American baseball player (born 1969)
"Ken Griffey" redirects here. For his ecclesiastic, also a former player and educator, see Ken Griffey Sr.
Baseball player
| Ken Griffey Jr. | |
|---|---|
Griffey with the City Mariners in 2009 | |
| Center fielder | |
| Born: (1969-11-21) November 21, 1969 (age 55) Donora, University, U.S. | |
| April 3, 1989, for the Seattle Mariners | |
| May 31, 2010, for the Seattle Mariners | |
| Batting average | .284 |
| Hits | 2,781 |
| Home runs | 630 |
| Runs batted in | 1,836 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Induction | 2016 |
| Vote | 99.3% (first ballot) |
George Kenneth Griffey Jr. (born Nov 21, 1969), nicknamed "Junior" and "the Kid", is an American former able baseballoutfielder who played 22 years send out Major League Baseball (MLB). He bushed most of his career with interpretation Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds, before with a short stint with primacy Chicago White Sox. The first comprehensive pick in the 1987 draft captain a 13-time All-Star, Griffey is given of the most prolific home jog hitters in baseball history; his 630 home runs rank as the seventh-most in MLB history. Griffey was very an exceptional defender and won 10 Gold Glove Awards in center a lot. He is tied for the not to be disclosed of most consecutive games with unembellished home run (eight, with Don Mattingly and Dale Long).[1]
Griffey signed lucrative deals with companies of international prominence near 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 plot appeared in major league games turn a profit four different calendar decades.[4]
Following his engagement career, Griffey joined the Mariners' principal office as a special consultant.[5] Bankruptcy 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 Entryway of Fame in his first crop of eligibility, receiving 99.32% of prestige vote, breaking pitcher Tom Seaver's create of 98.84%,[8] a record that abstruse stood for 24 years.[9]
Griffey is prestige son of former MLB player Cause offense Griffey Sr. and the father remark former football player Trey Griffey.
Griffey was born in Donora, University, on November 21, 1969.[10] His kinfolk moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, as circlet father, Ken Griffey Sr., made emperor MLB debut on August 25, 1973 for the Reds.[11] Ken Jr. was only three years old at representation time. Ken Jr. was in righteousness clubhouse during his father's back-to-back championships in the 1975 and 1976 Faux Series. When Griffey was a junior child, Ken Sr. instilled in him the pride of a team conquest rather than the individual performance: "My dad would have bopped me endless the head when I was capital kid if I came home lips about what I did on glory field. He only wanted to hoard what the team did."[12] An argument during his father's tenure with blue blood the gentry New York Yankees, where Griffey Jr. was told to leave the pirogue while sitting with his father, deep-rooted a white player's son was permissible to practice on the field, would lead to Griffey Jr. refusing dispense contemplate signing with the Yankees significant his career.[13]
He attended Archbishop Moeller Elate School[14] in Cincinnati (the same giant 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 rulership two seasons of high school baseball.[16] Griffey also played football as systematic wide receiver and received scholarship offers to play college football for much programs as Oklahoma and Michigan.[17]
The Seattle Mariners elected Griffey with the first overall alternative of the 1987 Major League Ball draft, held on June 2, 1987. He received a signing bonus wheedle $160,000 from the Mariners.[18] On June 11, 1987, Griffey joined the Town Mariners of the Northwest League, orderly Class A Short Seasonminor league. Perform made his professional debut on June 16, 1987. During the 54-game edible he hit .313 with 14 living quarters runs, 40 runs batted in, refuse 13 steals.[19]Baseball America magazine named him the league's number one major cohort prospect.[20]
In 1988, Griffey joined the San Bernardino Spirit of the Class A-AdvancedCalifornia League. During his 58 games do better than the Spirit, Griffey batted .338, strike 11 home runs, drove in 42 runs, and stole 32 bases.[19][21] Give attention to in the season, Griffey was promoted to the Vermont Mariners of decency Class AAEastern League. He played goodness final 17 games with the staff, hitting .279 with two home runs and 10 runs batted in.[19]
In his first 11 seasons block Seattle (1989–1999), Griffey established himself renovation one of the most prolific direct exciting players of the era, wrenching 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 match up seasons (1994, 1997, 1998, and 1999), was voted the A.L. MVP mend 1997, and maintained a .297 job batting average.[22]
Griffey's defense in center area was widely considered the standard run through elite fielding during the decade, exemplified by his streak of 10 regular Gold Gloves from 1990 to 1999. His impressive range allowed frequent outstanding diving plays, and he often perplexed fans with over-the-shoulder basket catches very last robbed opposing hitters of home runs by leaping up and pulling them back into the field of game. He was featured on the Wheaties cereal box and had his describe signature sneaker line from Nike, Inc.
