Ken Griffey Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ken Griffey Jr. |
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Griffey with the Seattle Mariners in 2009
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| Center fielder | |||
| Born: November 21, 1969 Donora, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 3, 1989, for the Seattle Mariners | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| May 31, 2010, for the Seattle Mariners | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .284 | ||
| Hits | 2,781 | ||
| Home runs | 630 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,836 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2016 | ||
| Vote | 99.3% (first ballot) | ||
George Kenneth Griffey Jr. (born November 21, 1969), known as "Junior" or "the Kid", is a retired American baseball player. He was an amazing outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 22 years. He played most of his career with the Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds. He also had a short time with the Chicago White Sox.
Griffey was the very first player picked in the 1987 draft. He was chosen for the All-Star team 13 times. Griffey is one of the best home run hitters ever. His 630 home runs are the seventh-most in MLB history. He was also an amazing defender and won 10 Gold Glove Awards as a center fielder. He holds a record for hitting a home run in eight games in a row.
Griffey was very popular and had big deals with companies like Nike and Nintendo. Some people say his popularity helped baseball after a player strike in 1994. He is one of only 31 players to play in four different decades.
After he stopped playing, Griffey became a special advisor for the Mariners. He is in both the Mariners Hall of Fame and the Reds Hall of Fame. In 2016, Griffey was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He got 99.32% of the votes, which was a record at the time.
Ken Griffey Jr. is the son of former MLB player Ken Griffey Sr.. His son, Trey Griffey, played football.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Griffey was born in Donora, Pennsylvania, on November 21, 1969. His family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, when his dad, Ken Griffey Sr., started playing for the Cincinnati Reds in 1973. Ken Jr. was only three years old then. He was often in the clubhouse when his dad's team won championships in 1975 and 1976.
His father taught him that team success was more important than individual stats. Ken Jr. once said his dad would have "bopped me on the head" if he bragged about his own play. He only cared about what the team did. Griffey Jr. later decided he would never play for the New York Yankees. This was because the Yankees' manager, Billy Martin, once made him leave the dugout when he was a kid.
Griffey went to Archbishop Moeller High School in Cincinnati. He was named the best high school baseball player in the U.S. in 1987. He hit .478 with 17 home runs in his two high school seasons. Griffey also played football as a wide receiver. He even got offers to play college football from big schools like Oklahoma and Michigan.
Professional Baseball Career
Drafted and Minor League Journey
The Seattle Mariners picked Griffey as the first overall player in the 1987 Major League Baseball draft. This happened on June 2, 1987. He received a $160,000 bonus for signing with the Mariners.
On June 11, 1987, Griffey joined the Bellingham Mariners. This was a minor league team. In his first professional season, he hit .313 with 14 home runs. He also had 40 runs batted in and 13 stolen bases. Baseball America magazine called him the top prospect in the league.
In 1988, Griffey played for the San Bernardino Spirit. He batted .338, hit 11 home runs, and stole 32 bases in 58 games. Later that year, he moved up to the Vermont Mariners. He played 17 games there before joining the big leagues.
Seattle Mariners: A Superstar Emerges (1989–1999)
In his first 11 seasons with Seattle, Griffey became one of baseball's most exciting players. He had 1,752 hits, 398 home runs, and 1,152 runs batted in. He also stole 167 bases. He led the American League in home runs four times (1994, 1997, 1998, 1999). In 1997, he was voted the AL MVP. His career batting average was .297.
Griffey's defense in center field was amazing. He won 10 straight Gold Gloves from 1990 to 1999. He made many spectacular diving catches. He would often leap high to steal home runs from opposing hitters. He was even on the Wheaties cereal box and had his own Nike sneakers.
On April 3, 1989, in his very first MLB at-bat, Griffey hit a double. A week later, he hit his first major league home run. Griffey played in the All-Star Game many times in the 1990s.
In 1990 and 1991, Griffey and his father became the first father-son duo to play on the same team. On August 31, 1990, they both hit singles in the first inning and scored. On September 14, they hit back-to-back home runs! This was a first for a father and son. A funny moment happened on September 21. Ken Jr. caught a fly ball that his dad was trying to catch. His dad "grounded" him in the dugout and took his car keys! They played 51 games together before his dad retired in 1991.
