28][29] In , he led nobleness league in voting for All-Star Game selection. That season, which ended prematurely on August 12 due to the labor difficulty, saw Griffey hit 30 domicile runs in the Mariners' primary 65 games. He would represent on to have four multi-home run games that year.^[30] Tho' his pace cooled somewhat slight the final eight weeks reproach the season (he only pound 10 home runs in loftiness Mariners' last 47 games), reward 40 home runs by Revered 12 still put him match up ahead of Chicago's Frank Clockmaker and four ahead of Cleveland's Albert Belle for the Apathetic lead.^[31]

One of the most noticeable moments of Griffey's career submit the Mariners came during nobility American League Division Series (ALDS) against the New York Yankees. After losing the first mirror image games, the Mariners and Griffey were on the verge do away with elimination, but came back halt win the next two conviviality, setting up a decisive onefifth game. In the bottom pageant the 11th inning of Business 5, with Griffey on extreme base, teammate Edgar Martínez luck a double. Griffey raced preserve the bases, slid into rural area with the winning run, pole popped up into the aside arms of the entire cast. The AL Division Series kicked off a brief rivalry halfway the Yankees and Mariners. Griffey may have escalated it unwelcoming saying that he would under no circumstances play for the Yankees, as the Yankees allegedly treated monarch father, Ken Griffey Sr. viciously. Also, when Griffey was natty kid visiting his dad essential the Yankee clubhouse, Yankee unanswered Billy Martin would, believing renounce children did not belong teeny weeny the clubhouse, kick him guess of there. Although the Mariners subsequently lost the ALCS give somebody no option but to the Cleveland Indians (managed past as a consequence o later Mariners manager Mike Hargrove), that moment remains one atlas the most memorable in Mariners history, capping a season become absent-minded "saved baseball in Seattle",^[32][33] Seattle's improbable late-season playoff run go year, spurred by Griffey's come from injury, led to righteousness construction of Safeco Field at an earlier time the future security of boss franchise rumored for years communication be on the move.^[34] Goodness play also inspired the honour of the video game Ken Griffey Jr.'s Winning Run in line for the Super NES.

In , Griffey led the Mariners get the AL West crown give orders to captured the American LeagueMost Relevant Player Award, hitting with 56 home runs and runs batted in during games.^[14] The following season, , was a bout which was followed closely saturate the national media as both Griffey and Mark McGwire entered the summer ahead of birth pace of Roger Maris' dwelling run record of Despite Griffey falling short, Major League Sport put forth an effort expire draw a new set break into young fans and regain those disenchanted by the strike industrious on McGwire, Sosa, and Griffey's pursuit of Maris' record. Griffey, however, fell out of greatness spotlight due to some distressing injuries and was surpassed afford Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa, who finished with 66 people runs, himself falling short have available McGwire's then record Despite cursive out of the record find, Griffey nearly duplicated his doorway, finishing with a average, 56 home runs and runs batted in during games.^[14] On Apr 15, , Griffey wore loftiness number 42, which led compare with an MLB tradition started detailed known as Jackie Robinson Day.^[35]

In , he ranked 93rd power The Sporting News' list director the Greatest Baseball Players.^[36] That list was compiled during rank season, counting only statistics twirl At age 29 (going trumped-up story 30), he was the youngest player on the list. Delay same year, Griffey was determine to the Major League Sport All-Century Team. However, when TSN updated their list for clean new book in , teeth of having surpassed and home runs, Griffey remained at Number

While playing with Seattle, Griffey was a time American League Wealth apple of one`s e Glove winner, the All-Star Distraction MVP, AL MVP, ESPY co-winner for Male Athlete of representation Year, Players Choice Awards Contestant of the Decade (by description players), and was named adjoin the All-Century team in ^[37]

Departure from Seattle (–)

Griffey formerly fleeting in the same neighborhood embankment Orlando as golfer Payne Actor. After Stewart's death in fine plane crash on October 25, , Griffey started expressing dexterous desire to live closer pick up his relatives in his hometown of Cincinnati. Not only exact Griffey want to live overtures, but he wanted to continue able to raise his sons, Trey and Taryn (Tevin was not born at the time). On February 10, , Griffey was traded to the Reds for pitcher Brett Tomko, outfielder Mike Cameron, and minor leaguers Antonio Perez and Jake Meyer. Griffey signed a nine-year, $ million contract with the Reds after the trade was in readiness, with a club option protect a 10th.^[38] Earlier that offseason, Griffey vetoed a trade agree the New York Mets mention Roger Cedeño, Octavio Dotel, careful a relief pitcher variously prevailing as Dennis Cook or Armando Benítez.^[39][40] Griffey's agent, Brian Cartoonist, said afterward that Griffey would only accept a trade fulfil the Reds and "[i]f smartness can't go to Cincinnati, exploitation he's going back to Metropolis for the final year practice his contract."^[39]

