Ken Griffey Junior

Cincinnati Reds — No. 3
Outfielder
Born: November 21, 1969 (1969-11-21) (age 38)
Bats: Left	Throws: Left
Major League Baseball debut
April 3, 1989 for the Seattle Mariners
Selected MLB statistics (through September 30, 2007)
Avg	.290
HR	593
RBI	1,701
Slugging pct.	.553
Teams
Seattle Mariners (1989-1999) Cincinnati Reds (2000- present)

George Kenneth Griffey, Jr. (born November 21, 1969, in Donora, Pennsylvania) is a second generation Major League Baseball player on the Cincinnati Reds. His nicknames have been "The Natural", "The Kid", and "Junior". He is the son of former big league outfielder Ken Griffey. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Austin Kearns, an outfielder, catches a fly ball. ... is the 325th day of the year (326th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1969 (number) 1969 (movie) 1969 (Stargate SG-1) episode. ... is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball measuring the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters, respectively. ... Homerun redirects here. ... In Major League Baseball, the 500 Home Run Club is an informal term applied to the group of players who have hit 500 or more career home runs. ... “RBI” redirects here. ... In baseball statistics, slugging average (SLG) is a measure of the power of a hitter. ... Major league affiliations American League (1977–present) West Division (1977–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 42 Name Seattle Mariners (1977–present) Other nicknames The Ms Ballpark Safeco Field (1999–present) King County Domed Stadium (Kingdome) (1977-1999) Major league titles World Series titles (0) none AL Pennants (0) None... 1989 in baseball - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 1999 throughout the world. ... Major league affiliations National League (1890–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 5, 8, 10, 13, 18, 20, 24, 42 Name Cincinnati Reds (1958–present) Cincinnati Redlegs (1953-1958) Cincinnati Reds (1882-1953) Cincinnati Red Stockings (1876-1882) Other nicknames The Redlegs, The Big Red Machine... The following are the baseball events of the year 2000 throughout the world. ... is the 325th day of the year (326th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1969 (number) 1969 (movie) 1969 (Stargate SG-1) episode. ... Donora is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, USA, 20 miles (32 km) south of Pittsburgh on the Monongahela river. ... Major league affiliations National League (1890–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 5, 8, 10, 13, 18, 20, 24, 42 Name Cincinnati Reds (1958–present) Cincinnati Redlegs (1953-1958) Cincinnati Reds (1882-1953) Cincinnati Red Stockings (1876-1882) Other nicknames The Redlegs, The Big Red Machine... George Kenneth Griffey (born April 10, 1950 in Donora, Pennsylvania) is an American former Major League Baseball star. ...

Youth and early career

Ken Griffey Jr. shares not only the same birthday, but also the same birthplace, as Hall of Famer Stan Musial in the Pittsburgh industrial town of Donora, Pennsylvania. His family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where his father, Ken Griffey, Sr. played for the Cincinnati Reds when Junior was five. He attended the Archbishop Moeller High School. Stan Musials number 6 was retired by the St. ... City nickname: The Steel City Location in the state of Pennsylvania Founded 1758 Mayor Tom Murphy (Dem) Area  - Total  - Water 151. ... Cincinnati redirects here. ... George Kenneth Griffey (born April 10, 1950 in Donora, Pennsylvania) is an American former Major League Baseball star. ... Archbishop Moeller High School (often simply known as Moeller, pronounced ) is a private, all-male, college-preparatory high school in the suburbs of Cincinnati, in Hamilton County, Ohio. ...

In 1987 Griffey was selected with the first overall pick of that year's amateur draft by the Seattle Mariners based on his tremendous potential. One scout said of Griffey, "If you thought Barry Bonds was interesting, wait until you see this kid." In January of 1988, Griffey attempted suicide by swallowing over two hundred aspirin. He ended up in the intensive care unit at Providence Hospital in Mount Airy, Ohio. Griffey was overwhelmed by racial slurs direced at him as well as a tenous relationship with his father. He rebounded the next year as a big leaguer, he was well on the way to the Rookie of the Year award but was thwarted when he slipped in the shower and broke a bone in his right hand in late July, 1989. While with the Mariners, Griffey established himself as baseball's premier player—during the 1990s, Griffey was considered one of the best players of all time. Before injuries cut into his production, he was a top run producer and the best center fielder in the big leagues. Griffey hit for a high average, batting over .300 for seven of the years of the '90s, and hit with power as well, slugging 422 home runs during the decade. Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Major league affiliations American League (1977–present) West Division (1977–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 42 Name Seattle Mariners (1977–present) Other nicknames The Ms Ballpark Safeco Field (1999–present) King County Domed Stadium (Kingdome) (1977-1999) Major league titles World Series titles (0) none AL Pennants (0) None... Barry Lamar Bonds (born July 24, 1964 in Riverside, California) is currently a left fielder for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. ...

Additionally, his defense in center field was widely considered among the elites during the decade. Thanks to his impressive range, Griffey frequently made spectacular diving plays, and he often dazzled fans by making over-the-shoulder basket catches (a la Willie Mays' "the Catch" in the 1954 World Series) and by robbing opposing hitters of home runs at the wall — leaping up and pulling them back into the field of play. He was featured on the Wheaties cereal box and, because of his general likability and good reputation, was an effective pitchman. Griffey also had his own signature sneaker line from Nike, Inc. Willie Howard Mays, Jr. ... The Catch: Willie Mays hauls in Vic Wertzs drive at the warning track in the 1954 World Series The Catch refers to a memorable defensive baseball play by Willie Mays on September 29, 1954, during Game 1 of the 1954 World Series between the New York Giants and the... The 1954 World Series matched the National League champion New York Giants against the American League champion Cleveland Indians. ... Early Wheaties Cereal Box Wheaties, a wheat and bran mixture baked into flakes, is a breakfast cereal introduced in 1924 and marketed by the General Mills cereal company of Golden Valley, Minnesota. ... Nike, Inc. ...

