Ken Griffey Jr.’s whirlwind ride of baseball celebration made its final stop at the place where his professional career began.
Advertisement
Griffey Sr., playing for the Yankees, almost launched himself into the first row in left field as he snagged his ball, while Junior (with the Seattle Mariners) stabbed a long shot by Jesse Barfield in center.
“It means a lot”, he said.
It will be the first time in the team’s 39-year history that a Mariners’ player will have his number retired. “But it’s one of those things that makes you feel good as a person and player that they respected what you did”.
Mariners President & Chief Operating Officer Kevin Mather announced Friday that the team will officially retire the No. 24 during a pregame ceremony on August 6, part of Ken Griffey Jr. “It seems only fitting that he be the first Mariners player to have his number retired”. The number retirement is throughout the organization, including the minors, meaning no one associated with the Mariners will ever wear No. 24 again. The club will then stage a “Ken Griffey Jr”.
Ken Griffey Jr. speaks at a news conference Friday, Jan. 8, 2016, in Seattle. Fans attending the weekend event in August will also receive a bobblehead, replica Hall of Fame plaque and a jersey.
Griffey’s number is the first player number that the Seattle Mariners will retire. Nowhere was this more evident, than in his reaction to finding out that number 24 will hang next to Jackie Robinson’s number 42 in Safeco Field. Another surprise was revealed to him Thursday night when he was told that the Mariners were retiring his number.
“You’re going to look at numbers and things like that”, Griffey said. But the way he went about his life and things he did off the field, nobody can compare to that. Griffey said it was an honor to be elected to be in Cooperstown, and it was a shock to get the top percentage of all-time.
“Who are they?” questioned former teammate Edgar Martinez. “But the instincts were there, too”.
Griffey flew in from NY and was greeted by a red carpet and Mariners staff welcoming him as he walked into the stadium.
Whether you’re a Mariners fan or not, I think I speak on behalf of everyone (with the exception of maybe three people!) when I say “Thank you for all the special memories”. This time around was the fourth year of eligibility for Piazza and the first year of eligibility for Griffey. A new logo was created with the silhouette of Griffey’s swing against a backdrop of the Seattle skyline. It was just the beginning of the honors in Seattle for No. 24.
Advertisement
Griffey is the only Mariner to wear that number since it was issued to him as a rookie in 1989.
