Ken griffy jr. biography

American baseball player (born 1969)

"Ken Griffey" redirects here. For his priest, also a former player and educator, see Ken Griffey Sr.

Baseball player

George Kenneth Griffey Jr. (born Nov 21, 1969), nicknamed "Junior" and "the Kid", is an American former white-collar baseballoutfielder who played 22 years prickly Major League Baseball (MLB). He tired most of his career with honourableness Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds, keep to with a short stint with probity Chicago White Sox. The first scenic pick in the 1987 draft take a 13-time All-Star, Griffey is horn of the most prolific home wait hitters in baseball history; his 630 home runs rank as the seventh-most in MLB history. Griffey was too an exceptional defender and won 10 Gold Glove Awards in center land. He is tied for the write down of most consecutive games with graceful home run (eight, with Don Mattingly and Dale Long).^[1]

Griffey signed lucrative deals with companies of international prominence mean Nike and Nintendo; his popularity mirror well upon MLB and is credited by some with helping restore betrayal image after the 1994 labor dispute.^[2][3] Griffey is one of only 31 players in baseball history to receive appeared in major league games bother four different calendar decades.^[4]

Following his show career, Griffey joined the Mariners' facade office as a special consultant.^[5] Operate was inducted into both the Mariners Hall of Fame^[6] and the Reds Hall of Fame.^[7] In 2016, Griffey was elected to the Baseball Entry of Fame in his first crop of eligibility, receiving 99.32% of magnanimity vote, breaking pitcher Tom Seaver's document of 98.84%,^[8] a record that challenging stood for 24 years.^[9]

Griffey is say publicly son of former MLB player Fire Griffey Sr. and the father be more or less former football player Trey Griffey.

Early life

Griffey was born in Donora, Penn, on November 21, 1969.^[10] His kinsfolk moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, as sovereignty father, Ken Griffey Sr., made her highness MLB debut on August 25, 1973 for the Reds.^[11] Ken Jr. was only three years old at greatness time. Ken Jr. was in class clubhouse during his father's back-to-back championships in the 1975 and 1976 Universe Series. When Griffey was a growing child, Ken Sr. instilled in him the pride of a team realization rather than the individual performance: "My dad would have bopped me identify the head when I was exceptional kid if I came home boasting about what I did on class field. He only wanted to skilled in what the team did."^[12] An proceeding during his father's tenure with glory New York Yankees, where Griffey Jr. was told to leave the ditch while sitting with his father, make your mind up a white player's son was lawful to practice on the field, would lead to Griffey Jr. refusing extremity contemplate signing with the Yankees meanwhile his career.^[13]

He attended Archbishop Moeller Excessive School^[14] in Cincinnati (the same lanky school as his future teammate Barry Larkin),^[15] where he was the U.S. high school baseball player of description year in 1987. Griffey hit .478 with 17 home runs in potentate two seasons of high school baseball.^[16] Griffey also played football as natty wide receiver and received scholarship offers to play college football for much programs as Oklahoma and Michigan.^[17]

Professional career

Draft and minor leagues

The Seattle Mariners select Griffey with the first overall choice of the 1987 Major League Ballgame draft, held on June 2, 1987. He received a signing bonus epitome $160,000 from the Mariners.^[18] On June 11, 1987, Griffey joined the Town Mariners of the Northwest League, boss Class A Short Seasonminor league. Settle down made his professional debut on June 16, 1987. During the 54-game term he hit .313 with 14 habitation runs, 40 runs batted in, cope with 13 steals.^[19]Baseball America magazine named him the league's number one major association prospect.^[20]

In 1988, Griffey joined the San Bernardino Spirit of the Class A-AdvancedCalifornia League. During his 58 games condemnation the Spirit, Griffey batted .338, mark down 11 home runs, drove in 42 runs, and stole 32 bases.^[19][21] Rejuvenate in the season, Griffey was promoted to the Vermont Mariners of probity Class AAEastern League. He played prestige final 17 games with the cudgel, hitting .279 with two home runs and 10 runs batted in.^[19]

Seattle Mariners (1989–1999)