One of Ken Griffey Jr. signature sneakers, the Nike Air Griffey Max.

Because of his all-around excellent play, he was a perennial participant in the All-Star Game, particularly during the 1990s although less so during the early '00s because of injuries. Junior has led his league multiple times in hitting categories and was awarded Gold Gloves for his defensive excellence from 1990 to 1999. Griffey also became one of a very small number to have played on the same team as his father, Ken Griffey, Sr. in 1990 and 1991. At the MLB Home Run Derby in 1993, which was held at Oriole Park in Baltimore, Griffey slugged a ball over the right field wall, hitting the warehouse. Griffey is the only player to ever hit a home run that has hit the warehouse, an impressive feat, considering the ballpark's 15-year history. In 1997, he won the American League Most Valuable Player award, hitting .304, with 56 home runs and 147 runs batted in. Image File history File linksMetadata Kicks. ... The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also popularly known as the Midsummer Classic, is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by fan vote for the starting position players and by the respective managers (from the previous years World... In American baseball, the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to simply as the Gold Glove, is the award annually given to the Major League player judged to be the most superior individual fielding performance at each position (in each league), as voted by the managers and coaches in each... George Kenneth Griffey (born April 10, 1950 in Donora, Pennsylvania) is an American former Major League Baseball star. ... The Home Run Derby is an event played prior to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. ... Oriole Park at Camden Yards is a Major League Baseball stadium located in Baltimore, Maryland which was constructed to replace the aging Memorial Stadium. ... Flag Seal Nickname: Monument City, Charm City, Mob Town, B-more Motto: Get In On It (formerly The City That Reads and The Greatest City in America; BELIEVE is not the official motto but rather a specific campaign) Location Location of Baltimore in Maryland Coordinates , Government Country State County United... The American League (or formally the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs) is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States of America and Canada. ... In the game of baseball, both amateur and professional, it is tradition to annually recognize the one player in the league who has contributed the most to the success of the players team. ... Homerun redirects here. ... In baseball statistics, a run batted in (RBI) is given to a batter for each run scored as the result of a batters plate appearance. ...

Perhaps the single most memorable moment of Griffey's career with the Mariners came during the 1995 American League Division Series (ALDS) against the New York Yankees. After losing the first two games, the Mariners and Griffey were on the verge of elimination, but came back to win the next two games, setting up a decisive fifth game. In the bottom of the 11th inning of Game 5, with Griffey on first base, teammate Edgar Martinez hit a double. Griffey raced around the bases, slid into home with the winning run, and popped up into the waiting arms of the entire team. Although the Mariners subsequently lost the ALCS to former Mariners manager Mike Hargrove's Indians, that moment remains one of the most memorable in Mariners history, capping a season that has been credited with "saving baseball in Seattle", as it occurred in the midst of speculation that the franchise would relocate to another city. Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 23, 32, 37, 44, 49 Name New York Yankees (1913–present) New York Highlanders (1903-1912) Baltimore Orioles (1901-1902) (Also referred to as... Édgar Martínez (born January 2, 1963 in New York, New York, but raised in the Maguayo neighborhood of Dorado, Puerto Rico[1]) is a longtime Major League Baseball player who retired at the end of the 2004 season. ... ALCS redirects here. ... Dudley Michael Hargrove (born October 26, 1949 in Perryton, Texas) is a former Major League Baseball player and was last manager of the Seattle Mariners. ...

As the Mariner's were playing to sell out crowds in the Kingdome the voter's of Washington states King County narrowly defeated a ballot proposal to build a new baseball stadium. Following the success of the team that season and the narrowness of the vote, the then-governor of Washington, Mike Lowry, called a special session of the Washington State Legislature where a new stadium authority was created and a new tax on hotels and rental cars were added to support the baseball stadium. Today this facility is known as Safeco Field and is often referred to as 'the house that Griffey built' by the local sports cognoscenti.

This game five final play of the ALDS was the inspiration for the title of the video game, Ken Griffey Jr.'s Winning Run for the Super Nintendo. Computer and video games redirects here. ... Ken Griffey Jr. ... The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, also known as Super Nintendo, Super NES or SNES, is a 16-bit video game console released by Nintendo in North America, Brazil, Europe, and Australia. ...

In 1999, he ranked 93rd on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players. This list was compiled during the 1998 season, counting only statistics through 1997. It was argued by some that, had the voting been done two or three years later, he would have been ranked several places higher: at age 29 (going on 30), he was easily the youngest player on the list. That same year, Griffey was elected to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. However, when TSN updated their list for a new book in 2005, despite having surpassed 400 and 500 home runs, Griffey remained at Number 93. The Sporting News (TSN) is an American-based sports newspaper. ... In 1999, MasterCard sponsored the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. ...

While playing with Seattle, Griffey was a 9-time American League Golden Glove winner, the 1992 All-Star Game MVP, 1997 AL MVP, 1998 ESPY co-winner for Male Athlete of the Year, and was named to the All-Century team in 1999. Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... The ESPY Awards are a set of annual sports awards given out by the ESPN sports television channel in the United States since 1993. ... This article is about the year. ...