At the 1993 MLB Home Run Derby, Griffey hit a ball all the way to a warehouse. He is still the only player to do this. In 1994, he was the top vote-getter for the All-Star Game. That season, he hit 30 home runs in the Mariners' first 65 games.
One of Griffey's most famous moments was in the 1995 American League Division Series. The Mariners were playing the New York Yankees. In Game 5, Griffey scored the winning run in the 11th inning. He slid into home plate and was met by his excited teammates. This play helped "save baseball in Seattle" and led to the building of Safeco Field. It also inspired a video game called Ken Griffey Jr.'s Winning Run.
In 1997, Griffey led the Mariners to win their division. He also won the American League Most Valuable Player Award. He hit .304 with 56 home runs and 147 runs batted in. In 1998, he hit 56 home runs again. On April 15, 1997, Griffey wore number 42. This led to Jackie Robinson Day, where all players wear number 42.
In 1999, The Sporting News listed him as one of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players. He was the youngest player on the list. He was also chosen for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.
Griffey won 10 Gold Gloves, was the 1992 All-Star Game MVP, and the 1997 AL MVP. He was also named the Players Choice Awards Player of the Decade in 1999.
Leaving Seattle
In 1999, Griffey wanted to live closer to his family in Cincinnati. On February 10, 2000, Griffey was traded to the Reds. He signed a nine-year contract with them.
Cincinnati Reds: New Team, New Challenges (2000–2008)
In 2000, Griffey changed his jersey number from 24 to 30. This was the number his father wore. The number 24 was already retired for Tony Pérez. Griffey's first year with the Reds was good, but not as amazing as his Seattle years. He hit 40 home runs and had 118 runs batted in.
From 2001 to 2004, Griffey had many injuries. These injuries made him miss many games. They also affected his hitting power. In 2004, he hit his 500th career home run. This happened on Father's Day with his dad watching. This homer also tied him with his father in career hits. However, he got injured again and missed the rest of the season. After a special surgery and hard work, he returned in 2005.
Comeback and Milestones
In 2005, Griffey had a great comeback season. He hit 35 home runs, his most since joining the Reds. He passed many baseball legends on the career home run list. He was named the National League Comeback Player of the Year. He also played in the World Baseball Classic for the American team.
In 2006, Griffey changed his number again, to 3, to honor his three children. He hit home run #537, passing Mickey Mantle. He continued to climb the all-time home run list, passing Mike Schmidt and Reggie Jackson.
In 2007, Griffey moved to right field. He kept hitting home runs, passing Rafael Palmeiro and Harmon Killebrew. On June 22, 2007, Griffey returned to Seattle to play against the Mariners. Fans gave him a huge, emotional standing ovation. They held signs saying "The House that Griffey Built." He was very touched by their welcome.
He passed Mark McGwire for seventh place on the all-time home run list. He also got his 2,500th hit. Griffey ended the 2007 season with 593 career home runs. He was also named an all-time Rawlings Gold Glove winner.
In 2008, Griffey hit his 600th home run. This was a huge milestone! Fans from both teams gave him a standing ovation. He was not chosen for the All-Star Game that year. On July 30, he hit his 608th career home run in his last game for the Reds.
Chicago White Sox (2008)
On July 31, 2008, Griffey was traded to the Chicago White Sox. In his first game, he had two hits and two runs batted in. He hit his first home run as a White Sox player, tying Sammy Sosa for fifth place in career home runs. He later passed Sosa.
A memorable moment with the White Sox happened on September 30. In a tie-breaking game, Griffey made an amazing throw from center field. He threw the ball to the catcher, who tagged out a runner at home plate. This double play helped the White Sox win the game and move on to the playoffs.
After the 2008 season, the White Sox decided not to keep Griffey. He became a free agent for the first time.
Return to Seattle Mariners (2009–2010)
In 2009, Griffey decided to return to the Mariners. He said it was for sentimental reasons. He wanted to be back in Seattle, where he was so loved. He also considered the Atlanta Braves to be closer to his family. But a talk with baseball legend Willie Mays and his own daughter helped him choose Seattle. He wore his old number 24 again, which the team had not given to anyone since he left.