In his first 11 seasons clip Seattle (1989–1999), Griffey established himself primate one of the most prolific put up with exciting players of the era, harrowing up 1,752 hits, 398 home runs, 1,152 runs batted in, and 167 stolen bases. He led the Inhabitant League in home runs for cardinal seasons (1994, 1997, 1998, and 1999), was voted the A.L. MVP pin down 1997, and maintained a .297 occupation batting average.^[22]

Griffey's defense in center arable was widely considered the standard suggest elite fielding during the decade, exemplified by his streak of 10 tense Gold Gloves from 1990 to 1999. His impressive range allowed frequent impressive diving plays, and he often nonplus fans with over-the-shoulder basket catches significant robbed opposing hitters of home runs by leaping up and pulling them back into the field of exert. He was featured on the Wheaties cereal box and had his fine signature sneaker line from Nike, Inc.

On April 3, 1989, in his complete first MLB plate appearance, Griffey harm a line-drive double off Oakland Sport pitcher Dave Stewart at the Port Coliseum.^[23] One week later in culminate first at-bat at the Kingdome, Griffey hit his first major league domicile run.^[24] Griffey was a frequent sportsman in the All-Star Game during dignity 1990s. He led his league bigeminal times in different hitting categories.^[15]

In 1990 and 1991, Griffey and his clergyman became the first son and clergyman to play on the same line-up at the same time. In potentate father's first game as a Hearty, on August 31, 1990, the twosome hit back-to-back singles in the regulate inning and both scored.^[25] On Sept 14, the pair hit back-to-back impress runs in the top of goodness first off California Angels pitcher Kirk McCaskill, becoming the first father-son couple to hit back-to-back home runs.^[26] Masterpiece September 21, Ken Griffey Jr. capitally stole a fly ball off magnanimity bat of Sammy Sosa from rulership father, who was playing left ballpoint, for the third out of nobility inning. Then-twenty year old Griffey Jr. was subsequently grounded by his holy man in the dugout after the game for going inside the former's at one time established "three square feet territory" back left field for fly balls current had his car keys confiscated.^[27] Influence duo played a total of 51 games together before Griffey Sr. stop working in June 1991.

At the MLB Home Run Derby in 1993, which was held at Oriole Park pustule Baltimore, Griffey hit the warehouse before the right-field wall on the take flight and he is still the single player ever to do so. Monkey with every home run that hits Eutaw Street, each feat is intimate with a circular plaque, embedded horizontally onto the concourse's walkway, in picture exact spot where the ball landed.^[28][29] In 1994, he led the alliance in voting for All-Star Game vote. That season, which ended prematurely magnetism August 12 due to the have dispute, saw Griffey hit 30 residence runs in the Mariners' first 65 games. He would go on have an adverse effect on have four multi-home run games stray year.^[30] Although his pace cooled slightly in the final eight weeks break into the season (he only hit 10 home runs in the Mariners' after everything else 47 games), his 40 home runs by August 12 still put him two ahead of Chicago's Frank Socialist and four ahead of Cleveland's Albert Belle for the AL lead.^[31]

One tactic the most memorable moments of Griffey's career with the Mariners came as the 1995 American League Division Keep fit (ALDS) against the New York Yankees. After losing the first two festival, the Mariners and Griffey were get hold of the verge of elimination, but came back to win the next yoke games, setting up a decisive ordinal game. In the bottom of honesty 11th inning of Game 5, jar Griffey on first base, teammate Edgar Martínez hit a double. Griffey raced around the bases, slid into constituent with the winning run, and popped up into the waiting arms have a phobia about the entire team. The 1995 Involuntary Division Series kicked off a little rivalry between the Yankees and Mariners. Griffey may have escalated it timorous saying that he would never guide for the Yankees, because the Yankees allegedly treated his father, Ken Griffey Sr. badly. Also, when Griffey was a kid visiting his dad hassle the Yankee clubhouse, Yankee manager Fellowship Martin would, believing that children upfront not belong in the clubhouse, humankind him out of there. Although class Mariners subsequently lost the ALCS softsoap the Cleveland Indians (managed by after Mariners manager Mike Hargrove), that halt briefly remains one of the most unforgettable in Mariners history, capping a edible that "saved baseball in Seattle",^[32][33] Seattle's improbable late-season playoff run that gathering, spurred by Griffey's return from wrong, led to the construction of Safeco Field and the future security match a franchise rumored for years in the neighborhood of be on the move.^[34] The part also inspired the title of grandeur video game Ken Griffey Jr.'s Prepossessing Run for the Super NES.

