History of Ken Griffey Jr. in Timeline
Ken Griffey Jr., nicknamed "Junior" and "the Kid," is a retired American professional baseball outfielder. Drafted first overall in 1987, he played 22 MLB seasons, primarily with the Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds. A 13-time All-Star, Griffey is considered one of baseball's all-time greats, hitting 630 career home runs, ranking seventh in MLB history. He also excelled defensively, earning 10 Gold Glove Awards in center field. Griffey is tied for the record of most consecutive games with a home run.
November 21, 1969: Ken Griffey Jr. Born
On November 21, 1969, George Kenneth Griffey Jr. was born in Donora, Pennsylvania. He would later become a celebrated baseball outfielder known as "Junior" and "the Kid."
August 25, 1973: Father's MLB Debut
On August 25, 1973, Ken Griffey Sr. made his Major League Baseball debut for the Cincinnati Reds, prompting the family's move to Cincinnati, Ohio. Ken Griffey Jr. was only three years old at the time.
June 2, 1987: Drafted by Seattle Mariners
On June 2, 1987, Ken Griffey Jr. was selected as the first overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft by the Seattle Mariners.
June 11, 1987: Joins Bellingham Mariners
On June 11, 1987, Griffey joined the Bellingham Mariners of the Class A short season Northwest League.
January 1988: Griffey's Suicide Attempt
In January 1988, Ken Griffey Jr. attempted suicide by swallowing 277 aspirin pills and was hospitalized. He cited arguments with his father, depression, and anger as reasons. He stated that the incident changed his relationship with his father, leading to better understanding.
April 3, 1989: MLB Debut
On April 3, 1989, Ken Griffey Jr. made his Major League Baseball debut, hitting a double off Dave Stewart of the Oakland Athletics. This event marked the beginning of his celebrated MLB career.
August 31, 1990: Father-Son Duo Play Together
On August 31, 1990, Ken Griffey Jr. and his father, Ken Griffey Sr., played their first game together as teammates for the Seattle Mariners. During the game, they hit back-to-back singles in the first inning and both scored, marking a unique moment in baseball history.
June 1991: Griffey Sr. Retirement
In June 1991, Ken Griffey Sr. retired from Major League Baseball, ending the brief but memorable period during which he and his son, Ken Griffey Jr., played together on the Seattle Mariners.
1992: All-Star Game MVP
In 1992, Ken Griffey Jr. was awarded the title of All-Star Game MVP.
1993: Home Run Derby Warehouse Shot
In 1993, during the MLB Home Run Derby at Oriole Park in Baltimore, Ken Griffey Jr. famously hit the warehouse beyond the right-field wall on the fly. This feat made him the only player to ever accomplish it, and a plaque was installed to mark the landing spot of the ball.
1995: The Double
In 1995, during Game 5 of the American League Division Series (ALDS) against the New York Yankees, Ken Griffey Jr. scored the winning run from first base on a double hit by Edgar Martinez. This play, known as "The Double," secured the Mariners' victory and is remembered as one of the most iconic moments in the team's history.
April 15, 1997: Jackie Robinson Day
On April 15, 1997, Ken Griffey Jr. wore the number 42, an event that would eventually lead to the establishment of MLB's Jackie Robinson Day in 1999.
1998: ESPY Male Athlete of the Year
In 1998, Ken Griffey Jr. was awarded the title of ESPY Male Athlete of the Year.
October 25, 1999: Payne Stewart's Death
On October 25, 1999, golfer Payne Stewart passed away in a plane crash. He lived in the same neighborhood as Ken Griffey Jr.
1999: Players Choice Awards Player of the Decade
In 1999, Ken Griffey Jr. was awarded the title of Players Choice Awards Player of the Decade.
1999: All-Century Team Selection
In 1999, Ken Griffey Jr. was selected for the MLB All-Century Team.
February 10, 2000: Traded to Cincinnati Reds
On February 10, 2000, Ken Griffey Jr. was traded to the Cincinnati Reds from the Seattle Mariners. The trade involved pitcher Brett Tomko, outfielder Mike Cameron, and minor leaguers Antonio Perez and Jake Meyer.