In his first game back, Griffey hit a home run. It was his eighth Opening Day home run, tying a record. On April 15, 2009, he hit his 400th home run as a Mariner. This made him the first player to hit 400 homers with one team and 200 with another. People said Griffey's return helped the Mariners' team spirit.
On June 23, 2009, Griffey hit the 5,000th home run in Mariners history. On July 1, he hit his 621st career home run at the new Yankee Stadium. This was the 44th different ballpark where he had hit a home run.
Griffey returned for the 2010 season. He struggled with hitting in the first two months. On May 20, 2010, he hit a game-winning single for the Mariners. This was his last hit and run batted in of his MLB career.
Retirement from Baseball
In May 2010, the Mariners' manager decided to play Griffey less often. On June 2, 2010, Griffey decided to retire from baseball. He left the team and drove home to Florida. He said he retired to avoid being a distraction for the team. His retirement was announced at Safeco Field.
Life After Playing Baseball
On February 17, 2011, Griffey was hired by the Mariners as a special consultant. He helps the team during spring training and the regular season. He also visits the Mariners' minor league teams.
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| Ken Griffey Jr.'s number 24 was retired by the Seattle Mariners in 2016. |
On January 22, 2013, Griffey was inducted into the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame. He was the seventh person to receive this honor. On August 9, 2014, Griffey was also inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame. He was very emotional when he spoke about wearing the same uniform as his dad.
In 2018, The Seattle Times called Griffey the most important athlete in Seattle sports history. On October 25, 2021, Griffey joined the Mariners' ownership group. He is the first former player to own a part of the team.
Baseball Hall of Fame Election
On January 6, 2016, Griffey was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He received 99.32 percent of the votes. This broke the record set by Tom Seaver in 1992. A flag with Griffey's number 24 was flown from the Space Needle to celebrate.
The Mariners announced they would retire his jersey number 24. This means no other Mariners player will ever wear that number again. The team also honored Griffey in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft. They picked his son, Trey Griffey, in the 24th round, matching his jersey number.
As of 2021, Griffey also works as a senior advisor for the MLB Commissioner.
Helping Others
In 2008, Griffey released special wines to help his charity, The Ken Griffey Jr. Family Foundation. This foundation supports groups like the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and children's hospitals. He also helps a group that promotes aviation safety and education.
Film and Television Appearances
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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| 1991 | Harry and the Hendersons | Himself | Episode: "The Father-Son Game" |
| 1992 | The Simpsons | Himself | Episode: "Homer at the Bat" |
| 1994 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Himself | Episode: "Love Hurts" |
| 1994 | Little Big League | Himself | With The "Seattle Mariners" |
| 2001 | Summer Catch | Himself | With The "Cincinnati Reds" |
| 2015 | "Downtown" – music video by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, and Grandmaster Caz | Himself | Won Best Video at the 2015 MTV Europe Music Awards |
| 2020 | Superintelligence | Himself |
Personal Life and Hobbies
In April 2007, Griffey had a health issue called pleurisy. This is when the lining around the lungs gets swollen.
Griffey and his wife Melissa have three children: Ken Griffey III (Trey), Taryn Kennedy, and Tevin Kendall. Trey played in the National Football League (NFL). Taryn played for the University of Arizona women's basketball team. The Griffey family lives in Windermere, Florida.
Griffey was named an American Public Diplomacy Envoy in 2008. This means he helped represent the U.S. to other countries. He also has a private pilot certificate and owns a small plane. Since 2015, Griffey has worked as a sports photographer. He has taken pictures at many big sports events.
The video game MLB The Show 17 featured Griffey on its cover. The Griffey family also became part owners of the Seattle Sounders FC soccer team in 2020. On May 26, 2024, Griffey drove the pace car for the famous 2024 Indianapolis 500 race.
See also
In Spanish: Ken Griffey, Jr. para niños
- Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball, a 1994 video game
- Ken Griffey Jr.'s Winning Run, a 1996 video game
- Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey Jr., a 1998 video game
- Ken Griffey Jr.'s Slugfest, a 1999 video game
- 50 home run club
- 500 home run club
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of second-generation Major League Baseball players
- List of Major League Baseball players who played in four decades
- List of members of the Baseball Hall of Fame
