Griffey Retires: End of an era (to me at least).

[sbfinley]

I hate to start another thread about current baseball news, we already have one on the blown call, but I think this man deserves it.

I am 26 and grew up loving baseball. I've been to hundreds of games and sadly never saw him live. I feel like the last superstar of my youth has retired. His last decade may have been rough but at his prime he was one of the best ever.

And he was clean. Best of luck Jr.

[LEIDEMEG]

I am right there with you on the end of the last few great ones from my youth. I was 15 when his upper deck rookies came out, still remember it like it was yesterday.

Great player, who should have gotten standing ovations one last time on every road trip he went on, but it doesnt always work out that way.

Thanks for the memories and doing it clean

[chris6net]

I am a few years older than you and a die hard Mets fan and I remember going to a game with the Reds vs Mets (possible his first) at Shea with my father and it wnt 12 innings and of course Griffey hit the game winning Homerun. What a shame with his injuries and since I didn,t follow his American League career but can see his stats he was one of the great ones. Unfortunately he did not lead a team to the World Series.

[M's_Fan]

Growing up in Seattle, he was the childhood idol of myself and every other kid on the block. We would play ball in the street in my neighborhood for hours on summer nights, trying to imitate his swing.

I was there when he hit back to back home runs with his Dad. I was there in the Kingdome in 1995 when he slid face first into first base to end the division series against the Yankees (which many have said was the greatest division series of all time).

He not only was the greatest player of my generation, he was a family man who left money on the table to play for a team closer to his family.

Thanks Griffey for the memories.

[prewarsports]

I am a Seattle Mariners fan for life, and have been since I was 1 years old and the team started in 1977. I used to go to the Kingdome in the 1980's with about 2000 others and it was like a ghost town. Without Griffey there is no team in Seattle today and despite how the team has performed over the last 7 years, they are one of the top Baseball cities in America and we owe it ALL to Griffey.

I also feel Griffey is the biggest casualty of the steroids era. When McGwire and Sosa and Bonds were jacking out 60-70 Home Runs a year and cheating, Griffey was barely mentioned in the National press while hitting 50+ Home Runs a year. In his prime he was rated as the best all around ballplayer ever, and he should be in that discussion. Probably only Mays was a better All Around player and due to injuries Griffey has been severely taken for grantid during the last decade.

Rhys Yeakley
Mariners Fan since '77

[thekingofclout]

Originally Posted by M's_Fan

Growing up in Seattle, he was the childhood idol of myself and every other kid on the block. We would play ball in the street in my neighborhood for hours on summer nights, trying to imitate his swing.

I was there when he hit back to back home runs with his Dad. I was there in the Kingdome in 1995 when he slid face first into first base to end the division series against the Yankees (which many have said was the greatest division series of all time).

but I've never been to Seattle. It happened in Anaheim on Sept 14, 1990

[M's_Fan]

Originally Posted by thekingofclout

but I've never been to Seattle. It happened in Anaheim on Sept 14, 1990

My memory serves me poorly, as you are definitely correct, and I wasn't there in Anaheim. I was there on their first game together, but they only hit back to back singles. That must have been cool to see those back to back HR's in person!

[ethicsprof]

one of my all time favs.
still have a ball signed by his father from many years ago.

best,
barry

[tedzan]

As an American League fan, I was disappointed when Griffey switched to the National League in 2000. My
Grandson, Ron, was a huge Griffey fan and collected all his cards. In 1994, Ron was 8 years old, I bought
him Griffey's UpperDeck rookie card. Gee, was really excited. In 2000, I suggested to Ron, that he sell his
high-priced Griffey cards, because I told him that Griffey will not be as strong a player in Cinci as he was
in Seattle. Ronnie made a bet with me that Griffey would be as good (if not better).

I pointed out to Ron, that in the post-WWII era, I can think of only one player that has changed Leagues,
and succeeded equally in both....Frank Robinson. For whatever reasons, it is a very tough change to make.
Here's Griffey's Seattle stats vs his Cinci stats......

Seattle.......396 HR......1200 RBI (1989-1999)

Cinci..........250 HR........755 RBI (2000-2010)



TED Z

[barrysloate]

Was it the change of leagues, or the rash of injuries, that derailed Griffey's career?

[3-2-count]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Was it the change of leagues, or the rash of injuries, that derailed Griffey's career?

I'd say it was the rash of injuries. From the years 1992 thru 2000 there wasn't many better when you combine his offensive stats with his glove.

[53Browns]

I grew up in Cincinnati where his Dad played with the Big Red Machine. I was lucky enough to enjoy seeing him play live many times at Riverfront Stadium when he came back to the Reds. He was on the downside of his career when he came back (injuries), but I did get to see him hit some out of the park. Something to tell the kids about some day.

[M's_Fan]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Was it the change of leagues, or the rash of injuries, that derailed Griffey's career?

It was both. Griffey never really took care of his body, stretching before games and so forth (at least earlier in his career), and he became susceptible to injury. But if he was in the American League he would have had more at bats at least as a DH than in the NL where if you can't run down fly balls as an outfielder, you ride the pine.

At some point in his career, regardless of the league he was in, he should have converted to first base.

[jbsports33]

Still remember opening those fresh new upperdeck packs, he will be missed

good luck KGJ

Jimmy