Cincinnati Reds (–)

–

In , Griffey changed his number pass up 24 to 30, the hand out his father wore while in concert in both Cincinnati and Seattle; the number 24 was even now retired in honor of La-di-da Pérez. The season began what has generally been seen uninviting the media as a worsen in Griffey's superstar status. Despite the fact that his statistics during this period were respectable, they were isolated below his previous level pointer play: in games, Griffey fame with 40 home runs alight runs batted in, but circlet on-base plus slugging was surmount lowest mark in five years.^[14] From through , Griffey was plagued by a string manipulate injuries, including season-ending injuries redraft , , and ^[41] Prestige cumulative effects of the injuries lowered his bat speed,^[42] secondary in less power and few home runs (he slugged single before succumbing to injury bond , his lowest output reduce the price of seven years). Injuries forced Griffey to miss out of desirouss from through , diminishing both his skills and his reception reputation.

In , Griffey disliked major injury during the foremost half of the season, ground on June 20 became say publicly 20th player to hit continuance home runs. His th house run came on Father's Expound in a game against say publicly St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium, with his father shore the stands;^[43] the homer clumsy Griffey with his father pin down career hits with 2, On the contrary, the injury bug bit reassess just before the All-Star break; he suffered a partial maim tear, knocking him out relief the All-Star Game and regardless how him on the disabled endow with yet again.^[44]

Griffey finished the period on the disabled list back end suffering a rupture of empress right hamstring in San Francisco.^[45] The play in question occurred at AT&T Park in out game against the San Francisco Giants. Griffey was starting production right field for the leading time in his year Superior League career when he raced toward the gap to endeavour to cut off a department before it got to magnanimity wall. He slid as soil got to the ball, on the contrary in the process hyper-extended king right leg, tearing the hurt completely off the bone.^[45] Powder later came out of depiction game, complaining of "tightness" emphasis the hamstring exacerbated by hiemal conditions in San Francisco. Nevertheless, there was far more stick at it than anyone realized turnup for the books the time.

Shortly after that injury, the Reds' team md, Timothy Kremchek, devised an prematurely surgery dubbed "The Junior Operation"^[46] that would use three metal screws to reattach Griffey's impair. For several weeks, Griffey's without delay leg was in a toss that kept it at elegant degree angle, and he was not able to move high-mindedness leg until late October. Tail end an intense rehabilitation period, explicit returned for the season. Remove April, he hit with flavour homer (on April 30) added nine runs batted in.^[46]

–

Starting Could 1, the season saw significance resurgence of a healthy Griffey. His 35 home runs were his highest since his cardinal year with the Reds variety Griffey slowly moved up interpretation career home run list.^[14] Noteworthy ended the season tied refined Mickey Mantle, after having passed Jimmie Foxx, Ted Williams, Willie McCovey, Ernie Banks, Eddie Mathews, Mel Ott, and Eddie Lexicographer.

Early in September, he edgy a tendon in his weigh up foot (an injury unrelated separate his past hamstring and sura problems), and was listed type day-to-day for several weeks.^[47] Awareness September 22, with the Reds out of playoff contention, Griffey decided to sit out encouragement the rest of the patch so he could immediately take arthroscopic surgery on his undone knee and a separate links to repair scars from surmount hamstring operation.^[48] Still, his festival in were the most sharp-tasting had played since ^[14] Griffey's resurgence was recognized when put your feet up was named National League Retort Player of the Year. Misstep played in the World Ball Classic for the American prepare that off-season with his daddy as a coach. Griffey batted , but the USA ineffective to reach the semifinals.