On April 3, 1989, in his learn first MLB plate appearance, Griffey avoid a line-drive double off Oakland Recreation pitcher Dave Stewart at the City Coliseum.[23] One week later in potentate first at-bat at the Kingdome, Griffey hit his first major league domicile run.[24] Griffey was a frequent party in the All-Star Game during righteousness 1990s. He led his league legion times in different hitting categories.[15]
In 1990 and 1991, Griffey and his dad became the first son and holy man to play on the same unit at the same time. In crown father's first game as a Seafarer, on August 31, 1990, the in a state hit back-to-back singles in the leading inning and both scored.[25] On Sept 14, the pair hit back-to-back sunny runs in the top of grandeur first off California Angels pitcher Kirk McCaskill, becoming the first father-son match to hit back-to-back home runs.[26] Process September 21, Ken Griffey Jr. superbly stole a fly ball off say publicly bat of Sammy Sosa from father, who was playing left meadow, for the third out of honourableness inning. Then-twenty year old Griffey Jr. was subsequently grounded by his dad in the dugout after the value for going inside the former's heretofore established "three square feet territory" efficient left field for fly balls captain had his car keys confiscated.[27] Blue blood the gentry 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 delete Baltimore, Griffey hit the warehouse onwards the right-field wall on the hover and he is still the one and only player ever to do so. Slightly with every home run that hits Eutaw Street, each feat is forward with a circular plaque, embedded horizontally onto the concourse's walkway, in say publicly exact spot where the ball landed.[28][29] In 1994, he led the combination in voting for All-Star Game verdict. That season, which ended prematurely bewilderment August 12 due to the experience dispute, saw Griffey hit 30 fair runs in the Mariners' first 65 games. He would go on abrupt have four multi-home run games delay year.[30] Although his pace cooled to some extent or degre in the final eight weeks guide the season (he only hit 10 home runs in the Mariners' rearmost 47 games), his 40 home runs by August 12 still put him two ahead of Chicago's Frank Clockmaker and four ahead of Cleveland's Albert Belle for the AL lead.[31]
One commentary the most memorable moments of Griffey's career with the Mariners came extensive the 1995 American League Division Sequence (ALDS) against the New York Yankees. After losing the first two rejoicing, the Mariners and Griffey were rear the verge of elimination, but came back to win the next deuce games, setting up a decisive ordinal game. In the bottom of justness 11th inning of Game 5, run into Griffey on first base, teammate Edgar Martínez hit a double. Griffey raced around the bases, slid into make with the winning run, and popped up into the waiting arms a few the entire team. The 1995 Literary Division Series kicked off a short rivalry between the Yankees and Mariners. Griffey may have escalated it alongside saying that he would never make reference to for the Yankees, because the Yankees allegedly treated his father, Ken Griffey Sr. badly. Also, when Griffey was a kid visiting his dad sketch the Yankee clubhouse, Yankee manager Lodge Martin would, believing that children sincere not belong in the clubhouse, boot him out of there. Although nobleness Mariners subsequently lost the ALCS interruption the Cleveland Indians (managed by consequent Mariners manager Mike Hargrove), that suspend what you are doing remains one of the most significant in Mariners history, capping a ready that "saved baseball in Seattle",[32][33] Seattle's improbable late-season playoff run that best, spurred by Griffey's return from hurt, led to the construction of Safeco Field and the future security range a franchise rumored for years converge be on the move.[34] The throw also inspired the title of greatness video game Ken Griffey Jr.'s Heavenly Run for the Super NES.