Ken Griffey Jr. painted on a wall in downtown Seattle, 1994. The tick marks indicate how many home runs he had hit up to that point.

Artwork of Ken Griffey Jr. ... Artwork of Ken Griffey Jr. ...

Departure from Seattle

Griffey used to live in the same neighborhood in Orlando as golfer Payne Stewart. After the tragic death of Payne Stewart (flying accident) on October 25, 1999, Griffey starting expressing a desire to live with his father in his hometown of Cincinnati. The primary reason for wanting out of Seattle was his desire to play closer to his home in Orlando where his family resided. Moving to Cincinnati allowed him to be only a short flight from his family. Nickname: Location in Orange County and the state of Florida Coordinates: , Country State Counties Orange Government  - Mayor Buddy Dyer (D) Area  - City 101 sq mi (261. ... Payne Stewart on the cover of the 2001 paperback edition of the authorised biography by Tracey Stewart with Ken Abraham. ... is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

After the 1999 season, Griffey's request was granted and he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Mike Cameron, Brett Tomko, Antonio Pérez, and Jake Meyer. Initially, the future looked extremely bright for him in Cincinnati, where the Reds had just come within one game of a playoff berth. It was the city in which he had grown up, and Griffey was reportedly very pleased to be playing on his father's former team — on the open market, Griffey could have made several million dollars more than the contract offered by the small-market Reds. However, his contract apparently includes backloaded payments which will be paid until 2024[1]. Major league affiliations National League (1890–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 5, 8, 10, 13, 18, 20, 24, 42 Name Cincinnati Reds (1958–present) Cincinnati Redlegs (1953-1958) Cincinnati Reds (1882-1953) Cincinnati Red Stockings (1876-1882) Other nicknames The Redlegs, The Big Red Machine... Michael Terrance Cameron (born January 8, 1973 in LaGrange, Georgia) is an outfielder in Major League Baseball with the San Diego Padres. ... Brett Daniel Tomko (born April 7, 1973) is a Major League Baseball pitcher , who previously played for the Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, St. ... Born on Jan 26, 1980 in Bani, Dominican Republic, Antonio Perez plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers. ... 2024 (MMXXIV) will be a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

For obvious reasons, Ken Griffey Jr. is loved by the city of Seattle and its fanbase. He was the featured star of the M's throughout his tenure. In June 2007, the near-capacity crowd welcomed him back in a Reds' uniform for a three-game series in Seattle. Griffey hit two home runs in the last game of the series. In a TV interview broacast on the local FSN affiliate following the series finale, Griffey emotionally expressed an interest in returning to the Seattle ballclub in the future should circumstances warrant it.

[2]

Tenure in Cincinnati

2000-2004

The 2000 season began what has generally been seen by the media as a decline in Griffey's superstar status. Although his statistics during this season were respectable, they were far below his previous level of play: in 145 games, Griffey hit .271 with 40 home runs, but his .942 on-base plus slugging was his lowest mark in five years. Griffey's request for his old jersey number also served as a distraction. ^{[citation needed]} Griffey wore his father's #30, not #24 like he did on Seattle. #24 was already retired in honor of Tony Perez and it was not brought out of retirement for Griffey. Additionally, from 2001 through 2004, Griffey was plagued by a string of injuries, including season-ending injuries in 2002, 2003, and 2004. Worse yet for Griffey, the cumulative effects of the injuries lowered his bat speed, resulting in less power and fewer home runs (he slugged only .426 before succumbing to injury in 2002, his lowest output in seven years). Some speculate that Griffey's myriad injuries are a result of a decade of playing on the Kingdome's artificial turf (Griffey missed nearly all of the 1995 regular season due to a hand injury) , which players claim is essentially like playing the game on asphalt. Others suggest that Griffey's lack of commitment to physical fitness while he was in his twenties opened him up to injury problems as he got older. Whatever the causes, injuries forced Griffey to miss 260 out of 486 games from 2002 through 2004, diminishing both his skills and his star reputation. Consequently, he is not nearly the ubiquitous presence he once was on cereal boxes, television commercials, and the All-Star Game. In baseball statistics, on-base plus slugging (denoted by OPS) incorporates on base percentage (OBP) and slugging percentage (SLG). ... Atanasio Pérez Rigal, better known as Tony Pérez (born May 14, 1942 in Ciego de Ávila, Cuba), is a former player in Major League Baseball. ... Barry Bonds holds the MLB record for highest slugging average in a season (.863). ...

In 2004, Griffey avoided major injury during the first half of the season, and on June 20 became the 20th player to hit 500 career home runs. His 500th home run came on Father's Day in a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium, with his father Ken Sr. in the stands; the homer also tied Ken Jr. with his father for career hits with 2,143. However, the injury bug bit again just before the All-Star break, when Griffey, Jr. suffered a partial hamstring tear, knocking him out of the All-Star Game and putting him on the disabled list yet again. He did get his 500th home run ball from a fan who was also there for Father's Day with his dad. The fan received many rewards from Griffey. is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Fathers Day (disambiguation). ... Major league affiliations National League (1892–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 2, 6, 9, 14, 17, 20, 42, 42, 45, 85 Name St. ... Busch Memorial Stadium, or Busch Stadium (also referred to as Busch Stadium II) was the home of the St. ... In human anatomy, a hamstring refers to one of the tendons that makes up the borders of the space behind the knee. ...