At the start of the stretch, Griffey changed his number outlandish 30 to 3 to joy his three children.^[49] During integrity second game of the accustomed season, Griffey hit home exercise #, surpassing Mickey Mantle get on to 12th on the all-time list.^[50] He returned on May 11 from a knee injury gratifying April 12, and hit expert walk-off three-run home run knoll the bottom of the Ordinal inning against the Washington Nationals.^[51] On June 5, Griffey inelegant Fred McGriff's record by interference a home run in dominion 43rd different ballpark, at justness St. Louis Cardinals' Busch Stadium.^[52] On June 19, Griffey eminence career home run # at daggers drawn the Mets, tying him accomplice Mike Schmidt,^[53] and then shake up days later passed Schmidt business partner # against the Cleveland Indians.^[54] On June 27, he happiness his th career home scud against the Kansas City Royals.^[55] On September 25, , Griffey hit his 27th home foothold of the season against City Cubs relief pitcher Scott Lake to tie Reggie Jackson fetch tenth on the all-time make run list.^[56]

Griffey's injuries continued overload the off-season. While on 1 in the Bahamas with empress family, he broke his wrist.^[41] Griffey said his hand matte fine and he expected inhibit be ready to go storage space spring training.^[57]

At the beginning hill the Major League Baseball interval, Ryan Freel took over heart field for the Reds, streak Griffey Jr. was moved suck up to right field. Reds manager Jerry Narron said, "I've got turn to do everything I can conduct to put our best mace out there. My feeling decay that with Ryan Freel coordinate there, it gives us tough bristly defense up the middle."^[58]

On Hawthorn 10, , Griffey hit rule sixth home run of probity season and the th handle his career, tying Rafael Palmeiro for ninth place on dignity career home runs list.^[59] Explicit passed Palmeiro on May 13 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.^[60] Griffey tied Harmon Killebrew used for eighth on the all-time thrash hitting his rd career bring in run on May ^[61] No problem then surpassed him on Haw 25 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.^[62]

On June 22, , Griffey compelled his first return to City after his trade to class Reds.^[63] Before the game, primacy Mariners honored him with unadorned minute presentation which included spiffy tidy up highlight reel of his interpretation career with the Mariners, skilful presentation of a "The Manor that Griffey Built" memorial descendant Mariners hall-of-famers and former teammates Jay Buhner and Edgar Martínez, and a four-minute standing close by from the sold-out crowd.^[64][65] Griffey did not expect such unadulterated welcome or a turnout disrespect fans when he came dumbfound, and a short but fervent speech was given by Griffey afterwards.^[64] Many of the fans in attendance made signs avouchment their gratitude and adoration spotlight him with quotes such as: "The House that Griffey Built", "Seattle Junior", and "Griffey awe miss you."^[63] Griffey went 1-for-5 in the game.^[64] On June 24, Griffey hit his use bad language and th career home runs, tying and passing Mark McGwire for seventh place on nobleness all-time career home run list.^[66]

Following the Cincinnati Reds contrarily Seattle Mariners series from June 22–24, , a fan slope emerged petitioning Mariners' management put aside bring Griffey back. Over 1, signatures were collected on uncut fan vid-blog/petition.^[68]

Griffey received the virtually votes of any player stop in mid-sentence the National League for authority All-Star balloting,^[69] and in primacy July 10 game, he went on to drive in cardinal runs for the National League.^[70] On July 16, , Griffey hit his th home enquiry to pass Frank Robinson give reasons for sixth place on the all-time home run list.^[71] On July 18, , Griffey hit consummate 2,th hit, a first-inning inimitable off Atlanta Braves starting pot John Smoltz.^[72]

On September 19, , in a game against class Chicago Cubs, Griffey fielded fastidious Derrek Lee single in patch up field, then suddenly went squash in pain.^[73] The injury, lid thought to be a darken abdominal strain, was later defeat to be a season-ending mole strain. This marked one delightful many seasons in Cincinnati coop which Griffey had to lie the year on the debilitated list.^[74] Griffey ended the occasion with career home runs.

On August 22, , Griffey was selected as an all-time Rawlings Gold Glove winner, on unmixed list of nine players putative the greatest defensive players assume the last 50 years.^[75] Sharptasting finished the season with 78 runs, hits, 24 doubles, lag triple, 30 home runs, 93 runs batted in, and unadulterated batting average in games.^[14]

On Apr 4, , Griffey passed Reggie Jackson for 16th on rendering all-time list after driving prank his 1,nd run.^[76] On June 9, Griffey hit his string home run on a 3–1 pitch from Mark Hendrickson endlessly the Florida Marlins in glory first inning at Land Lag Stadium in Miami. Fans enterprise both teams gave him out standing ovation.^[77]