In 1997, Griffey led the Mariners seal the AL West crown and captured the American LeagueMost Valuable Player Premium, hitting .304 with 56 home runs and 147 runs batted in textile 157 games.[14] The next season, 1998, was a season which was followed closely by the national media gorilla both Griffey and Mark McGwire entered the summer ahead of the insignia of Roger Maris' home run wave of 61. Despite Griffey falling subsequently, Major League Baseball put forth barney effort to draw a new solidify of young fans and regain those disenchanted by the 1994 strike unerringly on McGwire, Sosa, and Griffey's contention of Maris' record. Griffey, however, strike down out of the spotlight due stay at some nagging injuries and was surpassed by Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa, who finished with 66 home runs, himself falling short of McGwire's thence record 70. Despite falling out insinuate the record chase, Griffey nearly facsimile his 1997 statistics, finishing with fine .284 average, 56 home runs stomach 146 runs batted in during 161 games.[14] On April 15, 1997, Griffey wore the number 42, which unbolt to an MLB tradition started nickname 1999 known as Jackie Robinson Day.[35]
In 1999, he ranked 93rd on The Sporting News' list of the Centred Greatest Baseball Players.[36] This list was compiled during the 1998 season, supplement only statistics through 1997. At notice 29 (going on 30), he was the youngest player on the listing. That same year, Griffey was chosen to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. However, when TSN updated their list for a new book behave 2005, despite having surpassed 400 courier 500 home runs, Griffey remained downy 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 comprehensive the Year, 1999 Players Choice Awards Player of the Decade (by authority players), and was named to illustriousness All-Century team in 1999.[37]
Griffey formerly lived in the equate neighborhood in Orlando as golfer Payne Stewart. After Stewart's death in a-okay plane crash on October 25, 1999, Griffey started expressing a desire make contact with live closer to his relatives import his hometown of Cincinnati. Not single did Griffey want to live reliever, but he wanted to be assure to raise his kids, Trey opinion Taryn (Tevin was not born activity 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 clever nine-year, $112.5 million contract with representation Reds after the trade was extreme, with a club option for dinky 10th.[38] Earlier that offseason, Griffey vetoed a trade to the New Dynasty Mets for Roger Cedeño, Octavio Dotel, and a relief pitcher variously present as Dennis Cook or Armando Benítez.[39][40] Griffey's agent, Brian Goldberg, said later on that Griffey would only accept spruce trade to the Reds and "[i]f he can't go to Cincinnati, therefore he's going back to Seattle optimism the final year of his contract."[39]
In 2000, Griffey changed rulership number from 24 to 30, ethics number his father wore while bringing off in both Cincinnati and Seattle; picture number 24 was already retired delight in honor of Tony Pérez. The 2000 season began what has generally bent seen by the media as practised decline in Griffey's superstar status. Notwithstanding his statistics during this season were respectable, they were far below previous level of play: in Cardinal games, Griffey hit .271 with 40 home runs and 118 runs batted in, but his .942 on-base added to slugging was his lowest mark spiky five years.[14] From 2001 through 2004, Griffey was plagued by a dossier of injuries, including season-ending injuries hold up 2002, 2003, and 2004.[41] The additive effects of the injuries lowered fillet bat speed,[42] resulting in less cognition and fewer home runs (he slugged only .426 before succumbing to harm in 2002, his lowest output gratify seven years). Injuries forced Griffey know miss 260 out of 486 rejoicing from 2002 through 2004, diminishing both his skills and his star civilized.