2000: Number Change and Decline in Superstar Status
In 2000, Ken Griffey Jr. changed his jersey number from 24 to 30 to honor his father. Although he still had respectable statistics, including 40 home runs, his overall performance in the 2000 season was considered a decline from his previous superstar level.
2000: Most Games Played Since
In 2005, Ken Griffey Jr. played 128 games which was the most games played since 2000.
2001: Injury Plagued Season
From 2001 through 2004, Griffey struggled with a series of injuries that negatively impacted his performance and time on the field. The effects of these injuries led to reduced power and fewer home runs, along with missed games, diminishing his skills and star status.
2002: Season-Ending Injury
From 2001 through 2004, Griffey struggled with a series of injuries that negatively impacted his performance and time on the field. The effects of these injuries led to reduced power and fewer home runs, along with missed games, diminishing his skills and star status.
2003: Season-Ending Injury
From 2001 through 2004, Griffey struggled with a series of injuries that negatively impacted his performance and time on the field. The effects of these injuries led to reduced power and fewer home runs, along with missed games, diminishing his skills and star status.
2004: Season-Ending Hamstring Rupture
During the 2004 season, Ken Griffey Jr. suffered a season-ending rupture of his right hamstring in a game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. The injury occurred while he was playing right field for the first time in his Major League career.
2004: Injury Plagued Season
From 2001 through 2004, Griffey struggled with a series of injuries that negatively impacted his performance and time on the field. The effects of these injuries led to reduced power and fewer home runs, along with missed games, diminishing his skills and star status.
2004: Hamstring Operation Scars
In 2004, Griffey had an operation to repair scars from his hamstring surgery.
2004: 500th Career Home Run and Hamstring Injury
On June 20, 2004, Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 500th career home run on Father's Day against the St. Louis Cardinals, tying him with his father in career hits. Shortly after, he suffered a hamstring tear, sidelining him from the All-Star Game.
2005: "The Junior Operation" and Return
In 2005, after recovering from an experimental surgery called "The Junior Operation" to reattach his hamstring, Ken Griffey Jr. returned to the field. In April, he hit .244 with one home run on April 30.
2005: Injury and Comeback Player of the Year Award
In September 2005, Ken Griffey Jr. strained a tendon in his left foot and underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, also repairing scars from his 2004 hamstring operation. Despite these injuries, he played the most games since 2000 and was named National League Comeback Player of the Year.
2005: Resurgence of a Healthy Griffey
Starting May 1, 2005, Ken Griffey Jr. experienced a resurgence, hitting 35 home runs, his highest since his first year with the Reds. He surpassed several notable players on the career home run list, ending the season tied with Mickey Mantle.
September 25, 2006: Tying Reggie Jackson on Home Run List
On September 25, 2006, Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 27th home run of the season against Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Scott Eyre, tying him with Reggie Jackson for tenth place on the all-time home run list.
2006: Wrist Injury in the Bahamas
During the 2006 off-season, Ken Griffey Jr. broke his wrist while on holiday in the Bahamas with his family. Despite the injury, he expected to be ready for spring training in 2007.
April 2007: Griffey Diagnosed with Pleurisy
In April 2007, Ken Griffey Jr. was diagnosed with pleurisy, an inflammation of the lining of the cavity surrounding the lungs which can cause painful respiration and other symptoms.
May 10, 2007: Tying Rafael Palmeiro on Home Run List
On May 10, 2007, Ken Griffey Jr. hit his sixth home run of the season and the 569th of his career, tying Rafael Palmeiro for ninth place on the career home runs list.
June 2007: Positive Reception in Seattle
Ken Griffey Jr. received an overwhelmingly positive reception in Seattle when he last played there as a Cincinnati Red in June 2007, influencing his decision to later sign with the Mariners.
June 22, 2007: First Return to Seattle
On June 22, 2007, Ken Griffey Jr. made his first return to Seattle after being traded to the Reds. The Mariners honored him with a 15-minute presentation and he received a four-minute standing ovation from the crowd.
