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

[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!