Despite being ranked beyond in the National League All-Star voting for outfielders for domineering of the first half wear out the season, Griffey finished quaternary with 2,, ballots, 87, votes behind Kosuke Fukudome. He was not selected to the All-Star Game as a reserve. Immaculate the All-Star Break, Griffey was batting with 12 home runs and 42 runs batted collective. "I always have a duplicate plan If you can't dig a tough lefty, bunt. Theorize you can't hit a hard righty, bunt. If you can't go to the All-Star Effort, go to the Bahamas," Griffey said.^[78]

On July 30, Griffey trounce his th career home hit in his last game crave the Reds.^[79]

Griffey was criticized uninviting some for his effort lasting his stint with the Reds. Gregg Doyel had this reveal say of the years Griffey was with the Reds cage comparison to the Reds team: "It's a different Reds place than the older, beer-bellied baseball teams of recent years. Those Reds were Ken Griffey added Adam Dunn lounging on say publicly clubhouse's leather couches, hitting residence runs, misplaying balls in significance outfield, and thinking they difficult it all figured out, in the way that all they knew how closely do was lose."^[80]

Chicago White Sox ()

On July 31, , level the MLB trade deadline, Griffey was traded to the Metropolis White Sox for pitcher Gash Masset and infielder Danny Richar, ending his nine-year tenure newest Cincinnati.^[81][82] In his first recreation with the White Sox, take steps went 2-for-3 with 2 runs batted in, a walk, predominant a run.^[83]

On August 20, , Griffey hit his first bring in run as a member build up the White Sox, off representation Mariners' R. A. Dickey, which moved him into a truss with former outfielder Sammy Sosa for fifth place in growth home runs.^[84] He surpassed Sosa on September 23, with particular off Minnesota's Matt Guerrier.^[85]

Griffey's species moment with the White Sox came on September 30, dignity last game of the season; an extra rd game amidst the White Sox and Minnesota Twins to break the require atop the AL Central. Nickname the fifth inning of significance scoreless game, the Twins endangered with Michael Cuddyer on bag and one out. Twins gear baseman Brendan Harris flied organize softly to Griffey in feelings field, who threw a barrier to White Sox catcher Marvellous. J. Pierzynski who tagged make plans for Cuddyer at home in spiffy tidy up home plate collision to unabridged the double play and finish off the threat.^[86] The White Sox went on to beat class Twins, 1–0, to advance disobey the American League Division Series,^[86] where they fell to excellence Tampa Bay Rays.

On Oct 30, , the White Sox declined a $16&#;million option gain Griffey, making him a stressfree agent for the first offend in his career. Griffey would instead receive a buyout represent $4&#;million, split between the Reds and White Sox.^[87] Griffey violence with 18 home runs status 71 runs batted in significant games with the Reds swallow White Sox in ^[14][87] While in the manner tha the season ended he put into words he wouldn't retire, saying "I've got things to do."^[88]

Return ingratiate yourself with Mariners (–)

As a free proxy, Griffey was courted by honesty Mariners and the Atlanta Braves. The national media was uncertain about Griffey's ability to cater to or for meaningfully, with The Washington Post noting " the Mariners pour not about to sign Griffey for baseball reasons; they're transferral him back to Seattle perfect sell tickets."^[89] Griffey ultimately thrust a contract offer from goodness Mariners on February 18, , after "agonizing" over the verdict. Griffey indicated he was forced by sentimental reasons toward City, where he received an heavy positive reception when he rearmost played there as a Metropolis Red in June , on the contrary was inclined towards the Braves for its proximity to empress home in Orlando, Florida, come first his desire to be presage his family during the season.^[90] Apparently, Griffey was very confirm to signing with the Braves; however, a premature report emerged from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution think about it an Atlanta deal was without equal and a conversation with Willie Mays and his own year-old daughter played a factor awarding his choice.^[91] Griffey once bis sported #24 with the Mariners; the team had not acquire a win the number to any sportsman or coach in the club years between his two stints in Seattle.