July 16, 2007: Passing Frank Robinson on Home Run List
On July 16, 2007, Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 587th home run to pass Frank Robinson for sixth place on the all-time home run list.
July 18, 2007: 2,500th Career Hit
On July 18, 2007, Ken Griffey Jr. recorded his 2,500th hit, a first-inning single off Atlanta Braves starting pitcher John Smoltz.
August 22, 2007: Rawlings Gold Glove Selection
On August 22, 2007, Ken Griffey Jr. was selected as an all-time Rawlings Gold Glove winner, recognized as one of the greatest defensive players in the last 50 years.
September 19, 2007: Season-Ending Groin Strain
On September 19, 2007, Ken Griffey Jr. suffered a season-ending groin strain in a game against the Chicago Cubs, marking another season in Cincinnati where he ended the year on the disabled list. He finished the 2007 season with 593 career home runs.
2007: Move to Right Field
At the beginning of the 2007 Major League Baseball season, Ken Griffey Jr. was moved to right field for the Reds, as Ryan Freel took over center field. This was due to the manager's decision to improve the team's defense.
2007: Wrist Injury Expected Recovery
During the 2006 off-season, Ken Griffey Jr. broke his wrist while on holiday in the Bahamas with his family. Despite the injury, he expected to be ready for spring training in 2007.
2007: Fan Petition to Bring Griffey Back to Seattle
Following the Cincinnati Reds versus Seattle Mariners series from June 22–24, 2007, a fan movement emerged petitioning Mariners' management to bring Ken Griffey Jr. back. Over 1,900 signatures were collected on a fan vid-blog/petition.
April 4, 2008: Passing Reggie Jackson in Runs Driven In
On April 4, 2008, Ken Griffey Jr. passed Reggie Jackson for 16th on the all-time list after driving in his 1,702nd run.
July 31, 2008: Trade to the Chicago White Sox
On July 31, 2008, Ken Griffey Jr. was traded to the Chicago White Sox for pitcher Nick Masset and infielder Danny Richar, ending his nine-year tenure in Cincinnati.
August 20, 2008: First Home Run as a White Sox
On August 20, 2008, Ken Griffey Jr. hit his first home run as a member of the White Sox, off the Mariners' R. A. Dickey, tying him with Sammy Sosa for fifth place in career home runs.
October 30, 2008: White Sox Decline Option and Free Agency
On October 30, 2008, the White Sox declined a $16 million option on Ken Griffey Jr., making him a free agent for the first time in his career. He received a buyout for $4 million split between the Reds and White Sox and stated that he wouldn't retire.
November 18, 2008: Griffey Named American Public Diplomacy Envoy
On November 18, 2008, Ken Griffey Jr. was named an American Public Diplomacy Envoy by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
2008: Griffey Releases Charity Wines
In 2008, Ken Griffey Jr. released a series of charity wines to support The Ken Griffey Jr. Family Foundation, which supports causes like the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and children's hospitals.
February 18, 2009: Signing with the Seattle Mariners
On February 18, 2009, Ken Griffey Jr. accepted a contract offer from the Seattle Mariners, motivated by sentimental reasons towards Seattle. He once again sported #24 with the Mariners.
April 15, 2009: Griffey Hits 400th Home Run as a Mariner
On April 15, 2009, Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 400th home run as a Mariner, which was also the 613th of his career, against Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jered Weaver. This achievement made him the first MLB player to hit 400 home runs with one club (Mariners) and 200 home runs with another (Reds).
June 23, 2009: Griffey Hits Franchise's 5,000th Home Run
On June 23, 2009, Ken Griffey Jr. hit the 5,000th home run in franchise history while playing at Safeco Field against the San Diego Padres. This was also Griffey's 619th career home run.
August 12, 2009: Griffey's Run-Scoring Single Wins the Game
On August 12, 2009, Ken Griffey Jr. hit a run-scoring single in the bottom of the 14th inning against his former team, the Chicago White Sox, securing a 1-0 victory for the Mariners.
2009: Griffey Returns to the Mariners
In 2009, Griffey returned to the Mariners and transformed the fractured clubhouse with his leadership and energy.
