If you haven't heard, and it is possible you have not with the lack of attention it has received, Ken Griffey, Jr. is one home run away from 600 for his career. There are only five players in MLB history with that many dingers - Bonds, Aaron, Ruth, Mays and Sosa. Two of the five names are clearly tainted. The next addition to the club is clearly not.Ken Griffey, Jr. was destined to be the greatest baseball player to ever take the field. He had a sweet swing, amazing athleticism, a big league pedigree (his dad was part of the Cincinnati Reds' Big Red Machine) and a million dollar smile that graced multiple commercials and video games.
He also produced at the plate. Griffey put up monster numbers during the late 1990s during the height of the Steroids Era (he has never even been rumored to have taken the juice). It is easy to forget how good Griffey was during his prime, so check out these numbers:1996 - 49 HR, 140 RBI, .303
1997 - 56 HR, 147 RBI, .304
1998 - 56 HR, 146 RBI, .284
1999 - 48 HR, 134 RBI, .285
2000 - 40 HR, 118 RBI, .271
Those are ridiculous numbers in any era. There was more to Griffey's game than just putting up numbers (ala Slammin' Sammy). Griffey was a 10 time Gold Glover with several signature catches in the Kingdome's centerfield. He was also a clutch performer, scoring the most memorable run in Mariner history as he raced home against the New York Yankees in the 1995 playoffs.
He had it all, though he was hidden from much of America while playing in Seattle. Many of us East Coasters knew Griffey was good, but didn't know just how good. The 1995 playoffs were his initial showcase, but Griffey was largely shined in obscurity in Seattle.
That was all supposed to change with The Kid's arrival in Cincinnati. The Griffey-to-Cincinnati deal was a steal for the Reds. Or so it seemed. After initial success in 2000, The Kid simply could not stay healthy in Cincinnati. Between 2002-2004, Griffey missed 260 games with a variety of injuries.
Now, as he approaches an amazing milestone, he barely gets mentioned as one of the game's all-time greats. Baseball rewards longevity, but it is also a numbers sport. With 600 career dingers, Griffey has the numbers to be considered one of the great centerfielders ever to play the game. If not for a string of unfortunate injuries, Hank Aaron's record 755 would have fallen to a classy slugger rather than an arrogant cheat. Perhaps no athlete has suffered more from injuries than Griffey. His legacy has been tarnished by a body that broke down in Cincinnati after producing so much in Seattle. The injuries set back the Reds for a decade, but also set Griffey aside in baseball's collective mind. As he approaches 600, it is time to remember the brilliance, excitement and disappointment that is the Griffey Legacy.
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5 comments:
Amen.
Agreed. I remember the excitement when he first came on the scene and have always wondered, despite the injuries, why his reputation seemed to peter out.
When I think of Griffey, I immediately think of baseball cards. He emerged with the baseball card craze of the early 1990s and there was not a better card to have than his rookie (Honus Wagner not withstanding). I remember trying to get as many as I could, along with as many Eric Anthony rookies as possible. The latter didn't work out so well.
I still have his Upper Deck and Donruss rookie cards lying around somewhere...that was right when Upper Deck first came out with their glossy cards that everyone else started imitating. Its a shame its not worth quite as much as it was projected to, but yes, its still better than your Eric Anthony rookie cards.
I read that Griffey was the first Upper Deck card ever printed. I couldn't afford UD cards - it was like $25/pack.
My dad used to bring home a pack of cards for my brother and me every night when we were kids. That was one of the greatest things my dad ever did - simple, but sweet.
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