In 1997, Griffey led the Mariners traverse the AL West crown and captured the American LeagueMost Valuable Player Trophy haul, hitting .304 with 56 home runs and 147 runs batted in close to 157 games.^[14] The next season, 1998, was a season which was followed closely by the national media little both Griffey and Mark McGwire entered the summer ahead of the step of Roger Maris' home run classify of 61. Despite Griffey falling sever connections, Major League Baseball put forth evocation effort to draw a new go rotten of young fans and regain those disenchanted by the 1994 strike closely on McGwire, Sosa, and Griffey's benefit of Maris' record. Griffey, however, coating out of the spotlight due message some nagging injuries and was surpassed by Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa, who finished with 66 home runs, himself falling short of McGwire's for that reason record 70. Despite falling out medium the record chase, Griffey nearly enlarge his 1997 statistics, finishing with top-notch .284 average, 56 home runs countryside 146 runs batted in during 161 games.^[14] On April 15, 1997, Griffey wore the number 42, which defeat to an MLB tradition started tight spot 1999 known as Jackie Robinson Day.^[35]

In 1999, he ranked 93rd on The Sporting News' list of the Century Greatest Baseball Players.^[36] This list was compiled during the 1998 season, investigation only statistics through 1997. At particularized 29 (going on 30), he was the youngest player on the slope. That same year, Griffey was choice to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. However, when TSN updated their list for a new book on the run 2005, despite having surpassed 400 pole 500 home runs, Griffey remained inert Number 93.

While playing with Metropolis, Griffey was a 10-time American Coalition Gold Glove winner, the 1992 All-Star Game MVP, 1997 AL MVP, 1998 ESPY co-winner for Male Athlete manipulate the Year, 1999 Players Choice Awards Player of the Decade (by greatness players), and was named to loftiness All-Century team in 1999.^[37]

Departure from City (1999–2000)

Griffey formerly lived in the one and the same neighborhood in Orlando as golfer Payne Stewart. After Stewart's death in top-hole plane crash on October 25, 1999, Griffey started expressing a desire be selected for live closer to his relatives hamper his hometown of Cincinnati. Not single did Griffey want to live style, but he wanted to be undeserved to raise his kids, Trey crucial Taryn (Tevin was not born bear out the time). On February 10, 2000, Griffey was traded to the Reds for pitcher Brett Tomko, outfielder Microphone Cameron, and minor leaguers Antonio Perez and Jake Meyer. Griffey signed pure nine-year, $112.5 million contract with representation Reds after the trade was ready, with a club option for fine 10th.^[38] Earlier that offseason, Griffey vetoed a trade to the New Royalty Mets for Roger Cedeño, Octavio Dotel, and a relief pitcher variously report as Dennis Cook or Armando Benítez.^[39][40] Griffey's agent, Brian Goldberg, said later on that Griffey would only accept far-out trade to the Reds and "[i]f he can't go to Cincinnati, misuse he's going back to Seattle give reasons for the final year of his contract."^[39]

Cincinnati Reds (2000–2008)

2000–2004

In 2000, Griffey changed coronet number from 24 to 30, rendering number his father wore while gig in both Cincinnati and Seattle; excellence number 24 was already retired trauma honor of Tony Pérez. The 2000 season began what has generally back number seen by the media as uncluttered decline in Griffey's superstar status. Tho' his statistics during this season were respectable, they were far below potentate previous level of play: in Cxlv games, Griffey hit .271 with 40 home runs and 118 runs batted in, but his .942 on-base coupled with slugging was his lowest mark obligate five years.^[14] From 2001 through 2004, Griffey was plagued by a folder of injuries, including season-ending injuries hem in 2002, 2003, and 2004.^[41] The accumulative effects of the injuries lowered her highness bat speed,^[42] resulting in less motivation and fewer home runs (he slugged only .426 before succumbing to wrong in 2002, his lowest output pound seven years). Injuries forced Griffey envisage miss 260 out of 486 entertainment from 2002 through 2004, diminishing both his skills and his star well-brought-up.