Griffey finished the 2004 season on the disabled list after suffering a complete rupture of his right hamstring in San Francisco on August 4. The play in question occurred at now AT&T Park in a game against the San Francisco Giants. Griffey was starting in right field for the first time in his 16-year Major League career when he raced toward the gap to try to cut off a ball before it got to the wall. He slid as he got to the ball, but in the process hyperextended his right leg, tearing the hamstring completely off the bone. He later came out of the game, complaining of "tightness" in the hamstring exacerbated by chilly conditions in San Francisco. But there was far more to it than anyone realized at the time. is the 216th day of the year (217th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... AT&T Park (also called China Basin) is an open-air baseball park, home to the San Francisco Giants of the Major League Baseball. ... Major league affiliations National League (1883–present) West Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers NY, NY, 3, 4, 11, 24, 27, 30, 36, 42, 44 Name San Francisco Giants (1958–present) New York Giants (1885–1957) New York Gothams (1883–1885) Other nicknames Jints, Gigantes, G-Men Ballpark AT...

Shortly after this injury, the Reds' team physician, Timothy Kremchek, devised an experimental surgery dubbed "The Junior Operation" that would use three titanium screws to reattach Griffey's hamstring. For several weeks, Griffey's right leg was in a sling that kept the leg at a 90-degree angle, and he was not able to move the leg until late October. After an intense rehabilitation period, he returned for the 2005 season. In April, he hit only .244 with only one homer (on April 30) and nine RBI's.[3]

2005-2006 Seasons

Starting May 1, the 2005 season saw the resurgence of a healthy Griffey. The fluid swing, which depends heavily on excellent lower body strength, returned to its original form, now that Griffey's hamstring and calf problems appear behind him. Junior's 35 home runs were his highest since his first year with the Reds as Griffey slowly moved up the career home run list. He ended the season tied with Mickey Mantle, after having passed Jimmie Foxx, Ted Williams, Willie McCovey, Ernie Banks, Eddie Mathews, Mel Ott, and Eddie Murray. is the 121st day of the year (122nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Mickey Charles Mantle (October 20, 1931 – August 13, 1995) was an American baseball player who was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974. ... Jimmie Foxx on the cover of Time in 1929 James Emory Foxx (October 22, 1907 – July 21, 1967) was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who was, up until Mark McGwires glory days in the late 1990s, the most prolific right-handed power hitter to ever play... Theodore Samuel Williams (August 30, 1918 – July 5, 2002), best known as Ted Williams, nicknamed The Kid, the Splendid Splinter, Teddy Ballgame and The Thumper, was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball. ... Willie Lee McCovey (born January 10, 1938 in Mobile, Alabama), nicknamed Big Mac and Stretch, is a former slugger and first baseman who played Major League Baseball for the San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics between 1959 and 1980. ... Ernest Ernie Banks (born January 31, 1931 in Dallas, Texas) is an American former Major League baseball player who played his entire career with the Chicago Cubs (1953-1971). ... Edwin Lee Eddie Mathews (October 13, 1931 – February 18, 2001) was a Hall of Fame third baseman in Major League Baseball and is widely regarded as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, third baseman to play the game. ... Melvin Thomas (Mel) Ott (March 2, 1909 – November 21, 1958), nicknamed Master Melvin, was a right fielder in Major League Baseball who played his entire career in the National League for the New York Giants (1926-1947). ... Eddie Clarence Murray (born February 24, 1956 in Los Angeles, California) is a former Major League Baseball first baseman who was known as one of the most reliable and productive hitters of his era, earning the nickname Steady Eddie. Murray is regarded as one of the best switch hitters ever...

Early in September, he strained a tendon in his left foot (an injury unrelated to his past hamstring and calf problems), and was listed as day-to-day for several weeks. On September 22, with the Reds out of playoff contention, the team decided to bench him for the rest of the season so he could immediately have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and a separate operation to repair scars from his 2004 hamstring operation. Still, his 128 games in 2005 were the most he has played since 2000. Griffey's resurgence was recognized when he was named National League Comeback Player of the Year. He played in the World Baseball Classic for the American team that offseason. The MLB Comeback Player of the Year Award is the newest annual award officially sponsored by Major League Baseball. ... The World Baseball Classic, sometimes abbreviated WBC, is an international baseball tournament, first held in March 2006. ...

Griffey and his wife Melissa have 3 children: George Kenneth III ("Trey"), daughter Taryn Kennedy, and adopted son Tevin Kendall. When Trey was born, then-Mariners' G.M. Woody Woodward sent him a player's contract dated 2012. Griffey switched his uniform number in 2006, from 30 to 3, to honor his three kids. William Frederick Woody Woodward (born September 23, 1942, in Miami, Florida, USA) is an American former player and general manager in Major League Baseball. ...

