First, I’d like to start off with something known in the biz as an “attention grabber.” Though irrelevant to the rest of the post, it’s something that readers should enjoy.
Since I have been called out to write a front page post (please note that I have made comments on other writers’ entries), I'm feeling a bit of pressure. I need to stick with a safe subject, and yes, that subject will be Ken Griffey, Jr. It does feel a bit like when you’re at a party and somebody says “oh my God, so-and-so does the BEST impression of Bill Walton. So-and-so, do it!” Well now you can either do it (looking like a full-blown fego) or you can say something like “I can’t do it on command” and disappoint everybody. Great. Anyway, this isn’t that bad.
I was only three when the Kid broke onto the scene. I’m a righty, but I still took time in my backyard to perfect his lefty stance, his swing, his hop step and his strut (I have since switched to perfecting this). Why else did half the kids at school start wearing their hats backwards? The only reason there wasn't a "Like Griffey" campaign was because "Like Mike" rolled off the tongue better.
When Junior left Seattle in 2000, he was well on his way to challenging all kinds of records, not that he cared. Griffey was all about having a flair for the dramatic. Sure, he had made 10 straight All-Star appearances, won 10 straight Gold Gloves, won seven Silver Sluggers, won three home run derbys, and added an MVP. All before turning 31. Are you serious? Above this, though:
1. His rookie year in '89, 13 of his 16 home runs were to tie the game or give the M's the lead (he would've won the ROY had he not broken his finger in July).
2. Home runs in eight straight games (absolute SHOT).
5. Um, at the bottom of the greatest moment in Mariner history.
How about just this year? The guy's hitting .226, but he homered in his first game, had a base hit in his first home at bat (homered the next game), hit a pinch-hit game-tying home run, homered on his bobblehead night (before the game when asked if he was going to do something special, he answered "yeah, probably") and had the pinch-hit walk off single on Wednesday. Okay, okay, too many highlights. I'm just sayin', if the Mariners find a way to sneak into the playoffs (5.5 games out currently), look out.
Outside of baseball, Junior's got unbelievably sweet kicks, a Wheaties box, a candy bar, two of the greatest video games ever (for SNES and N64), a JAM, and, as Ernest mentioned, some stellar cameos. Last Naked pointed out in a previous post that Griffey's Mariner commercials were some of the greatest (though my favorite still features Booney).
Lastly, to quickly cover a couple questions that have been brought up: first, Griffey never juiced. Second, yes, he is going to get 100% of the votes when he is eligible for the Hall of Fame. I'm trying to picture the person that wouldn't vote for him and I can't do it. But then again, I'm a bit biased. Being a clean player during the era of enhancement will certainly help.
Would he have been the best player of all time had he never left Seattle? Something tells me he would have. But that's okay. The sign in center field said it best when the he returned to Seattle with the Reds in 2007: "I wish I knew how to quit you, Griffey."
Since I led with something unrelated, I'll make it bookends. Thanks to a friend of the blog for the link. The video below features the studio recording for Buzz Bullets phenom Masahiro Matsuno's Callahan highlight tape. Enjoy.