In 2004, Griffey avoided major cut during the first half of significance season, and on June 20 became the 20th player to hit Cardinal career home runs. His 500th house run came on Father's Day creepycrawly a game against the St. Gladiator Cardinals at Busch Stadium, with crown father in the stands;^[43] the poet tied Griffey with his father bring to fruition career hits with 2,143. However, magnanimity injury bug bit again just earlier the All-Star break; he suffered a-okay partial hamstring tear, knocking him presuppose of the All-Star Game and in whatever way him on the disabled list all the more again.^[44]

Griffey finished the 2004 season halt the disabled list after suffering far-out rupture of his right hamstring pulsate San Francisco.^[45] The play in inquiry occurred at AT&T Park in dinky game against the San Francisco Giants. Griffey was starting in right attitude for the first time in rulership 16-year Major League career when stylishness raced toward the gap to backbreaking to cut off a ball earlier it got to the wall. Let go slid as he got to prestige ball, but in the process hyper-extended his right leg, tearing the injure completely off the bone.^[45] He afterward came out of the game, captious of "tightness" in the hamstring exacerbated by chilly conditions in San Francisco. However, there was far more curry favor it than anyone realized at rank time.

Shortly after this injury, interpretation Reds' team physician, Timothy Kremchek, devised an experimental surgery dubbed "The Callow Operation"^[46] that would use three ti screws to reattach Griffey's hamstring. Consign several weeks, Griffey's right leg was in a sling that kept give permission to at a 90-degree angle, and pacify was not able to move justness leg until late October. After double-cross intense rehabilitation period, he returned compel the 2005 season. In April, proceed hit .244 with one homer (on April 30) and nine runs batted in.^[46]

2005–2006

Starting May 1, the 2005 edible saw the resurgence of a health-giving Griffey. His 35 home runs were his highest since his first origin with the Reds as Griffey gradually moved up the career home relations list.^[14] He ended the season equal with Mickey Mantle, after having passed Jimmie Foxx, Ted Williams, Willie McCovey, Ernie Banks, Eddie Mathews, Mel Intoxicated, and Eddie Murray.

Early in Sep, he strained a tendon in consummate left foot (an injury unrelated crossreference his past hamstring and calf problems), and was listed as day-to-day make public several weeks.^[47] On September 22, truthful the Reds out of playoff force, Griffey decided to sit out possession the rest of the season like so he could immediately have arthroscopic therapy action towards on his left knee and elegant separate operation to repair scars escaping his 2004 hamstring operation.^[48] Still, coronate 128 games in 2005 were significance most he had played since 2000.^[14] Griffey's resurgence was recognized when prohibited was named National League Comeback Contender of the Year. He played love the World Baseball Classic for greatness American team that off-season with fulfil father as a coach. Griffey batted .524, but the USA failed have an adverse effect on reach the semifinals.

At the begin of the 2006 season, Griffey at variance his number from 30 to 3 to honor his three children.^[49] At hand the second game of the 2006 regular season, Griffey hit home handhold #537, surpassing Mickey Mantle for Ordinal on the all-time list.^[50] He mutual on May 11 from a articulation injury suffered April 12, and avoid a walk-off three-run home run shore the bottom of the 11th frame against the Washington Nationals.^[51] On June 5, Griffey tied Fred McGriff's draw up by hitting a home run encroach his 43rd different ballpark, at position St. Louis Cardinals' Busch Stadium.^[52] Confrontation June 19, Griffey hit career population run #548 against the Mets, scourging him with Mike Schmidt,^[53] and as a result six days later passed Schmidt adequate #549 against the Cleveland Indians.^[54] Seriousness June 27, he hit his 550th career home run against the River City Royals.^[55] On September 25, 2006, Griffey hit his 27th home call together of the season against Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Scott Eyre to rope Reggie Jackson for tenth on ethics all-time home run list.^[56]

Griffey's injuries spread in the 2006 off-season. While have fun holiday in the Bahamas with realm family, he broke his wrist.^[41] Griffey said his hand felt fine cope with he expected to be ready make use of go for 2007 spring training.^[57]

2007

At blue blood the gentry beginning of the 2007 Major Matching part Baseball season, Ryan Freel took keep under control center field for the Reds, direct Griffey Jr. was moved to modest field. Reds manager Jerry Narron vocal, "I've got to do everything Unrestrainable can do to put our complete club out there. My feeling practical that with Ryan Freel out involving, it gives us strong defense early payment the middle."^[58]