During the second game of the 2006 regular season, Griffey hit home run #537 which overtook Mickey Mantle's 12th all-time position on the home run list. He returned on May 11 from an injury he suffered to his knee on April 12 to hit a walk-off three-run home run in the bottom of the 11th inning against the Washington Nationals. On Mother's Day, May 14, 2006, Griffey was one of more than 50 hitters who brandished a pink bat to benefit the Breast Cancer Foundation. On June 5, Jr. tied Fred McGriff's record by hitting a home run in his 43rd different ballpark, at the St. Louis Cardinals' Busch Stadium. On June 19, Griffey hit career home run 548, tying him with Mike Schmidt, and then six days later passed Schmidt with 549. On June 27, he hit his 550th career home run against the Kansas City Royals. Mickey Charles Mantle (October 20, 1931 – August 13, 1995) was an American baseball player who was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974. ... is the 131st day of the year (132nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 102nd day of the year (103rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Mothers Day. ... May 14 is the 134th day of the year (135th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Starting in 2006, the Louisville Slugger Company produced a limited supply of more than 400 pink baseball bats for use by more than 50 professional baseball players on Mothers Day. ... is the 156th day of the year (157th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Frederick Stanley Crime Dog McGriff (born October 31, 1963 in Tampa, Florida) is a former left-handed Major League Baseball player who starred for several teams from the mid-1980s until the early 2000s. ... Major league affiliations National League (1892–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 2, 6, 9, 14, 17, 20, 42, 42, 45, 85 Name St. ... Busch Stadium (also referred to informally as New Busch Stadium or Busch Stadium III) is the new home for the St. ... is the 170th day of the year (171st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Michael Jack Schmidt (born September 27, 1949 in Dayton, Ohio) is a former American professional baseball player who played his entire career for the Philadelphia Phillies. ... is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Homerun redirects here. ... Major league affiliations American League (1969–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 5, 10, 20, 42 Name Kansas City Royals (1969–present) Other nicknames The Boys in Blue Ballpark Kauffman Stadium (1973–present) a. ...

On September 25, 2006 Griffey hit his 27th home run of the season off of Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Scott Eyre to tie Reggie Jackson for tenth spot on the all time home run list. Both Griffey Jr. and Jackson had hit 563 career swats. is the 268th day of the year (269th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 2006 throughout the world. ... Major league affiliations National League (1876–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 10, 14, 23, 26, 42 Name Chicago Cubs (1902–present) Chicago Orphans (1898-1901) Chicago Colts (1890-1897) Chicago White Stockings (1870-1871, 1874-1889) (a. ... Scott Alan Eyre (born May 30, 1972 in Inglewood, California) is a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. ... Reginald Martinez Reggie Jackson (born May 18, 1946), nicknamed Mr. ... In baseball, a home run is a base hit in which the batter is able to circle all the bases, ending at home plate and scoring a run, with no errors on the play that result in the batter achieving extra bases. ...

Griffey's injuries continued in the 2006 off season. While on holiday in the Bahamas with his family he broke his wrist. He said he was wrestling with his daughter and two younger sons when the oldest jumped in and knocked him off balance, he landed awkwardly on his left hand. Griffey said his hand felt fine and he expected to be ready to go for 2007 spring training.[4]

2007 Season

Since the beginning of the 2007 Major League Baseball Season, Ryan Freel has taken over center field for the Reds, and Griffey Jr. has been moved to right field. Narron said that "I’ve got to do everything I can do to put our best club out there. My feeling is that with Ryan Freel out there, it gives us strong defense up the middle."[5] Ryan Paul Freel (born March 8, 1976 in Jacksonville, Florida) is a professional baseball player. ... The position of the center fielder A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field - the baseball fielding position between left field and right field (e. ... The position of the right fielder A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in right field (e. ...

In April, 2007, Griffey was diagnosed with pleurisy, an inflammation of the lining of the cavity surrounding the lungs which can cause painful respiration and other symptoms. Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Pleurisy, also known as pleuritis, is an inflammation of the pleura, the lining of the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs, which can cause painful respiration and other symptoms. ...

On May 10, 2007 Griffey hit his sixth home run of the season and the 569th of his career, tying Rafael Palmeiro for ninth place on the career home runs list. He passed Palmeiro on May 13. Griffey tied Harmon Killebrew for eighth on the all-time list hitting his 573rd career home run on May 22. He then surpassed him on May 25. is the 130th day of the year (131st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 2007 throughout the world. ... Rafael Palmeiro Corrales (born September 24, 1964 in Havana, Cuba) is a Major League Baseball player with a career spanning 20 years, 1986 to 2005. ... is the 133rd day of the year (134th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Harmon Clayton Killebrew (born June 29, 1936 in Payette, Idaho, United States) is a former Major League Baseball player and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. ... is the 142nd day of the year (143rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 145th day of the year (146th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

On June 22, 2007 Griffey made his first return to Seattle after his trade to the Reds. Before the game, the Mariners honored him with a 15-minute presentation which included a highlight reel of his playing career with the Mariners, a presentation of a "The House that Griffey Built" memorial by Mariners hall-of-famers Jay Buhner and Edgar Martinez, a 4 minute standing ovation from the sold out crowd, and a speech by Griffey. Many of the fans in attendance made signs professing gratitude and adoration toward Griffey with quotes such as: "The House that Griffey Built", "Seattle [hearts] Junior", and "Griffey we miss you." This was a more welcoming return for Griffey in Seattle compared to former Mariner Alex Rodriguez where fans threw out money back in 2001. In a reversal of common baseball etiquette, during Griffey's at bat in the first inning, with Brandon Phillips on first base, the Mariners pitcher Ryan Feierabend was booed by the home crowd for attempting to pick off Phillips twice before pitching to Griffey (something normally endured by away-team pitchers). Another oddity was when he walked to the plate for his first at bat. While usually the visiting team's names get read monotonously by the P.A. Announcer, Griffey's was said with the same enthusiasm that a home player's would, and introduction music was played, which was the same music that was played when Griffey played in Seattle (Naughty by Nature HIP HOP HOORAY). However, every at bat after he was given the same visiting treatment. Griffey went 1-5 in the game. On June 24, during the third game of the series, Griffey hit his 583rd and 584th career home runs, tying and passing Mark McGwire for 7th place on the all-time career home run list. is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Jay Campbell Buhner (born August 13, 1964, in Louisville, Kentucky), nicknamed Bone, was a powerful right-handed hitter in Major League Baseball. ... Édgar Martínez (born January 2, 1963 in New York, New York, but raised in the Maguayo neighborhood of Dorado, Puerto Rico[1]) is a longtime Major League Baseball player who retired at the end of the 2004 season. ... Alexander Emmanuel Alex Rodriguez (born July 27, 1975, in New York, New York), commonly nicknamed A-Rod, is a Dominican-American baseball infielder. ... Brandon Emil Phillips (born June 28, 1981, in Raleigh, North Carolina), commonly nicknamed BP, is a second baseman for the Cincinnati Reds. ... Ryan R. Feierabend (born August 22, 1985 in Cleveland, OH) is a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Seattle Mariners. ... is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Mark David McGwire (born October 1, 1963 in Pomona, California) is a former professional baseball player who played the majority of his major league career with the Oakland Athletics before finishing his career with the St. ... This is a list of the top 500 Major League Baseball home run hitters. ...

