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| Birth Name(s) : Ken Griffey Jr. |
Date of Birth: N/A |
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Full Ken Griffey Jr. Biography
George Kenneth Griffey, Jr. (born November 21, 1969, in Donora, Pennsylvania) is a second generation Major League Baseball player on the Cincinnati Reds. His nicknames have been "The Natural", "The Kid", and "Junior". He is the son of former big league outfielder Ken Griffey.
In 1999, he ranked 93rd on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players. This list was compiled during the 1998 season, counting only statistics through 1997. It was argued by some that, had the voting been done two or three years later, he would have been ranked several places higher: at age 29 (going on 30), he was easily the youngest player on the list. That same year, Griffey was elected to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. 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 9-time American League Golden Glove winner, the 1992 All-Star Game MVP, 1997 AL MVP, 1998 ESPY co-winner for Male Athlete of the Year, and was named to the All-Century team in 1999.Ken Griffey Jr. painted on a wall in downtown Seattle, 1994. The tick marks indicate how many home runs he had hit up to that point.
Gradually, Griffey became disenchanted with the Mariners franchise. In addition, he expressed a desire to live with his father in his hometown of Cincinnati. The primary reason for wanting out of Seattle was his desire to play closer to his home in Orlando where his family resided. Moving to Cincinnati allowed him to be only a short flight from his family. More importantly, spring training which runs 1+ month in duration would be played in Florida rather than 2,000 miles (3,000 km) away in Arizona.
For obvious reasons, Ken Griffey Jr. is loved by the city of Seattle and its fanbase. He was the featured star of the M's throughout his tenure. In June 2007, the near-capacity crowd welcomed him back in a Reds' uniform for a three-game series in Seattle. Griffey hit two home runs in the last game of the series. In a TV interview broacast on the local FSN affiliate following the series finale, Griffey emotionally expressed an interest in returning to the Seattle ballclub in the future should circumstances warrant it.
In 2004, Griffey avoided major injury during the first half of the season, and on June 20 became the 20th player to hit 500 career home runs. His 500th home run came on Father's Day in a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium, with his father Ken Sr. in the stands; the homer also tied Ken Jr. with his father for career hits with 2,143. However, the injury bug bit again just before the All-Star break, when Griffey, Jr. suffered a partial hamstring tear, knocking him out of the All-Star Game and putting him on the disabled list yet again. He did get his 500th home run ball from a fan who was also there for Father's Day with his dad. The fan received many rewards from Griffey.
Griffey and his wife Melissa have 3 children: George Kenneth III ("Trey"), daughter Taryn Kennedy, and adopted son Tevin Kendall. When Trey was born, then-Mariners' G.M. Woody Woodward sent him a player's contract dated 2012. Griffey switched his uniform number in 2006, from 30 to 3, to honor his three kids.
On September 25, 2006 Griffey hit his 27th home run of the season off of Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Scott Eyre to tie Reggie Jackson for tenth spot on the all time home run list. Both Griffey Jr. and Jackson had hit 563 career swats.
Griffey's injuries continued in the 2006 off season. While on holiday in the Bahamas with his family he broke his wrist. He said he was wrestling with his daughter and two younger sons when the oldest jumped in and knocked him off balance, he landed awkwardly on his left hand. Griffey said his hand felt fine and he expected to be ready to go for 2007 spring training.
In April, 2007, Griffey was diagnosed with pleurisy, an inflammation of the lining of the cavity surrounding the lungs which can cause painful respiration and other symptoms.
In 1996, Nike promoted a "Ken Griffey Jr. for President" ad campaign, releasing "Griffey in '96" buttons and a TV commercial featuring Penny Hardaway. Of course, Griffey could not take office as he was only 27 at the time; the Constitution requires President to be at least 35.
Griffey also had a memorable guest turn on The Simpsons, in episode 52, third season, Homer at the Bat, along with fellow stars José Canseco, Wade Boggs, Darryl Strawberry, Don Mattingly, Roger Clemens, Steve Sax, Ozzie Smith, and Mike Scioscia. He overdoses on a nerve tonic causing gigantisim.
Griffey also has had a candy bar name after him called the Ken Griffey Jr. Bar. Unfortunately, he is allergic to chocolate so their manufacture soon ceased.
Griffey also had an appearance in "Love Hurts", an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, in which he insults Will Smith at a local carnival. In 1994, he was featured in the major motion picture Little Big League, directed by Andrew Scheinman. In the 2001 baseball movie, Summer Catch, Griffey makes a brief cameo appearance at the very end of the movie, showcasing him hitting a home run at the now defunct Cinergy Field/Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. |
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