On May 10, 2007, Griffey hit his sixth home run give a rough idea the season and the 569th endlessly his career, tying Rafael Palmeiro be a symbol of ninth place on the career dwelling runs list.^[59] He passed Palmeiro border May 13 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.^[60] Griffey tied Harmon Killebrew kindle eighth on the all-time list touch his 573rd career home run inauguration May 22.^[61] He then surpassed him on May 25 against the Metropolis Pirates.^[62]

On June 22, 2007, Griffey troublefree his first return to Seattle astern his trade to the Reds.^[63] Beforehand the game, the Mariners honored him with a 15-minute presentation which focus a highlight reel of his appearance career with the Mariners, a form of a "The House that Griffey Built" memorial by Mariners hall-of-famers gift former teammates Jay Buhner and Edgar Martínez, and a four-minute standing present to from the sold-out crowd.^[64][65] Griffey plain-spoken not expect such a welcome travesty a turnout by fans when proscribed came back, and a short on the contrary emotional speech was given by Griffey afterwards.^[64] Many of the fans household attendance made signs professing their thankfulness and adoration toward him with quotes such as: "The House that Griffey Built", "Seattle Junior", and "Griffey incredulity miss you."^[63] Griffey went 1-for-5 restrict the game.^[64] On June 24, Griffey hit his 583rd and 584th life's work home runs, tying and passing Leading McGwire for seventh place on nobleness all-time career home run list.^[66]

Following ethics Cincinnati Reds versus Seattle Mariners array from June 22–24, 2007, a adherent movement emerged petitioning Mariners' management halt bring Griffey back. Over 1,900 signatures were collected on a fan vid-blog/petition.^[68]

Griffey received the most votes of popular player in the National League engage in the 2007 All-Star balloting,^[69] and birdcage the July 10 game, he went on to drive in two runs for the National League.^[70] On July 16, 2007, Griffey hit his 587th home run to pass Frank Actor for sixth place on the all-time home run list.^[71] On July 18, 2007, Griffey hit his 2,500th prosperity, a first-inning single off Atlanta Braves starting pitcher John Smoltz.^[72]

On September 19, 2007, in a game against illustriousness Chicago Cubs, Griffey fielded a Derrek Lee single in right field, afterward suddenly went down in pain.^[73] Ethics injury, first thought to be fine lower abdominal strain, was later agape to be a season-ending groin prevent. This marked one of many seasons in Cincinnati in which Griffey esoteric to end the year on honourableness disabled list.^[74] Griffey ended the 2007 season with 593 career home runs.

On August 22, 2007, Griffey was selected as an all-time Rawlings Cash Glove winner, on a list condemn nine players considered the greatest covering players in the last 50 years.^[75] He finished the season with 78 runs, 146 hits, 24 doubles, only triple, 30 home runs, 93 runs batted in, and a .277 stuffing average in 144 games.^[14]

2008

On April 4, 2008, Griffey passed Reggie Jackson make a choice 16th on the all-time list funding driving in his 1,702nd run.^[76] Stay June 9, Griffey hit his 600th home run on a 3–1 fall headlong from Mark Hendrickson of the Florida Marlins in the first inning hatred Land Shark Stadium in Miami. Fans of both teams gave him regular standing ovation.^[77]

Despite being ranked second update the National League All-Star voting avoidable outfielders for most of the foremost half of the season, Griffey complete fourth with 2,907,746 ballots, 87,000 votes behind Kosuke Fukudome. He was fret selected to the All-Star Game in the same way a reserve. At the All-Star Current, Griffey was batting .239 with 12 home runs and 42 runs batted in. "I always have a championship plan... If you can't hit spick tough lefty, bunt. If you can't hit a tough righty, bunt. Granting you can't go to the All-Star Game, go to the Bahamas," Griffey said.^[78]

On July 30, Griffey hit tiara 608th career home run in empress last game for the Reds.^[79]

Griffey was criticized by some for his labour during his stint with the Reds. Gregg Doyel had this to self-control of the years Griffey was criticize the Reds in comparison to picture 2010 Reds team: "It's a diverse Reds team than the older, ungraceful softball teams of recent years. Those Reds were Ken Griffey and Xtc Dunn lounging on the clubhouse's keep secret couches, hitting home runs, misplaying activity in the outfield, and thinking they had it all figured out, like that which all they knew how to shindig was lose."^[80]

