There's No "I" in Blog: Starter: George Kenneth Griffey, Jr.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Starter: George Kenneth Griffey, Jr.

Who is he? He's Ken Griffey, Jr.! He's "The Kid!" You know who he is!

Why do we like him? What's not to like? He's played in 13 All-Star Games, has won ten Gold Gloves, and his 628 home runs is the fifth most home runs in Major League history (first among active players). The Griffey love fest started in 1989, when he hit a home run on the first pitch he saw at the Kingdome, and this flair for the dramatic is just one example of how his greatness goes beyond numbers. Sure, we love those 628 homers, but we love the singles almost as much because we get to watch that sweet, smooth swing. Of course I, like any Mariners fan, can't forget the way he glided through center field to track down fly balls to make all his amazing catches. There's not a Mariners fan who's seen his 1995 wrist-breaking catch who can watch the replay and not simultaneously cringe at the pain and smile at the sheer awesomeness. Even though he broke his wrist on that play and missed 73 games because of the injury, it only added to the Griffey love. We knew he was giving 110% on every play and that he would do whatever it took to win, and his smile showed us he loved playing just as much as we loved watching him play. Griffey pretty much saved baseball in Seattle. Sure, the Mariners had Randy Johnson and Edgar Martinez, but Griffey was the star of the 1995 playoffs, during which the city of Seattle voted to build a new stadium in place of the crumbling concrete mess that was the Kingdome. This year, he returned to Seattle as a designated hitter in what will, in all likelihood, be his unofficial farewell tour. Some might say signing an aging, .200-hitting, platooning DH was a mistake, especially considering the Ms were right in thick of the wild card race for awhile, but most agree Griffey should end his career in a Seattle Mariners uniform.

For more Ken Griffey, Jr. memories and photos, including the wonderful Griffey dog pile, check out Seattle Sportsnet and MLB.com. Also, click here for a video of his appearance on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air!

*Photo courtesy of Keith Allison via Creative Commons License

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Rachel Partin

Rachel is a writer living in Somerville, Massachusetts. She spent her childhood shooting hoops with her beloved hot pink basketball and getting bowled over as she posted up against her towering brothers. Eventually learning that she was better suited to track and field, she pursued a high school career as a pole vaulter, only to inevitably end up sunbathing on the pit rather than practicing. In college she tutored athletes in writing and English, discovering, to her delight, that most college athletes truly care about academics. She edits a sports blog in her spare time.

Alex Strum

Alex is a writer who lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. As a youth, he once scored five goals in an after-school street hockey game. He was also a key cog in the machine that was the 1996 Holliston Giants. More recently he was a member of the HHS 2002 ultimate frisbee tournament champion Cash Butter Nuggets and later helped found the Long Island Flag Football team of the same name. He is the owner of a Ki-Jana Carter jersey and a Free Lawrence Phillips T-Shirt, but is most proud of his Roger Dorn replica jersey. He is the author of But What About All the Good Things OJ Did? and Portrait of a Gentleman: The Ty Cobb Story.

Ian Thistle

Ian is a writer (in theory) who lives in Boston, Massachusetts. Though he grew up in Olympia, Washington and Burlington, Vermont, his family has roots in Framingham going back to the turn of the 20th century, which gives him the edge in any Boston sports team pissing contest. He had tickets to both Clay Buchholz's and Jon Lester's no-hitters, but gave them up for various reasons. He likes Dustin Pedroia's attitude, Ambiorix Burgos's name, and the body language of soccer players when they give up an own goal. He hates the save and RBI stats, Tony Dungy, and the Philadelphia Flyers. In his spare time, he rides bicycles and hangs out with his mom.

Patrick Truby

Patrick is a writer who lives in Somerville, Massachusetts. He grew up in Hawaii, a place devoid of major professional sports. At the age of 5, he was given a Dwight Clark jersey but, not knowing who Dwight Clark was, wanted his brother’s Bo Jackson jersey. He once ate a raw chili pepper in exchange for Ken Griffey, Jr.’s rookie card. Later in life, he campaigned to change the name of his American Legion baseball team to the Mukilteo Ferries. He has an affinity for throwback uniforms and hopes to see the day the Supersonics return to Seattle. Follow him on Twitter.