Ken Griffey Jr. Doubled in his first Major League at bat, he then Homered in his first at bat in his home ball park in Seattle. Since then, he never looked back. Griffey Jr. retired on thursday from the game of Baseball and left an impressive legacy behind. He spent the first 11 years of his career playing for the Seattle mariners and during that time was considered the player of the decade. From 1989-1999. In the
nineties he won 10 straight Gold Glove awards from 90-99, he won 7 Silver Slugger awards, 1 MVP award, and was voted to the All-star team 10 times! He also won the Home Run Derby 3 times during that span. He moved on to play for 2 more teams before reuniting with Seattle for a second and last time in 2009. He played for the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox, but he never had any year as good as the ones he had in Seattle the first time. One of his biggest accomplishments was hitting his 630th and final Home Run. He became the sixth member of the very elite 600 home run club and is considered as one of baseball's greatespower hitters ever.
What people don't know about Ken Griffey Jr. is not what he did when he played, it is how he did it. Not many people excel at something and be so humble about it. He played the game the right way. Griffey Jr. played hard and he played to win. He hustled and tried his best to make himself and his teammates better at the game they loved. During the steroid boom of the 80's and 90's, Griffey Jr. escaped allegations that he juiced because he was such a natural athlete and had a smooth and gifted swing, he didn't need to take performance enhancing drugs to hit the ball. Although Griffey Jr. never won a World Series title, he helped spark an incredible 1995 playoff run in Seattle.
Not many people know too much about his non-baseball life. Griffey Jr. had a troubled young life because of his relationship with his father. He felt that he got enough yelling form his coaches and teammates on the baseball field, and that he didn't need to receive the treatment he got at home. He suffered from depression, and even attempted suicide when he was 18 because of it.
Griffey Jr. didn't just change the way the game was played but he changed the way people saw it. He didn't play for money or fame, he played because he loved the game. He was a fun and energetic player who was often referred to as "the Kid" because of his light-hearted spirit. He is responsible for the Players wearing number 42 to honor Jackie Robinson on Jackie Robinson day and he was a fan favorite in Seattle. His time spent there these last two seasons were to pay tribute to the fans that supported him and his career.
Ken Griffey Jr. is my favorite baseball player of all-time and is one of the reasons baseball is such a huge part of my life. He is one of the greatest players of all-time and will truly leave his mark on the game because not only was he the best at it, but when he played, he played the game right and for the right reasons.
- by Joey D