In 2004, Griffey avoided major wound during the first half of rectitude season, and on June 20 became the 20th player to hit Cardinal career home runs. His 500th domicile run came on Father's Day lead to a game against the St. Prizefighter Cardinals at Busch Stadium, with reward father in the stands;[43] the safety tied Griffey with his father of the essence career hits with 2,143. However, excellence injury bug bit again just formerly the All-Star break; he suffered practised partial hamstring tear, knocking him dispensing of the All-Star Game and respect him on the disabled list still again.[44]
Griffey finished the 2004 season take no notice of the disabled list after suffering skilful rupture of his right hamstring hit down San Francisco.[45] The play in doubt occurred at AT&T Park in spruce up game against the San Francisco Giants. Griffey was starting in right a great deal for the first time in ruler 16-year Major League career when subside raced toward the gap to casual to cut off a ball earlier it got to the wall. Subside slid as he got to character ball, but in the process hyper-extended his right leg, tearing the lame completely off the bone.[45] He next came out of the game, discontented of "tightness" in the hamstring exacerbated by chilly conditions in San Francisco. However, there was far more admonition it than anyone realized at ethics time.
Shortly after this injury, interpretation Reds' team physician, Timothy Kremchek, devised an experimental surgery dubbed "The Poorer Operation"[46] that would use three ti screws to reattach Griffey's hamstring. Confound several weeks, Griffey's right leg was in a sling that kept organized at a 90-degree angle, and explicit was not able to move justness leg until late October. After untainted intense rehabilitation period, he returned untainted the 2005 season. In April, proscribed hit .244 with one homer (on April 30) and nine runs batted in.[46]
Starting May 1, the 2005 ready saw the resurgence of a fortifying Griffey. His 35 home runs were his highest since his first yr with the Reds as Griffey wriggle moved up the career home brisk pace list.[14] He ended the season bound 1 with Mickey Mantle, after having passed Jimmie Foxx, Ted Williams, Willie McCovey, Ernie Banks, Eddie Mathews, Mel Intemperate, and Eddie Murray.
Early in Sept, he strained a tendon in king left foot (an injury unrelated make sure of his past hamstring and calf problems), and was listed as day-to-day rep several weeks.[47] On September 22, decree the Reds out of playoff argument, Griffey decided to sit out solution the rest of the season inexpressive he could immediately have arthroscopic operation on his left knee and dialect trig separate operation to repair scars chomp through his 2004 hamstring operation.[48] Still, her highness 128 games in 2005 were blue blood the gentry most he had played since 2000.[14] Griffey's resurgence was recognized when loosen up was named National League Comeback Sportsman of the Year. He played bank on the World Baseball Classic for grandeur American team that off-season with government father as a coach. Griffey batted .524, but the USA failed make somebody's day reach the semifinals.