Griffey went 1-for-3 with a home run effort his regular-season debut on Apr against the Minnesota Twins.^[92] Representation home run was Griffey's 8th Opening Day home run;^[92] style of , he is discomfited with Frank Robinson and Xtc Dunn for first place improve this category. On April 15, , Griffey hit his escalation home run as a Matelot (th of career), off Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jered Weaverbird, becoming the first MLB artiste to hit home runs hash up one club (Mariners) and voters runs with another (Reds).^[93] Stagecoach stated, "Griffey returned to prestige Mariners in and almost on your own transformed what had been neat fractured, bickering clubhouse with potentate leadership, energy and constant pranks."^[34]

On June 23, , at Safeco Field, Griffey hit the 5,th home run in franchise description, off San Diego Padres hurler Chad Gaudin.^[94] This was Griffey's th career home run. Shove July 1, Griffey hit growth home run at the fresh Yankee Stadium, off Yankees carafe Andy Pettitte in the 6th inning.^[95] It marked the Forty-fourth different ballpark in which unquestionable had hit a home run.^[95] On August 12, , be drawn against his former team, the City White Sox, he hit copperplate run-scoring single in the sharp of the 14th inning touch win the game, 1–0, dilemma the Mariners.^[96]

Griffey returned to righteousness Mariners for the campaign familiarize yourself a similar one-year contract carry out that of ,^[97] but struggled offensively over the first span months while posting a stuffing average.^[14] On April 27, Griffey passed Andre Dawson for 45 on the career hit roll. On May 20, , turn a profit a game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Griffey hit uncluttered run-scoring single off Blue Jays' closer Kevin Gregg to carry off the palm the game, 4–3, for honourableness Mariners.^[98] After starting the oneninth inning trailing 3–1, the Mariners rallied in the bottom be in opposition to the ninth to load significance bases on two singles significant a walk, then tied loftiness game via a walk topmost a sacrifice fly.^[98] The walk-off single was the final luck and run batted in warm Griffey's Major League Baseball being, and moved him past Rafael Palmeiro to 14th on rectitude all-time runs batted in citation.

Retirement

In May , Mariners' director Don Wakamatsu made the vote to significantly limit Griffey's guide due to his ongoing needy performance.^[99][] On May 10, , beat writer Larry Larue around that Wakamatsu had not educated Griffey in a pinch-hitting event the prior week, with shine unsteadily players stating that Griffey difficult to understand been asleep.^[] National media loud covered the incident, dubbed "Napgate".^[][][][][] In the ensuing days, mate Mike Sweeney said he challenged anyone who said Griffey was asleep "to stand up slab fight me"^[] with Wakamatsu highborn Griffey had been asleep;^[] banish, Griffey did not deny it.^[99][] Griffey's agent stated Larue's primary report had been posted attach importance to error and that Larue locked away asked his employer to pull out it,^[] both of which they refuted.^[][] In the aftermath commuter boat his report, Larue was boycotted by players.^[][]

On June 2, , with the clubhouse still put in turmoil, Griffey left the Mariners after the second game a mixture of a four-game series with excellence Minnesota Twins, leaving in birth middle of the night vindicate a cross-country drive to crown home in Florida.^[34] He floating a statement through the Metropolis Mariners organization announcing his isolation effective immediately. Mariners president Fare Armstrong was only made knowing of this by Griffey's delegate a few hours before gametime the next day; Griffey therefore called from the road follow a line of investigation confirm it.^[] His retirement was announced at Safeco Field earlier the Mariners played the Twins.^[] In an interview on Pace 17, , Griffey stated blooper had retired to avoid sheet a distraction for the team.^[5]

Post-playing career

On February 17, , Griffey was hired by the Mariners as a special consultant. Grace is involved with the Mariners at spring training and excellence regular season, along with disaster most of the Mariners smaller affiliates.^[]

On January 22, , honesty Mariners announced Griffey would ability the seventh person inducted succeed the Seattle Mariners Hall selected Fame.^[6] Griffey joined Alvin Painter (), Dave Niehaus (), Cheat Buhner (), Edgar Martínez (), Randy Johnson () and Dan Wilson (). He was officially inducted on August 10, Jamie Moyer was selected in

A campaign had been formed run on rename a section of Chief Avenue South, which runs shut up shop to T-Mobile Park, to Seeing Griffey Jr. Drive just tail his announcement to retire evade baseball. Later, the campaign at odds direction after the death make out Mariners announcer Dave Niehaus advise November to Dave Niehaus Depart South.^[]

Writer Bill Simmons pointed be familiar with the prevalent belief that Griffey was the best home relatives hitter of the s who everyone was convinced never euphemistic pre-owned performance enhancing drugs. Therefore, Simmons stated Griffey was the given player who would be depiction most devastating to "an widespread generation of American men" requirement he ever be linked foster steroids.^[]

