OT- Griffey Jr Retiring
Just reported on Baseball tonight that Ken Griffey Jr. is retiring. It's sad to see him go, he was my favorite player (and many other's) as a kid playing for the M's. It seemed to be time for him as the last couple of years haven't gone his way. It's crazy to think what could have been if he wouldn't have been injured later in his career, or even if he would have trended more towards the norm and taken 'roids (possibly making his recovery faster). Anyway, I don't wanna get to baseball political on this, just sad to see such a great player walk away, but probably time.
link: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5244661
EDIT: I want to make everyone aware that I'm glad he didn't take 'roids and respect him a lot for not in that culture, I'm just making a point that if he would have like many others.
Beat me to it.
Best player I ever saw (I started watching baseball in 1981).
That he's trying to make this as un-awkward as possible for all involved.
He was my favorite player as a kid too, and it's been rough to see that bat speed slow down, and he's really killing an already disappointing team. Luckily there's so much love for him in Seattle that I think some of the awkwardness will be quelled.
Hopefully he got to tickle Ichiro one last time.
wonder if he's just not keeping up physically or if the Mariners can open some cap space to make a move.
I'm sure that the front office ever-so-slightly nudged him out the door. He's blocking the progress of one of the M's top prospects (Saunders) and is essentially a roster black hole.
I'm sure it was a really tough nudge to make, but a necessary one. That guy could still win a mayoral race in Seattle.
Um, no. The GM stated that he would not push him out the door and whatever Griffey decided would happen.
GMs often give coaches a vote of confidence, then fire them the next week (see Royals). . .
GM's, however, don't do this with guys like Ken Griffey Jr.
You may be right, and part of me hopes there's that much honor and loyalty in sports, but it's a bottom line business.
I could imagine Jack Z saying something to the effect of "Y'know Junior, we just love you. All that you've done for this franchise and this city is frankly staggering. You must be exhausted after all these years though! Hey, just so you know, there's always a spot for you in this organization."
What a career for Griffey. As a Reds fan, I'll never forget his time in Cincy. Although the injuries obviously slowed him down, it was still a pleasure watching that sweet swing. I went to a Reds game in Cincinnati in May 2004 when the Reds were playing great baseball. They were playing the Marlins that night. Late in the game, around the 6th or 7th inning, they cleared everyone out of the bleachers in left field because of lightning in the area. The lightning was really close, and I can't believe they let them keep playing. The Reds had a runner in scoring position, and Sean Casey - who was one of the hottest hitters in baseball at the time - was coming to the plate. Marlins manager Jack McKeon, who managed the Reds a few years back, decides to walk Casey to get to Junior. On queue, Junior jacks a pitch halfway up the moon deck in right field for a three run home run. As he rounded third and headed for home, he gave a quick glance at McKeon in the Marlins dugout as if to say "Seriously? You intentionally walked him to face me???" The whole scene was just remarkable.
When you think about the injuries he had over the past decade, its amazing he made it this long. He's got many screws and bolts in his body, and had to rehab back from injuries damn near every year. I'm glad to see he got to finish his career in a Mariners uniform and am proud of the fact that he played clean in an error when everyone else was dirty. Next step Hall of Fame for one of the all time best.
Any reports if he fell asleep during the announcement?
Disagree on the roids part, but that swing.. boy, that was one of the best swings I've ever seen. I'll miss him, but it's time.
Most beautiful, purest swing I ever saw.
At his peak he was among the best ever. While it sucks that the injuries took away so much, I for one am glad he let nature take its course. It's nice to know that everything he did, so much of it amazing, he did on his own. One of a few without the questions about steroids surrounding a great career.
1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey, Jr. The best baseball card ever. You weren't anyone in the early 90's unless you had one of those in the thickest plastic card protector available.
Card #1 from the first Upper Deck set ever. (And that was back when the regular-issue cards were actually worth collecting, and not just the inserts.) How could that have been 21 years ago?
We're old, that's how.
Heck, I remember as a kid when Ken Griffey (now known as Ken Griffey Sr.) was one of my favorite Reds, legging out those infield hits and friends of mine were playing againt Jr. in tourneys...
take me down memory lane on this post....but so true.....
I've still got one put away.
Yeah, their hand was just about forced. Griffey is/was done. The bat speed is gone and so is the power. He was the one I wanted to see pass Aaron.
I grew up a huge Tigers fan and yet somehow Griffey was always my favorite player growing up (once big Cecil left at least). It was sad to see him deteriorate once the 2000's rolled around but he just did everything right. I remember being in Tiger Stadium and watching him abolutely crush a ball just foul over the right field roof and out of the park. Has to be a first ballot hall of famer
Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball - Who remembers that great game??
He is one of my all-time favorites and I will always remember how good he was in Seattle.
In his address to the press Jack Z sounded genuinely surprised that Griffey retired. It is likely Griffey will stick around the clubhouse in some fashion though. He really is the man that kept baseball in Seattle with their magical run in 1995. I grew up in Seattle and I was at game 5 of the ALDS when he scored the winning run in the bottom of the 11th to seal the series. A lot of my childhood memories revolve around watching him patrol center field of the Kingdome. I'm honestly very sad he's retiring but it is definitely time.
I wish Ken well in whatever pursuits catch his attention.
I wonder how much my 3 rookie cards of his are worth now....hmmmmmm
Growing up I collected nothing but Griffey cards. From 89-95 I have over 500 different cards. I thought I was going to be in the money come college (yeah, on baseball cards, like all those people told me I would be), but then injuries took their toll. Greatest swing ever. I just had my first child 2 weeks ago. This is really making me feel old now. Too bad he couldn't have some sort of going away season where he could be recognized in ballparks.
Future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., according to ESPN sources, asked legendary umpire Jim Joyce to contact Bud Selig and tell the commissioner, on his behalf, that he was "firing up some game" and to come over on Sunday for the BBQ. Joyce apparently screwed up the call, telling Selig that Griffey was "retiring from the game."
you know you're getting old, when your favorite player as a kid retires. sad day for baseball and myself.
this is truly a sad day in MLB. Ken Griffey Jr. was a beast, on the field and i know he will be in the Hall of Fame.
The guy was an incredible defender as well. Yes he had the sweetest swing of his era (maybe ever), but no one has mentioned his 10 Gold Gloves. TEN GOLD GLOVES IN A ROW! You wanna know how you earn a spot as one of the greatest of all time? You land fifth on the all time HR list and establish yourself as the best defensive player at your position for a full decade. Find out who else has those kind of credentials and you'll see what kind of company Jr is in. Truly great player who did it the right way.
Man... What a bad day to retire. Jr. is my favorite player of all time. I'll never forget his glory days in Seattle. I actually had the pleasure of watching him once at the Kingdome. He also provided me with my fondest Comerica memory thus far. Last year during a Seattle visit, I almost got bitch slapped by some random chick who was appauled that I would even consider that Jr. be my favorite player of all time.