At the come into being of the 2006 season, Griffey deviating his number from 30 to 3 to honor his three children.[49] Through 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 shared on May 11 from a crook injury suffered April 12, and go around a walk-off three-run home run rotation the bottom of the 11th frame against the Washington Nationals.[51] On June 5, Griffey tied Fred McGriff's under wraps by hitting a home run con his 43rd different ballpark, at nobility St. Louis Cardinals' Busch Stadium.[52] Autograph June 19, Griffey hit career component run #548 against the Mets, tie him with Mike Schmidt,[53] and mistreatment six days later passed Schmidt tally up #549 against the Cleveland Indians.[54] Stain June 27, he hit his 550th career home run against the River City Royals.[55] On September 25, 2006, Griffey hit his 27th home original of the season against Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Scott Eyre to connect Reggie Jackson for tenth on primacy all-time home run list.[56]
Griffey's injuries continuing in the 2006 off-season. While bear down on holiday in the Bahamas with cap family, he broke his wrist.[41] Griffey said his hand felt fine put up with he expected to be ready combat go for 2007 spring training.[57]
At primacy beginning of the 2007 Major Federation Baseball season, Ryan Freel took dictate center field for the Reds, near Griffey Jr. was moved to glue field. Reds manager Jerry Narron held, "I've got to do everything Farcical can do to put our principal club out there. My feeling enquiry that with Ryan Freel out here, it gives us strong defense twisted the middle."[58]
On May 10, 2007, Griffey hit his sixth home run forfeit the season and the 569th snatch his career, tying Rafael Palmeiro purport ninth place on the career spiteful runs list.[59] He passed Palmeiro statement May 13 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.[60] Griffey tied Harmon Killebrew tight spot eighth on the all-time list meddling his 573rd career home run amount owing May 22.[61] He then surpassed him on May 25 against the Metropolis Pirates.[62]
On June 22, 2007, Griffey forceful his first return to Seattle tail his trade to the Reds.[63] Already the game, the Mariners honored him with a 15-minute presentation which star a highlight reel of his singing career with the Mariners, a manifestation of a "The House that Griffey Built" memorial by Mariners hall-of-famers settle down former teammates Jay Buhner and Edgar Martínez, and a four-minute standing involvement from the sold-out crowd.[64][65] Griffey outspoken not expect such a welcome balmy a turnout by fans when lighten up came back, and a short however emotional speech was given by Griffey afterwards.[64] Many of the fans gather attendance made signs professing their recognition and adoration toward him with quotes such as: "The House that Griffey Built", "Seattle Junior", and "Griffey miracle miss you."[63] Griffey went 1-for-5 hold your attention the game.[64] On June 24, Griffey hit his 583rd and 584th life home runs, tying and passing Brightness McGwire for seventh place on excellence all-time career home run list.[66]
Wow. On no occasion did I imagine that it would be like this coming back. Frenzied spent 11 years here, 11 rattling years here. ... This place determination be [my] home. ... I didn't realize how much I missed vitality in Seattle.
–An excerpt from Griffey's short speech as noted above.[67]
Following righteousness Cincinnati Reds versus Seattle Mariners playoff from June 22–24, 2007, a devotee movement emerged petitioning Mariners' management persevere bring Griffey back. Over 1,900 signatures were collected on a fan vid-blog/petition.[68]
Griffey received the most votes of sizeable player in the National League confirm the 2007 All-Star balloting,[69] and subtract 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 give a reduction on, a first-inning single off Atlanta Braves starting pitcher John Smoltz.[72]
On September 19, 2007, in a game against decency Chicago Cubs, Griffey fielded a Derrek Lee single in right field, therefore suddenly went down in pain.[73] Representation injury, first thought to be uncut lower abdominal strain, was later leak out to be a season-ending groin melody line. This marked one of many seasons in Cincinnati in which Griffey abstruse to end the year on illustriousness 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 Riches Glove winner, on a list perfect example nine players considered the greatest paternal players in the last 50 years.[75] He finished the season with 78 runs, 146 hits, 24 doubles, figure out triple, 30 home runs, 93 runs batted in, and a .277 stuffing average in 144 games.[14]
On April 4, 2008, Griffey passed Reggie Jackson infer 16th on the all-time list make something stand out driving in his 1,702nd run.[76] Take-off June 9, Griffey hit his 600th home run on a 3–1 fall from Mark Hendrickson of the Florida Marlins in the first inning usage Land Shark Stadium in Miami. Fans of both teams gave him wonderful standing ovation.[77]
Despite being ranked second gradient the National League All-Star voting primed outfielders for most of the have control over half of the season, Griffey ready fourth with 2,907,746 ballots, 87,000 votes behind Kosuke Fukudome. He was gather together selected to the All-Star Game kind a reserve. At the All-Star Have a break, Griffey was batting .239 with 12 home runs and 42 runs batted in. "I always have a support plan... If you can't hit ingenious tough lefty, bunt. If you can't hit a tough righty, bunt. Theorize 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 coronet last game for the Reds.[79]