Chicago White Sox (2008)

On July 31, 2008, at the MLB employment deadline, Griffey was traded to illustriousness Chicago White Sox for pitcher Graze Masset and infielder Danny Richar, consummation his nine-year tenure in Cincinnati.^[81][82] Do his first game with the Chalky Sox, he went 2-for-3 with 2 runs batted in, a walk, come to rest a run.^[83]

On August 20, 2008, Griffey hit his first home run pass for a member of the White Sox, off the Mariners' R. A. Shaky, which moved him into a bind with former outfielder Sammy Sosa care fifth place in career home runs.^[84] He surpassed Sosa on September 23, with one off Minnesota's Matt Guerrier.^[85]

Griffey's signature moment with the White Sox came on September 30, the grasp game of the 2008 season; necessitate extra 163rd game between the Snow-white Sox and Minnesota Twins to surpass the tie atop the AL Chief. In the fifth inning of class scoreless game, the Twins threatened portend Michael Cuddyer on third and sole out. Twins third baseman Brendan Diplomat flied out softly to Griffey encompass center field, who threw a take industrial action to White Sox catcher A. Record. Pierzynski who tagged out Cuddyer dilemma home in a home plate fasten to complete the double play alight end the threat.^[86] The White Sox went on to beat the Combination, 1–0, to advance to the 2008 American League Division Series,^[86] where they fell to the Tampa Bay Emission.

On October 30, 2008, the Wan Sox declined a $16 million option book Griffey, making him a free intermediary for the first time in career. Griffey would instead receive great buyout for $4 million, split between leadership Reds and White Sox.^[87] Griffey bump .249 with 18 home runs abide 71 runs batted in during 143 games with the Reds and Pale Sox in 2008.^[14][87] When the 2008 season ended he said he wouldn't retire, saying "I've got things strip do."^[88]

Return to Mariners (2009–2010)

As a unfettered agent, Griffey was courted by rendering Mariners and the Atlanta Braves. Primacy national media was dubious about Griffey's ability to contribute meaningfully, with The Washington Post noting "... the Mariners are not about to sign Griffey for baseball reasons; they're bringing him back to Seattle to sell tickets."^[89] Griffey ultimately accepted a contract in the making from the Mariners on February 18, 2009, after "agonizing" over the resolving. Griffey indicated he was motivated outdo sentimental reasons toward Seattle, where yes received an overwhelmingly positive reception in the way that he last played there as dialect trig Cincinnati Red in June 2007, on the contrary was inclined towards the Braves mix its proximity to his home shoulder Orlando, Florida, and his desire hitch be with his family during primacy season.^[90] Apparently, Griffey was very punch to signing with the Braves; quieten, a premature report emerged from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that an Atlanta conformity was done and a conversation hash up Willie Mays and his own 13-year-old daughter played a factor in dominion choice.^[91] Griffey once again sported #24 with the Mariners; the team confidential not issued the number to unrefined player or coach in the niner years between his two stints hostage Seattle.

Griffey went 1-for-3 with trig home run in his regular-season premiere on April against the Minnesota Twins.^[92] The home run was Griffey's one-eighth Opening Day home run;^[92] as win 2013, he is tied with Undressed Robinson and Adam Dunn for extreme place in this category. On Apr 15, 2009, Griffey hit his Cd home run as a Mariner (613th of career), off Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jered Weaver, becoming the pass with flying colours MLB player to hit 400 abode runs with one club (Mariners) be proof against 200 home runs with another (Reds).^[93] AP stated, "Griffey returned to prestige Mariners in 2009 and almost alone transformed what had been a separated, bickering clubhouse with his leadership, enthusiasm and constant pranks."^[34]

On June 23, 2009, at Safeco Field, Griffey hit significance 5,000th home run in franchise record, off San Diego Padres pitcher Chadic Gaudin.^[94] This was Griffey's 619th life's work home run. On July 1, Griffey hit career home run 621 press-gang the new Yankee Stadium, off Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte in the ordinal inning.^[95] It marked the 44th unlike ballpark in which he had whack a home run.^[95] On August 12, 2009, against his former team, high-mindedness Chicago White Sox, he hit elegant run-scoring single in the bottom be worthwhile for the 14th inning to win primacy game, 1–0, for the Mariners.^[96]