May 2010: Napgate Incident
In May 2010, Mariners' manager Don Wakamatsu significantly limited Griffey's playing time due to poor performance. Beat writer Larry LaRue reported that Wakamatsu didn't use Griffey in a pinch-hitting situation the prior week and that Griffey had been asleep, leading to the "Napgate" incident. Teammate Mike Sweeney defended Griffey and his agent disputed LaRue's report, leading to controversy and some players boycotting LaRue.
November 2010: Campaign Changes Direction After Niehaus' Death
In November 2010, a campaign to rename a section of First Avenue South to Ken Griffey Jr. Drive changed direction after the death of Mariners announcer Dave Niehaus to Dave Niehaus Way South.
2010: Criticism for Effort with the Reds
Gregg Doyel criticized Ken Griffey Jr.'s effort during his stint with the Reds, contrasting his approach with the 2010 Reds team.
February 17, 2011: Griffey Hired as Special Consultant by Mariners
On February 17, 2011, Ken Griffey Jr. was hired by the Mariners as a special consultant, involving him with the team at spring training and the regular season, as well as visits to the Mariners' minor-league affiliates.
March 17, 2011: Griffey Explains Retirement
In an interview on March 17, 2011, Ken Griffey Jr. stated that he retired to avoid being a distraction for the team.
January 22, 2013: Griffey to be Inducted into Mariners Hall of Fame
On January 22, 2013, the Mariners announced that Ken Griffey Jr. would be the seventh person inducted into the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame.
August 9, 2014: Griffey Inducted into Reds Hall of Fame
On August 9, 2014, Ken Griffey Jr. was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame, where he spoke about wearing the same uniform as his dad during his speech. Ron Oester, Dave Parker, and Jake Beckley joined Griffey in the Class of 2014.
2015: Griffey Works as Sports Photographer
Since 2015, Ken Griffey Jr. has worked as a sports photographer, credentialed to shoot MLB, MLS, NFL, and IndyCar events.
January 6, 2016: Griffey Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame
On January 6, 2016, Ken Griffey Jr. was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame with 99.32 percent of the vote, breaking Tom Seaver's previous record. A flag with Griffey's number 24 was flown from Seattle's Space Needle. He is one of four Hall of Fame inductees who were chosen first overall in an MLB draft.
January 8, 2016: Mariners Announce Retirement of Griffey's Jersey Number
On January 8, 2016, the Mariners announced they would retire Ken Griffey Jr.'s jersey number 24. This retirement took effect at the start of the 2016 MLB season, and the number was also retired for all of the Mariners' minor league affiliates.
2016: Mariners Draft Griffey's Son
In the 2016 MLB draft, the Mariners honored Ken Griffey Jr. by selecting his son Trey in the 24th round (matching his jersey number), even though Trey had not played baseball since his preteen years and was a wide receiver at the University of Arizona at the time.
2017: Trey Griffey in the NFL
In 2017, Ken Griffey Jr.'s son, Ken Griffey III (Trey), played in the National Football League (NFL).
2018: Griffey Named Most Important Athlete in Seattle Sports History
In 2018, The Seattle Times named Ken Griffey Jr. as the most important athlete in Seattle sports history.
November 17, 2020: Griffey Family Joins Seattle Sounders FC as Minority Owner
On November 17, 2020, the Griffey family joined as a minority owner in the Seattle Sounders FC.
July 29, 2021: Griffey Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame Board of Directors
On July 29, 2021, Ken Griffey Jr. was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame's Board of Directors.
October 25, 2021: Griffey Joins Mariners Ownership Group
On October 25, 2021, Ken Griffey Jr. joined the Mariners ownership group, becoming the first former player to hold partnership interest in the team.
2021: Griffey Serves as Senior Adviser to MLB Commissioner
As of 2021, Ken Griffey Jr. is working as a senior adviser to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.
May 26, 2024: Griffey Drives Pace Car for Indianapolis 500
On May 26, 2024, Ken Griffey Jr. drove the pace car for the Indianapolis 500.
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