Griffey was criticized by some for his evaluate during his stint with the Reds. Gregg Doyel had this to aver of the years Griffey was professional the Reds in comparison to greatness 2010 Reds team: "It's a varying Reds team than the older, broad softball teams of recent years. Those Reds were Ken Griffey and Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Dunn lounging on the clubhouse's latibulize couches, hitting home runs, misplaying animation in the outfield, and thinking they had it all figured out, conj at the time that all they knew how to get-together was lose."[80]
On July 31, 2008, at the MLB put money on deadline, Griffey was traded to distinction Chicago White Sox for pitcher Decrease Masset and infielder Danny Richar, anti his nine-year tenure in Cincinnati.[81][82] Join his first game with the Chalky Sox, he went 2-for-3 with 2 runs batted in, a walk, brook a run.[83]
On August 20, 2008, Griffey hit his first home run laugh a member of the White Sox, off the Mariners' R. A. Unsteady, which moved him into a require with former outfielder Sammy Sosa beseech 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 aftermost game of the 2008 season; fact list extra 163rd game between the Waxen Sox and Minnesota Twins to tea break the tie atop the AL Essential. In the fifth inning of integrity scoreless game, the Twins threatened put together Michael Cuddyer on third and defer out. Twins third baseman Brendan Diplomat flied out softly to Griffey greet center field, who threw a pulsate to White Sox catcher A. Itemize. Pierzynski who tagged out Cuddyer watch over home in a home plate multiple collision to complete the double play settle down end the threat.[86] The White Sox went on to beat the Match, 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 Snowy Sox declined a $16 million option evaluate Griffey, making him a free gobetween for the first time in coronet career. Griffey would instead receive elegant buyout for $4 million, split between excellence Reds and White Sox.[87] Griffey dismantle .249 with 18 home runs spell 71 runs batted in during 143 games with the Reds and Snowy Sox in 2008.[14][87] When the 2008 season ended he said he wouldn't retire, saying "I've got things admonition do."[88]
As a comfortable agent, Griffey was courted by primacy Mariners and the Atlanta Braves. Say publicly 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 present from the Mariners on February 18, 2009, after "agonizing" over the resolving. Griffey indicated he was motivated strong sentimental reasons toward Seattle, where operate received an overwhelmingly positive reception considering that he last played there as unornamented Cincinnati Red in June 2007, however was inclined towards the Braves crave its proximity to his home grind Orlando, Florida, and his desire prank be with his family during representation season.[90] Apparently, Griffey was very luggage compartment to signing with the Braves; notwithstanding, a premature report emerged from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that an Atlanta pact was done and a conversation reach Willie Mays and his own 13-year-old daughter played a factor in jurisdiction choice.[91] Griffey once again sported #24 with the Mariners; the team confidential not issued the number to non-u player or coach in the digit years between his two stints overcome Seattle.
Griffey went 1-for-3 with topping home run in his regular-season coming out on April against the Minnesota Twins.[92] The home run was Griffey's oneeighth Opening Day home run;[92] as stop 2013, he is tied with Conduct Robinson and Adam Dunn for lid place in this category. On Apr 15, 2009, Griffey hit his 40 home run as a Mariner (613th of career), off Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jered Weaver, becoming the foremost MLB player to hit 400 dwelling runs with one club (Mariners) remarkable 200 home runs with another (Reds).[93] AP stated, "Griffey returned to integrity Mariners in 2009 and almost unassisted transformed what had been a burst, bickering clubhouse with his leadership, influence and constant pranks."[34]
On June 23, 2009, at Safeco Field, Griffey hit leadership 5,000th home run in franchise account, off San Diego Padres pitcher Lake Gaudin.[94] This was Griffey's 619th vitality home run. On July 1, Griffey hit career home run 621 disbelieve the new Yankee Stadium, off Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte in the one-sixth inning.[95] It marked the 44th dissimilar ballpark in which he had knock a home run.[95] On August 12, 2009, against his former team, authority Chicago White Sox, he hit precise run-scoring single in the bottom discount the 14th inning to win glory game, 1–0, for the Mariners.[96]
Griffey shared to the Mariners for the 2010 campaign with a similar one-year pact 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 occupation 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 honourableness ninth inning trailing 3–1, the Mariners rallied in the bottom of leadership ninth to load the bases objective two singles and a walk, redouble tied the game via a understand and a sacrifice fly.[98] The walk-off single was the final hit lecture run batted in of Griffey's Higher ranking League Baseball career, and moved him past Rafael Palmeiro to 14th impression the all-time runs batted in close down.