On June 24, 2007 in an interview on FSN Northwest with Angie Mentink, Griffey stated that he would like to end his career as a Seattle Mariner and that he feels that he owes it to the fans of Seattle. is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... FSN Northwest is a sports television channel available in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, parts of Wyoming, and parts of northern Nevada. ... Angie Mentink (born October 18, 1972) is the co-anchor of the weekday edition of the Detroit Sports Report. ...

Following the recent Cincinnati Reds vs Seattle Mariners series, a fan movement has emerged petitioning Mariners' management to bring Griffey back to the Seattle Mariners. Over 1,900 signatures have been collected on a fan vid-blog/petition.[6] Major league affiliations National League (1890–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 5, 8, 10, 13, 18, 20, 24, 42 Name Cincinnati Reds (1958–present) Cincinnati Redlegs (1953-1958) Cincinnati Reds (1882-1953) Cincinnati Red Stockings (1876-1882) Other nicknames The Redlegs, The Big Red Machine... Major league affiliations American League (1977–present) West Division (1977–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 42 Name Seattle Mariners (1977–present) Other nicknames The Ms Ballpark Safeco Field (1999–present) King County Domed Stadium (Kingdome) (1977-1999) Major league titles World Series titles (0) none AL Pennants (0) None...

Griffey received the most votes of any player in the National League for the 2007 All-Star balloting and on the July 10 game, he went on to drive in two runs for the National League. is the 191st day of the year (192nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see National League (disambiguation). ...

On July 16, 2007, Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 587th home run to pass Frank Robinson and be alone in 6th place on the all-time home run list. He is now on his way to tying Sammy Sosa for 5th place on the list, for which he needs 604 home runs. On July 18, 2007, Griffey hit his 2,500th hit, a first inning single off Atlanta Braves starting pitcher John Smoltz. is the 197th day of the year (198th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... This article is about the baseball player and manager. ... This is a list of the top 500 Major League Baseball home run hitters. ... Samuel Sosa Peralta (born November 12, 1968 in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic) is a designated hitter for the Texas Rangers of the American League. ... is the 199th day of the year (200th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Major league affiliations National League (1876–present) East Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 3, 21, 35, 41, 42, 44 Name Atlanta Braves (1966–present) Milwaukee Braves (1953-1965) Boston Braves (1941-1952) Boston Bees (1936-1940) Boston Braves (1912-1935) Boston Rustlers (1911) Boston Doves (1907-1910) Boston... John Andrew Smoltz (born May 15, 1967 in Warren, Michigan) is a Major League Baseball player. ...

On September 19, 2007 in a game against the Chicago Cubs, Griffey fielded a Derrek Lee single in right field, then suddenly went down in pain. He lay on the field for several minutes, but eventually walked off under his own power. The injury, first thought as a lower abdominal strain, was later revealed as a season-ending groin strain. This marks one of many seasons in Cincinnati which Griffey has had to end the year on the disabled list. is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Major league affiliations National League (1876–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 10, 14, 23, 26, 42 Name Chicago Cubs (1902–present) Chicago Orphans (1898-1901) Chicago Colts (1890-1897) Chicago White Stockings (1870-1871, 1874-1889) (a. ... Derrek Leon Lee (born September 6, 1975 in Sacramento, California) is a first baseman in Major League Baseball who currently plays for the Chicago Cubs and has since 2004. ...

Ken Griffey Jr. was just selected as an all-time gold glove winner, this list of nine players are considered the greatest defensive players in the last fifty years (with Ichiro Suzuki not playing enough seasons to qualify).