Griffey shared to the Mariners for the 2010 campaign with a similar one-year ordain to that of 2009,^[97] but struggled offensively over the first two months while posting a .184 batting average.^[14] On April 27, Griffey passed Andre Dawson for 45th on the life's work hit list. On May 20, 2010, in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Griffey hit a run-scoring single off Blue Jays' closer Kevin Gregg to win the game, 4–3, for the Mariners.^[98] After starting depiction ninth inning trailing 3–1, the Mariners rallied in the bottom of nobleness ninth to load the bases publicize two singles and a walk, exploitation tied the game via a march and a sacrifice fly.^[98] The walk-off single was the final hit gift run batted in of Griffey's Chief League Baseball career, and moved him past Rafael Palmeiro to 14th carry out the all-time runs batted in listing.

Retirement

In May 2010, Mariners' manager Exoneration Wakamatsu made the decision to radically limit Griffey's play due to surmount ongoing poor performance.^[99][100] On May 10, 2010, beat writer Larry Larue around that Wakamatsu had not used Griffey in a pinch-hitting situation the one-time week, with two players stating depart Griffey had been asleep.^[101] National publicity quickly covered the incident, dubbed "Napgate".^{[100][102][103][104][105]} In the ensuing days, teammate Microphone Sweeney said he challenged anyone who said Griffey was asleep "to propound up and fight me"^[106] with Wakamatsu denying Griffey had been asleep;^[104] but, Griffey did not deny it.^[99][107] Griffey's agent stated Larue's initial report esoteric been posted in error and cruise Larue had asked his employer trigger remove it,^[108] both of which they refuted.^[109][110] In the aftermath of climax report, Larue was boycotted by players.^[104][111]

On June 2, 2010, with the cosh still in turmoil, Griffey left primacy Mariners after the second game forget about a four-game series with the Minnesota Twins, leaving in the middle director the night for a cross-country grouping to his home in Florida.^[34] Crystal-clear released a statement through the City Mariners organization announcing his retirement productive immediately. Mariners president Chuck Armstrong was only made aware of this via Griffey's agent a few hours formerly gametime the next day; Griffey fuel called from the road to try out it.^[112] His retirement was announced outside layer Safeco Field before the Mariners la-di-da orlah-di-dah the Twins.^[113] In an interview wait March 17, 2011, Griffey stated unquestionable had retired to avoid being unornamented distraction for the team.^[5]

Post-playing career

On Feb 17, 2011, Griffey was hired hard the Mariners as a special hotshot. He is involved with the Mariners at spring training and the universal season, along with visiting most senior the Mariners minor-league affiliates.^[114]

On January 22, 2013, the Mariners announced Griffey would be the seventh person inducted jerk the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame.^[6] Griffey joined Alvin Davis (1997), Dave Niehaus (2000), Jay Buhner (2004), Edgar Martínez (2007), Randy Johnson (2012) final Dan Wilson (2012). He was officially inducted on August 10, 2013. Jamie Moyer was selected in 2015.

A campaign had been formed to family name a section of First Avenue Southward, which runs adjacent to T-Mobile Fall-back, to Ken Griffey Jr. Drive impartial after his announcement to retire exaggerate baseball. Later, the campaign changed focus after the death of Mariners correspondent Dave Niehaus in November 2010 cause to feel Dave Niehaus Way South.^[115]

Writer Bill Simmons pointed out the prevalent belief wander Griffey was the best home scamper hitter of the 1990s who world was convinced never used performance effective drugs. Therefore, Simmons stated Griffey was the one player who would produce the most devastating to "an abundant generation of American men" should dirt ever be linked to steroids.^[116]

On Honoured 9, 2014, Griffey was inducted put away the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Make ashamed. Griffey returned to Cincinnati for magnanimity weekend activities and choked up significant his speech when he mentioned wearying the same uniform as his father. Second baseman Ron Oester, outfielder Dave Parker, and first baseman Jake Metropolis joined Griffey in the Class have a phobia about 2014.^[117]

In 2018, The Seattle Times denominated Griffey as the most important contestant in Seattle sports history.^[118]

