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Engraved portrait of Ken Griffey Jr.
Sports · 1990s

Ken Griffey Jr.

In memoriam 1969–
Baseball (center fielder)Sport
Mariners, Reds, White Sox (1989-2010)Teams
1997 AL MVP; 13x All-Star; 10x Gold GloveTitles
630 career home runs; record 99.32% HOF voteRecords
George Kenneth Griffey Jr., Donora, PennsylvaniaBorn
The Turning Point

The first overall pick of the 1987 MLB Draft, Griffey debuted for the Seattle Mariners on Opening Day 1989 at age 19. 'The Kid' became a national star in 1990 and reached his peak in 1997, winning the AL MVP with 56 home runs. His sweet swing, backwards cap, and brilliant center-field play made him the face of 1990s baseball.

Ken Griffey Jr. in the minor leagues, 1988
Ken Griffey Jr. in the minor leagues, 1988

Born Into Baseball

Born in Donora, Pennsylvania, Griffey grew up around the game as the son of Reds All-Star Ken Griffey Sr. Seattle made him the first overall pick of the 1987 draft.

Griffey wearing his trademark backwards cap
Griffey wearing his trademark backwards cap

The Kid in Seattle

With his effortless swing and acrobatic catches, Griffey became baseball's biggest star in the 1990s and helped save the Mariners franchise. He won the 1997 AL MVP and chased home-run history.

A First-Ballot Legend

After a trade to his hometown Reds, injuries slowed his pace but he still reached 630 home runs. In 2016 he entered the Hall of Fame with the highest vote percentage ever recorded.

Career Timeline

  1. 1969Born in Donora, Pennsylvania
  2. 1987Drafted first overall by Seattle Mariners
  3. 1989Debuts for Mariners on Opening Day at age 19
  4. 1990Plays alongside father Ken Griffey Sr. in Seattle
  5. 1992Named MVP of the MLB All-Star Game
  6. 1997Wins AL MVP with 56 home runs
  7. 1998Hits 56 home runs again, wins Home Run Derby
  8. 2000Traded to hometown Cincinnati Reds
  9. 2010Retires with 630 career home runs
  10. 2016Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame with record 99.32%

Biggest Hits

1997
AL Most Valuable PlayerHit 56 home runs and drove in 147 runs
1992
MLB All-Star Game MVPOne of 13 career All-Star selections
1998
Home Run Derby championWon three Derbies during his career
1999
10 consecutive Gold Glove AwardsElite defensive center fielder, 1990-1999
2010
630 career home runsSeventh-most in MLB history at retirement
2016
Baseball Hall of Fame (99.32%)Record vote percentage at the time
Did You Know
  • In 1990 Griffey and his father became the first father-son duo to play together in an MLB game, and even hit back-to-back home runs.
  • His Hall of Fame vote of 99.32% set a record, breaking Tom Seaver's mark that had stood for 24 years.

Portrait: Unknown · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons

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