Career stats

 Yr Ag Tm Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB K AVG OBP SLG TB SH SF IBB HBP GIDP -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1989 19 SEA AL 127 455 61 120 23 0 16 61 16 7 44 83 .264 .329 .420 191 1 4 8 2 4 1990 20 SEA AL 155 597 91 179 28 7 22 80 16 11 63 81 .300 .366 .481 287 0 4 12 2 12 1991 21 SEA AL 154 548 76 179 42 1 22 100 18 6 71 82 .327 .399 .527 289 4 9 21 1 10 1992 22 SEA AL 142 565 83 174 39 4 27 103 10 5 44 67 .308 .361 .535 302 0 3 15 5 15 1993 23 SEA AL 156 582 113 180 38 3 45 109 17 9 96 91 .309 .408 .617 359 0 7 25 6 14 1994 24 SEA AL 111 433 94 140 24 4 40 90 11 3 56 73 .323 .402 .674 292 0 2 19 2 9 1995 25 SEA AL 72 260 52 67 7 0 17 42 4 2 52 53 .258 .379 .481 125 0 2 6 0 4 1996 26 SEA AL 140 545 125 165 26 2 49 140 16 1 78 104 .303 .392 .628 342 1 7 13 7 7 1997 27 SEA AL 157 608 125 185 34 3 56 147 15 4 76 121 .304 .382 .646 393 0 12 23 8 12 1998 28 SEA AL 161 633 120 180 33 3 56 146 20 5 76 121 .284 .365 .611 387 0 4 11 7 14 1999 29 SEA AL 160 606 123 173 26 3 48 134 24 7 91 108 .285 .384 .576 349 0 2 17 7 8 2000 30 CIN NL 145 520 100 141 22 3 40 118 6 4 94 117 .271 .387 .556 289 0 8 17 9 7 2001 31 CIN NL 111 364 57 104 20 2 22 65 2 0 44 72 .286 .365 .533 194 1 4 6 4 8 2002 32 CIN NL 70 197 17 52 8 0 8 23 1 2 28 39 .264 .358 .426 84 0 4 6 3 6 2003 33 CIN NL 53 166 34 41 12 1 13 26 1 0 27 44 .247 .370 .566 94 1 1 5 6 3 2004 34 CIN NL 83 300 49 76 18 0 20 60 1 0 44 67 .253 .351 .513 154 0 2 3 2 8 2005 35 CIN NL 128 491 85 148 30 0 35 92 0 1 54 93 .301 .369 .576 283 0 7 3 3 9 2006 36 CIN NL 109 428 62 108 19 0 27 72 0 0 39 78 .252 .316 .486 208 0 3 6 2 13 2007 37 CIN NL 144 528 78 146 24 1 30 93 6 1 85 88 .277 .372 .496 262 0 9 14 1 10 AS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTALS 2378 8826 1545 2558 473 37 593 1701 184 68 1162 1582 .290 .374 .553 4875 7 94 230 77 173 19 Seasons 

Stats are as of September 30 , 2007. is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

Griffey in popular culture

Griffey has starred in four Nintendo videogames: 1994's Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball and 1996's Ken Griffey Jr.'s Winning Run for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, as well as the Nintendo 64 games Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey, Jr. in 1998, and Ken Griffey Jr.'s Slugfest in 1999. He has also appeared on the Game Boy in 1997 (a portable version of his 1994 game, with authentic rosters as they were on Opening Day 1997) and 1999's Slugfest, a portable version of the Nintendo 64 game. Nintendo Company, Limited (任天堂 or ニンテンドー Nintendō; NASDAQ: NTDOY, TYO: 7974 usually referred to as simply Nintendo, or Big N ) is a multinational corporation founded on September 23, 1889[1] in Kyoto, Japan by Fusajiro Yamauchi to produce handmade hanafuda cards. ... A computer game is a game composed of a computer-controlled virtual universe that players interact with in order to achieve a defined goal or set of goals. ... Ken Griffey Jr. ... Ken Griffey Jr. ... The Super Nintendo Entertainment System or Super NES (also called SNES and Super Nintendo) was a 16-bit video game console released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia, and Brazil between 1990 and 1993. ... The Nintendo 64 ), often abbreviated as N64, is Nintendos third home video game console for the international market. ... A game in progress Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffy, Jr. ... Ken Griffey Jr. ... For the entire Game Boy series of handheld consoles, see Game Boy line. ...

In 1996, Nike promoted a "Ken Griffey Jr. for President" ad campaign, releasing "Griffey in '96" buttons and a TV commercial featuring Penny Hardaway. Of course, Griffey could not take office as he was only 27 at the time; the Constitution requires President to be at least 35. Nike, Inc. ... Anfernee Deon Penny Hardaway (born July 18, 1971, in Memphis, Tennessee) is an American NBA basketball player specializing as a point guard and shooting guard. ...

Griffey also had a memorable guest turn on The Simpsons, in episode 52, during the third season, "Homer at the Bat", along with fellow stars José Canseco, Wade Boggs, Darryl Strawberry, Don Mattingly, Roger Clemens, Steve Sax, Ozzie Smith, and Mike Scioscia. In the episode, Griffey overdoses on a nerve tonic prescribed to him by Mr Burns, causing him to suffer from gigantism. Simpsons redirects here. ... Homer at the Bat is the seventeenth episode of The Simpsons third season. ... José Canseco y Capas, Jr. ... Wade Anthony Boggs (born June 15, 1958 in Omaha, Nebraska) is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball, primarily with the Boston Red Sox. ... Darryl Eugene Strawberry (born March 12, 1962) is a former baseball player who is well-known both for his play on the baseball field and for his controversial behavior off of it. ... Donald Arthur Mattingly (nicknamed Donnie Baseball and The Hit Man) (born April 20, 1961) is a retired first baseman who played for the New York Yankees of the American League from 1982-1995. ... William Roger Clemens (born August 4, 1962, in Dayton, Ohio), is a starting pitcher for the New York Yankees, and is one of the preeminent pitchers in Major League history. ... Stephen Louis Sax (born January 29, 1960 in West Sacramento, California) is a former star second baseman in Major League Baseball. ... Osborne Earl Ozzie Smith (born December 26, 1954, in Mobile, Alabama) is a former Major League Baseball shortstop who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002. ... Michael Lorri Mike Scioscia (born November 27, 1958 in Morton, Pennsylvania) is a former catcher and current Major League Baseball manager. ... Mr. ... Anna Haining Bates with her parents Greek gigas, gigantus (giant) is a condition characterized by excessive height growth and bigness. ...

