Although the Mariners subsequently lost the ALCS to the Cleveland Indians ( managed by later Mariners manager Mike Hargrove ), that moment remains one of the most memorable in Mariners history, capping a season that " saved baseball in Seattle ", Seattle's improbable late season playoff run that year, spurred by the return of Griffey from injury, led to the construction of Safeco Field and the future security of a franchise rumored for years to be on the move.

Not only did Griffey want to live closer but he wanted to be able to raise his kids, Trey and Taryn ( Tevin wasn't born at this time ).

It was also alleged that Martin would chase a young Ken Griffey Jr. out of the clubhouse, when Griffey's father was playing for the Yankees, seeing that he didn't believe that children should be in the clubhouse.

He is shown to be a big fan of the New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, the Seattle SuperSonics, Seattle Seahawks, and the Montreal Canadiens, he often displays an autographed photo of Ken Griffey, Jr., and always listens to Bulldog Briscoe's Gonzo Sports Show on KACL.

In the 1989 Upper Deck baseball set, Ken Griffey, Jr. was selected to be featured on card number one.

After reviewing Baseball America, Geideman narrowed the list of candidates to four: Gregg Jefferies of the New York Mets, Gary Sheffield of the Milwaukee Brewers, Sandy Alomar, Jr. of the San Diego Padres, and Ken Griffey, Jr. Geideman was a Mariners fan and decided that Ken Griffey, Jr. should be the prospect featured on card number one of the 1989 set.

In 2003, he was part of an advertising campaign for Armour hot dogs with MLB players Ken Griffey, Jr., Derek Jeter, and Sammy Sosa.

The game-winning hit in Game 5, in which Edgar Martinez drove home Ken Griffey, Jr. to win the game in the 11th inning, clinched a series win for the Mariners, and has since become an iconic moment in team history.

George Kenneth " Ken " Griffey, Jr. ( born November 21, 1969 ), nicknamed " Junior " and " The Kid ", is an American former professional baseball outfielder who played 22 years in Major League Baseball ( MLB ) for three teams ( 1989 – 2010 ).

Considered a five-tool player for much of a career, the Associated Press noted after his retirement: " In his prime, Ken Griffey Jr. was unanimously considered the best player in baseball.

His family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where father Ken Griffey, Sr. played for the Cincinnati Reds when Jr. was six.

Griffey may have escalated it by saying that he would never play for the Yankees, because the Yankees allegedly treated his father, Ken Griffey Sr. badly.

The play also inspired the title of the video game Ken Griffey, Jr .' s Winning Run for the Super Nintendo.

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.

While playing with Seattle, Griffey was a 10-time American League Gold Glove winner, the 1992 All-Star Game MVP, 1997 AL MVP, 1998 ESPY co-winner for Male Athlete of the Year, 1999 Players Choice Awards Player of the Decade ( by the players ), and was named to the All-Century team in 1999.

On February 12, 2000, Griffey was traded to the Reds for pitcher Brett Tomko, outfielder Mike Cameron, and minor leaguers Antonio Perez and Jake Meyer.

Griffey signed a 9 year $ 112. 5 million dollar contract with the Reds after the trade was completed, with a club option for a tenth.

Griffey, batting for the Cincinnati Reds.

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 ).

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.

During the second game of the 2006 regular season, Griffey hit home run # 537, surpassing Mickey Mantle for 12th on the all-time list.

On September 25, 2006, Griffey hit his 27th home run of the season against Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Scott Eyre to tie Reggie Jackson for tenth on the all time home run list.

At the beginning of the 2007 Major League Baseball season, Ryan Freel took over center field for the Reds, and Griffey Jr. was moved to right field.

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.

Griffey tied Harmon Killebrew for eighth on the all-time list hitting his 573rd career home run on May 22.

On June 24, 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.

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.

The Los Angeles Opera's February 2007 production directed by John Doyle and conducted by James Conlon included Audra McDonald as Jenny, Patti LuPone as Begbick, and Anthony Dean Griffey as Jimmy.

On August 22, 2007, as part of the Golden Anniversary of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, Clemente was selected to the All-Time Rawlings Gold Glove Team, joining his onetime mentor, Willie Mays, and his indirect disciple, Ken Griffey Jr .,.

On June 22, 2007, Griffey made his first return to Seattle after his trade to the Reds.

Following the Cincinnati Reds versus Seattle Mariners series from June 22 – 24, 2007, a fan movement emerged petitioning Mariners ' management to bring Griffey back.

On July 16, 2007, Ken Griffey, Jr. hit his 587th home run to pass Frank Robinson for 6th place on the all-time home run list.

On July 18, 2007, Griffey hit his 2, 500th hit, a first inning single off Atlanta Braves starting pitcher John Smoltz.

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.

Griffey ended the 2007 season with 593 career home runs.

On August 22, 2007, Griffey was selected as an all-time Gold Glove winner, on a list of nine players considered the greatest defensive players in the last fifty years .< ref >

* Ken Griffey Jr., Former professional Baseball player, diagnosed with Pleurisy in April, 2007.

When Ken Griffey, Jr., returned to Safeco in 2007 with the Cincinnati Reds, he came to a hero's welcome, receiving gifts from the Mariners organization, and fellow former players Jay Buhner and Edgar Martínez.

On a positive note, the home run chase between Sosa, McGwire and Ken Griffey, Jr. helped professional baseball to bring in a new crop of fans as well as bringing back some fans who had been disillusioned by the 1994 strike.

The gesture was originally the idea of outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr., who sought Rachel Robinson's permission to wear the number.

After receiving her permission, Commissioner Bud Selig not only allowed Griffey to wear the number, but also extended an invitation to all major league teams to do the same.

On August 15, Thome hit 599th and 600th homerun at Comerica Park to become the eighth player in Major League history to hit 600 homeruns, joining Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Ken Griffey Jr., and Alex Rodriguez.

The players and languages featured were Ken Griffey Jr. ( English ), Alex Rodriguez ( Spanish ), Chan Ho Park ( Korean ), Kazuhiro Sasaki ( Japanese ), Graeme Lloyd ( English, with an Australian accent ), Eric Gagne ( French ), Andruw Jones ( Dutch ), John Franco ( Italian ), Ivan Rodriguez ( Spanish ), and Mark McGwire ( English ).

Numerous disputes led to Cornelius spinning off the record label to his talent booker, Dick Griffey, who transformed the label into Solar Records, itself a prominent soul music label throughout the 1980s.

A 13-time All-Star, Griffey was one of the most prolific home run hitters in baseball history ; his 630 home runs rank as the sixth-most in MLB history.

Griffey was also an exceptional defender and won 10 Gold Glove Awards in center field.

Throughout his major league baseball career, Griffey was a popular player and a fan favorite around the league.

Griffey attained widespread recognition by signing lucrative deals with companies of international prominence like Nike and Nintendo ( owners of the Mariners ); his popularity reflected well upon MLB and is credited by some with helping restore its image after the 1994 labor dispute.

Griffey is one of only 29 players in baseball history to date to have appeared in Major League games in four different calendar decades.

He is the son of former MLB player Ken Griffey, Sr.

Griffey shares his birthday ( November 21 ) and birthplace ( Donora, Pennsylvania ) with Hall of Famer Stan Musial.

In 1987, Griffey was selected with the first overall pick of that year's amateur draft by the Seattle Mariners.