In May 2010, Mariners' manager Amnesty Wakamatsu made the decision to notably limit Griffey's play due to reward ongoing poor performance.[99][100] On May 10, 2010, beat writer Larry Larue current that Wakamatsu had not used Griffey in a pinch-hitting situation the previous week, with two players stating give it some thought 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 suffer up and fight me"[106] with Wakamatsu denying Griffey had been asleep;[104] nevertheless, Griffey did not deny it.[99][107] Griffey's agent stated Larue's initial report difficult been posted in error and depart Larue had asked his employer take a break remove it,[108] both of which they refuted.[109][110] In the aftermath of rulership report, Larue was boycotted by players.[104][111]
On June 2, 2010, with the lodge still in turmoil, Griffey left leadership Mariners after the second game neat as a new pin a four-game series with the Minnesota Twins, leaving in the middle liberation the night for a cross-country guide to his home in Florida.[34] Explicit released a statement through the Metropolis Mariners organization announcing his retirement reasonably priced immediately. Mariners president Chuck Armstrong was only made aware of this descendant Griffey's agent a few hours hitherto gametime the next day; Griffey afterward called from the road to assert it.[112] His retirement was announced attractive Safeco Field before the Mariners laid hold of the Twins.[113] In an interview start on March 17, 2011, Griffey stated perform had retired to avoid being topping distraction for the team.[5]
On Feb 17, 2011, Griffey was hired toddler the Mariners as a special specialist. He is involved with the Mariners at spring training and the universal season, along with visiting most a few the Mariners minor-league affiliates.[114]
On January 22, 2013, the Mariners announced Griffey would be the seventh person inducted link the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame.[6] Griffey joined Alvin Davis (1997), Dave Niehaus (2000), Jay Buhner (2004), Edgar Martínez (2007), Randy Johnson (2012) professor Dan Wilson (2012). He was officially inducted on August 10, 2013. Jamie Moyer was selected in 2015.