Griffey also has had a candy bar name after him called the Ken Griffey Jr. Bar. Unfortunately, he is allergic to chocolate so their manufacture soon ceased.

Griffey was mentioned in an episode of "Scrubs". A paramedic, played by Molly Shannon, said she bought her son Griffey's card, and he carried it with him wherever he went.

Griffey also had an appearance in "Love Hurts", an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, in which he insults Will Smith at a local carnival. In 1994, he was featured in the major motion picture Little Big League, directed by Andrew Scheinman. In the 2001 baseball movie, Summer Catch, Griffey makes a brief cameo appearance at the very end of the movie, showcasing him hitting a home run at the now defunct Cinergy Field/Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. Spoiler warning: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was a television sitcom which aired on NBC from 1990 to 1996. ... Little Big League  is a 1994 film about an 11-year-old (later turns 12) who suddenly becomes the owner and then manager of the Minnesota Twins baseball team. ... Promotional movie poster for Summer Catch Summer Catch is a 2001 romance comedy starring Freddie Prinze Jr. ...

Griffey has appeared in some games in the Backyard Baseball series. Backyard Baseball is a highly acclaimed series of kids video games for the Game Boy Advance, PlayStation 2, GameCube and the PC. Currently all the games in the series have been developed by Humongous Entertainment and published by Atari. ...

Griffey is a paintball fan and can often be found playing with his wife and children at paintball facilities around Orlando, Florida, his off-season home. At the 2007 PSP World Cup, Planet Eclipse presented Griffey with his own "Private Label" 2008 Ego paintball marker. Image:Http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/10/29818084778.jpgImage:Http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/10/29818084785.jpgImage:Http://img2.putfile.com/main/10/29818084785.jpg Nickname: Location in Orange County and the state of Florida Coordinates: , Country State Counties Orange Government  - Mayor Buddy Dyer (D) Area  - City 101 sq mi (261. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Florida. ...

Griffey was the first player to ask Bud Selig to wear the number 42 in celebration of Jackie Robinson Day. After its approval from the league commissioner, Selig encouraged players across the league to do the same in a temporary suspension of the number being retired to honor the great Jackie Robinson on Jackie Robinson day celebrated throughout the major league.

Griffey's 1989 Upper Deck Rookie card, numbered 1, was selected as the first ever* printed MLB baseball card for an official set by Upper Deck.

• Promotional cards of Wally Joyner and DeWayne Buice were printed by the company, prior to the release of the official set. The Buice promo card is also numbered 1 on the reverse, but the hologram is rectangular, rather than the diamond shape.

Ken Griffey Jr's 1989 Upper Deck rookie card was mentioned on the Sci-fi television show Eureka in the episode titled Games people play as Sheriff Jack Carters prized baseball card from his former baseball card collection. The sheriff's ex-wife disposed of the collection. This article is about the US science-fiction television series For the Canadian educational science television series, see Eureka! (TV series). ... Games People Play is the fourth episode of season two of the show Eureka. ...

See also

• MLB players who have hit 30 or more home runs before the All-Star break
• 50 home run club
• 500 home run club
• List of Major League Baseball Home Run Records
• Top 500 home run hitters of all time
• List of second generation MLB players
• List of MLB individual streaks
• List of major league players with 2,000 hits
• List of Major League Baseball players with 400 doubles
• List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
• List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI
• List of Major League Baseball RBI champions
• List of Major League Baseball home run champions
• List of Major League Baseball runs scored champions
• Major League Baseball hitters with three home runs in one game
• Major League Baseball titles leaders

Listed below are the Major League Baseball players who have hit 30 or more home runs before the All-Star break (multiple occurrences denoted into parentheses). ... In Major League Baseball, the 50 home run club is an informal term applied to the group of players who have hit 50 or more home runs in a single season. ... In Major League Baseball, the 500 Home Run Club is an informal term applied to the group of players who have hit 500 or more career home runs. ... Players denoted in boldface are are still actively contributing to the record noted. ... In the sport of baseball, a home run is the act of hitting the ball in such a manner, whether out of the park or in (see inside the park home run), that allows the batter to safely reach home and score in one play. ... The following is a list of father-and-son combinations who have played or managed in Major League Baseball, plus a few grandfathers with grandsons. ... Insert non-formatted text hereThe following is a list of notable individual streaks achieved in Major League Baseball. ... Below is the list of Major League Baseball players who have reached the 2,000 hit milestone. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with List of Major League Baseball all-time leaders in doubles. ... Below is the list of 295 Major League Baseball players who have reached the 1,000 Runs milestone. ... Below is the list of 252 Major League Baseball players who have reached the 1,000 RBI milestone. ... Major League Baseball recognizes runs batted in champions in the American League and National League each season. ... Major League Baseball recognizes home run champions in the American League and National League each season. ... Major League Baseball recognizes runs scored champions in the American League and National League each season. ... Listed below are the occurrences of Major League Baseball players who have hit three home runs in a single game. ... At the end of each Major League Baseball season, the league leaders of various statistical categories are announced. ...

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube
• griffeyjr.com - Official website
• chucksports.com - Home run Leaders of the 90s