On October 25, 2021, Griffey joined the Mariners manage group, becoming the first former artiste to hold partnership interest in nobility Mariners.^[119]

Baseball Hall of Fame election

On Jan 6, 2016, Griffey was elected tell somebody to the Baseball Hall of Fame, greeting 99.32 percent of the vote, distressing the record previously held by Negro Seaver's 98.84 percent in 1992.^[8] Spruce up flag bearing Griffey's number 24 was flown from the Space Needle next the announcement.^[120] Griffey is one sketch out four Baseball Hall of Fame inductees who have been chosen first allinclusive in an MLB draft. The block out three are Chipper Jones, who was inducted in 2018, Harold Baines, who was inducted by the Veterans Conclave in 2019, and Joe Mauer, who was inducted in 2024.^[121]

To coincide critical remark his Hall of Fame election, character Mariners announced on January 8, 2016, that they would retire his woolly number 24. The retirement took conclusion with the start of the 2016 MLB season, with the formal service taking place prior to the Mariners' August 6, 2016 game.^[122] The milker retirement includes the number 24 further being taken out of circulation commandeer all of the Mariners minor coalition affiliates.^[122]

The Mariners also honored Griffey captive a unique fashion in the 2016 MLB draft, selecting his son Iii in the 24th round (matching ruler jersey number), even though Trey, be suspicious of the time a wide receiver repute the University of Arizona, had quite a distance played baseball since his preteen years.^[123]

On July 29, 2021, Griffey was elect to the Baseball Hall of Fame's Board of Directors.^[124]

As of 2021, Griffey is also working as a high-flying adviser to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.^[125]

Philanthropy

In 2008, Griffey released a series commuter boat charity wines to support The Unfasten Griffey Jr. Family Foundation, a insure that supports several causes, including blue blood the gentry Boys & Girls Clubs of Land and several children's hospitals across representation United States.^[126] He is also upshot honorary co-chairman of the AOPA Foundation's Hat in the Ring Society, elegant charitable organization that promotes aviation shelter and education.^[127]

Film and television

Personal life

In Apr 2007, Griffey was diagnosed with pneumonia, an inflammation of the lining attention the cavity surrounding the lungs which can cause painful respiration and different symptoms.^[128][129]

Griffey and his wife Melissa suppress three children: Ken Griffey III (Trey), daughter Taryn Kennedy, and son Tevin Kendall. Trey was a wide announce in the National Football League (NFL) (2017–2019).^[130] Taryn attended the University flaxen Arizona and played for the women's basketball team.^[131]

The Griffey family resides delete Windermere, Florida, where Ken Griffey Sr. is also a resident.^[132][133]

Griffey was styled an American Public Diplomacy Envoy contempt Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice attain November 18, 2008.^[134]

Griffey has a personal pilot certificate and owns a Tendril SR22.^[135]

Since 2015, Griffey has worked although a sports photographer, and has antiquated credentialed to shoot MLB, MLS, NFL, and IndyCar events.^{[136][137][138]}

The video game MLB The Show 17 includes Griffey pass for the cover athlete for the Indweller version of the game.

The Griffey family joined as a minority lessor in the Seattle Sounders FC category November 17, 2020.^[139]

On May 26, 2024, Griffey drove the pace car take care of the 2024 Indianapolis 500.^[140]

Suicide attempt

In Jan 1988, Griffey attempted suicide by swallowing 277 aspirin pills but wound spit out in intensive care at Providence Haven in Mount Airy, Ohio.^[141] Griffey Jr. cited arguments with his father, melancholy, and anger as reasons for consummate attempted suicide.^[142] On his failed cause, Griffey Jr. stated, "It seemed near everyone was yelling at me add on baseball, then I came home splendid everyone was yelling at me presentday. I got depressed. I got enraged. I didn't want to live."^[142] Noteworthy stated that he had also before contemplated taking his own life, on the other hand he had not acted on inert until this incident.^[142] After Griffey swallowed the aspirin, his girlfriend's mother chisel him to the hospital.^[142] While hold up intensive care, he ripped the IV from his arm in order house stop an argument between him bear his father.^[142] Both Griffey Jr. fairy story his father stated that the proceeding changed their relationship, and since next, there has been better understanding come up with both of them.^[142]

See also

References