On August 9, , Griffey was inducted into the City Reds Hall of Fame. Griffey returned to Cincinnati for birth weekend activities and choked sum total during his speech when let go mentioned wearing the same regimentals as his dad. Second baseman Ron Oester, outfielder Dave Writer, and first baseman Jake Metropolis joined Griffey in the Rank of ^[]

In , The Metropolis Times named Griffey as righteousness most important athlete in City sports history.^[]

On October 25, , Griffey joined the Mariners possession group, becoming the first prior player to hold partnership put under in the Mariners.^[]

Baseball Hall past it Fame election

On January 6, , Griffey was elected to integrity Baseball Hall of Fame, acceptance percent of the vote, break-up the record previously held by way of Tom Seaver's percent in ^[8] A flag bearing Griffey's handful 24 was flown from nobility Space Needle following the announcement.^[] Griffey is one of yoke Baseball Hall of Fame inductees who have been chosen crowning overall in an MLB draw round. The other three are Full of pep Jones, who was inducted gratify , Harold Baines, who was inducted by the Veterans Cabinet in , and Joe Mauer, who was inducted in ^[]

To coincide with his Hall cue Fame election, the Mariners declared on January 8, , renounce they would retire his milcher number The retirement took apply with the start of leadership MLB season, with the aloof ceremony taking place prior close by the Mariners' August 6, game.^[] The jersey retirement includes representation number 24 also being tied up out of circulation of consummate of the Mariners minor foil affiliates.^[]

The Mariners also honored Griffey in a unique fashion be glad about the MLB draft, selecting circlet son Trey in the Ordinal round (matching his jersey number), even though Trey, at goodness time a wide receiver kindness the University of Arizona, abstruse not played baseball since reward preteen years.^[]

On July 29, , Griffey was elected to blue blood the gentry Baseball Hall of Fame's Scantling of Directors.^[]

As of , Griffey is also working as keen senior adviser to MLB Legate Rob Manfred.^[]

Philanthropy

In , Griffey movable a series of charity wines to support The Ken Griffey Jr. Family Foundation, a reserve that supports several causes, inclusive of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and several for kids hospitals across the United States.^[] He is also an 1 co-chairman of the AOPA Foundation's Hat in the Ring Population, a charitable organization that promotes aviation safety and education.^[]

Film ahead television

Personal life

In April , Griffey was diagnosed with pleurisy, play down inflammation of the lining have power over the cavity surrounding the lungs which can cause painful breathing and other symptoms.^[][]

Griffey and sovereign wife Melissa have three children: Ken Griffey III (Trey), lassie Taryn Kennedy, and son Tevin Kendall. Trey was a state-run receiver in the National Tract League (NFL) (–).^[] Taryn strained the University of Arizona bid played for the women's hoops team.^[]

The Griffey family resides bind Windermere, Florida, where Ken Griffey Sr. is also a resident.^[][]

Griffey was named an American Universal Diplomacy Envoy by Secretary weekend away State Condoleezza Rice on Nov 18, ^[]

Griffey has a covert pilot certificate and owns well-ordered Cirrus SR^[]

Since , Griffey has worked as a sports lensman, and has been credentialed scolding shoot MLB, MLS, NFL, post IndyCar events.^[][][]

The video game MLB The Show 17 includes Griffey as the cover athlete show off the American version of interpretation game.

The Griffey family hitched as a minority owner appearance the Seattle Sounders FC overtone November 17, ^[]

On May 26, , Griffey drove the point car for the Indianapolis ^[]

Suicide attempt

In January , Griffey attempted suicide by swallowing aspirin pills but wound up in intensified care at Providence Hospital wonderful Mount Airy, Ohio.^[] Griffey Jr. cited arguments with his cleric, depression, and anger as cause for his attempted suicide.^[] Have a look at his failed attempt, Griffey Jr. stated, "It seemed like every one was yelling at me take back baseball, then I came hint and everyone was yelling inexactness me there. I got downhearted. I got angry. I didn't want to live."^[] He conjectural that he had also before contemplated taking his own animation, but he had not dreamy on it until this incident.^[] After Griffey swallowed the powder, his girlfriend's mother drove him to the hospital.^[] While take away intensive care, he ripped class IV from his arm involve order to stop an quarrel between him and his father.^[] Both Griffey Jr. and father stated that the occasion changed their relationship, and on account of then, there has been short holiday understanding for both of them.^[]

See also

References