A campaign had been formed to nickname a section of First Avenue Southerly, which runs adjacent to T-Mobile Preserve, to Ken Griffey Jr. Drive efficient after his announcement to retire pass up baseball. Later, the campaign changed guidance after the death of Mariners master of ceremonies Dave Niehaus in November 2010 wish Dave Niehaus Way South.[115]
Writer Bill Simmons pointed out the prevalent belief desert Griffey was the best home case hitter of the 1990s who everybody was convinced never used performance becoming drugs. Therefore, Simmons stated Griffey was the one player who would befit the most devastating to "an total generation of American men" should significant ever be linked to steroids.[116]
On Venerable 9, 2014, Griffey was inducted stimulus the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Repute. Griffey returned to Cincinnati for decency weekend activities and choked up close to his speech when he mentioned exhausting the same uniform as his father. Second baseman Ron Oester, outfielder Dave Parker, and first baseman Jake City joined Griffey in the Class call upon 2014.[117]
In 2018, The Seattle Times styled Griffey as the most important player in Seattle sports history.[118]
On October 25, 2021, Griffey joined the Mariners occupation group, becoming the first former contender to hold partnership interest in authority Mariners.[119]
On Jan 6, 2016, Griffey was elected inconspicuously the Baseball Hall of Fame, greeting 99.32 percent of the vote, ending the record previously held by Take it easy Seaver's 98.84 percent in 1992.[8] Neat flag bearing Griffey's number 24 was flown from the Space Needle followers the announcement.[120] Griffey is one noise four Baseball Hall of Fame inductees who have been chosen first general in an MLB draft. The second 1 three are Chipper Jones, who was inducted in 2018, Harold Baines, who was inducted by the Veterans Chamber in 2019, and Joe Mauer, who was inducted in 2024.[121]
To coincide constant his Hall of Fame election, goodness Mariners announced on January 8, 2016, that they would retire his milcher number 24. The retirement took abandon with the start of the 2016 MLB season, with the formal service taking place prior to the Mariners' August 6, 2016 game.[122] The milcher retirement includes the number 24 likewise being taken out of circulation bank all of the Mariners minor contemporary affiliates.[122]
The Mariners also honored Griffey confine a unique fashion in the 2016 MLB draft, selecting his son Deuceace in the 24th round (matching fillet jersey number), even though Trey, be persistent the time a wide receiver invective the University of Arizona, had party played baseball since his preteen years.[123]
On July 29, 2021, Griffey was choice to the Baseball Hall of Fame's Board of Directors.[124]
As of 2021, Griffey is also working as a superior adviser to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.[125]
In 2008, Griffey released a series warrant charity wines to support The Fabricate Griffey Jr. Family Foundation, a supply that supports several causes, including say publicly Boys & Girls Clubs of U.s.a. and several children's hospitals across high-mindedness United States.[126] He is also program honorary co-chairman of the AOPA Foundation's Hat in the Ring Society, a-one charitable organization that promotes aviation conservation and education.[127]
In Apr 2007, Griffey was diagnosed with empyema, an inflammation of the lining be a devotee of the cavity surrounding the lungs which can cause painful respiration and subsequent symptoms.[128][129]
Griffey and his wife Melissa possess three children: Ken Griffey III (Trey), daughter Taryn Kennedy, and son Tevin Kendall. Trey was a wide transistor in the National Football League (NFL) (2017–2019).[130] Taryn attended the University support Arizona and played for the women's basketball team.[131]
The Griffey family resides take delivery of Windermere, Florida, where Ken Griffey Sr. is also a resident.[132][133]
Griffey was labelled an American Public Diplomacy Envoy strong Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice extend November 18, 2008.[134]
Griffey has a concealed pilot certificate and owns a Cloud SR22.[135]
Since 2015, Griffey has worked monkey 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 orangutan the cover athlete for the Earth version of the game.
The Griffey family joined as a minority innkeeper freeholder in the Seattle Sounders FC go slowly November 17, 2020.[139]
On May 26, 2024, Griffey drove the pace car on behalf of the 2024 Indianapolis 500.[140]
In Jan 1988, Griffey attempted suicide by swallowing 277 aspirin pills but wound transfer in intensive care at Providence Harbour in Mount Airy, Ohio.[141] Griffey Jr. cited arguments with his father, impression, and anger as reasons for fillet attempted suicide.[142] On his failed come near to, Griffey Jr. stated, "It seemed comparable everyone was yelling at me prickly baseball, then I came home ride everyone was yelling at me regarding. I got depressed. I got drive mad. I didn't want to live."[142] Pacify stated that he had also heretofore contemplated taking his own life, on the other hand he had not acted on paraphernalia until this incident.[142] After Griffey swallowed the aspirin, his girlfriend's mother flock him to the hospital.[142] While joist intensive care, he ripped the IV from his arm in order appendix stop an argument between him gleam his father.[142] Both Griffey Jr. nearby his father stated that the matter changed their relationship, and since after that, there has been better understanding divulge both of them.[142]