Griffey Jr. Retiring

[TheMino007]

By TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer

 

SEATTLE(AP)—Seattle Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu says Ken Griffey Jr.(notes) is retiring.

 

Wakamatsu made the announcement before Wednesday night’s game against Minnesota. Griffey’s retirement is effective immediately.

 

The 40-year-old Griffey was one of baseball’s greatest players before injuries began to take their toll. The perennial All-Star outfielder ranks fifth on the career home run list with 630.

 

Griffey was hitting only .184 this season and recently went a week without playing.

 

Its kind of sad to see him go out like this. The guy had the sweetest swing I have ever seen, and if he hadn't gotten injured for all those years in Cinncy we would be talking about this guy being the greatest player in MLB history, he would have easily broken Aaron's all time HR record. He still has a 1st ballot HOF career, but there are home runs and stats he left out on the table b/c of those lost games due to injury.

[Wasatch]

Saw this earlier tonight. He turned out to be a great player. I remember all the HYPE about him in 89. Way to go Kenny!

[Spudboy]

One of the best players I've seen in forty three years.

 

Certainly the most gifted (talented) I've seen in the last twenty or so years.

 

Prior to injury, he was the definition of a "five tool" player.

[italstallianion]

He is my favourite player. My favourite video game was Major League Baseball with Ken Griffey Jr. on Nintendo 64. Baseball won't be the same without him.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Sad day for baseball. Wish he had been able to stay healthy, it would have been nice to see him on top of the HR list instead of you-know-who. 1st ballot HOF and really, really great player. Sorry to see him go.

[TedWilliams101]

It's too bad that Bond's was the one who got to break the record and Griffey got all the injuries. No justice man, none.

[SCM33]

It's too bad that Bond's was the one who got to break the record and Griffey got all the injuries. No justice man' date=' none.[/quote']

 

Yeah there is.

 

When you ask me who the greatest home run hitters are of the the 90's generation, I think of two people......Frank Thomas and Ken Griffey Jr.

 

Bonds, McGwire and Sosa dont even cross my mind.

 

I think other people feel the same way.

[26 to 6]

Best wishes to Griffey. It's such a shame that his great career and incredible talents were overshadowed by injuries and cheaters. Definitely the best pure player of our generation, IMO.

[msubulldogs21]

It was definitely time for him to hang it up. Glad he's doing it now instead of struggling through another season of pinch-hitting and the occasional game at DH though. Griffey was always a class act and will go down as one of the best players of all time. I have a ton of respect for him as a player and person.

[yeszir]

Definitely one of the greatest hitters of my lifetime. And

damn fun video games too.

[WhiskeyBreath]

My favorite non Sox player ever. I remember having a Griffey Jr. baseball glove back in Little League.

 

There needs to be a Ken Griffey Jr. highlight DVD asap.

[Dojji]

He'll walk into the hall. First ballot, no question. What a run!

 

I think he was the last active position player to have played in the 1980's. (Moyer, obviously, is the last pitcher)

 

I wonder, if you'd ask him what his favorite career moment was, if he'd still say playing the outfield alongside his dad in 1990 and 1991.

[SoxSport]

As far as I'm concerned, anybody who hit 50HRs in the 90s and early 2000s--the peak steroid era--has to be suspect.Especially those who became plagued with muscle pulls and tears later on--a sign of the juice.

Griffey has gotten through all this unscathed, but I suspect steroids were as common as aspirin in the 90s--as Canseco claims. And I think steroids are still being used--the ones that are not detectable-- because the money stake is enormous. You would be foolish not to try them--especially in a contract year.

[Keeper]

Sad he had to go out like this, but this was a long time coming.

[RedForLife]

Oh man I used to have a Ken Griffey Jr. glove, and wouldn't play with anything else. He is the man, but I guess it is about time.