Young Ken Griffey Junior

Today, June 2nd, 2010, is a day I will remember forever. Today my childhood hero, Ken Griffey Jr. retired from the Mariners and the game of baseball. It’s funny how things can be, you know? When I was a kid, my dad would take me to the Kingdome to watch the Mariners and Junior play. We lived three hours away from Seattle so this was something that I got to do maybe once a year or so. It was a special treat. Coming to Seattle became a special treat. Many kids think about what they want to be when they grow up. I thought about where.  Would we still have come up here if Junior wasn’t here? Who knows, I suppose. I played a lot of backyard baseball as a kid. I was always the top of the order. Cora, Martinez, Griffey, Buhner. It was always bottom of the ninth. The game was always on the line. I didn’t always win but sometimes I did and sometimes I won by cheating. I know it sounds dramatic and a little ridiculous, but as someone who is as crazy about baseball (especially Seattle baseball), it feels like a part of me died today. He’s the greatest player I’ve ever had the pleasure to see play. There will never be another Junior. I will miss him. Thanks for being such a big part of my childhood Junior.

One thought on “Young Ken Griffey Junior

  1. I agree completely.

    I grew up watching him play, I used to want to BE Griffey. Hell, I still I have my baseball card collection of Jr cards, that is complete up to about 1996. I even still have newspapers, magazines and such that he was on in a trunk somewhere from my childhood.

    I have so many fond memories of Seattle Baseball with Griffey.

    I even got to meet him one time as an adult down in San Diego. The guy couldn’t be nicer.

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