04/23/24
June 02, 2010
Ken Griffey Jr. retires: Griffey, 40, hit 630 home runs in a 22-year career that began with the Mariners as a 19-year-old in 1989.
"I've come to a decision today to retire from Major League Baseball as an active player," Griffey said. "This has been on my mind recently, but it's not an easy decision to come by," Griffey said in the statement. "I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to have played Major League Baseball for so long and thankful for all of the friendships I have made, while also being proud of my accomplishments."
posted by tommytrump to baseball at 08:33 PM - 16 comments
He is the greatest in my book. My favorite ballplayer to watch once the Pete Roses and George Bretts were gone. It was a pleasure watching Jr. throughout his whole career. It was sad to see him struggle so much recently, and I too am glad he bowed out gracefully. Good memories......
posted by kcfan4life at 09:50 PM on June 02, 2010
I hope he took his time and slept on it before coming to this decision.
posted by apoch at 10:28 PM on June 02, 2010
I still wonder what compelled him to go leg first into the outfield wall when he broke his leg.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 11:04 PM on June 02, 2010
Previously, when he hit his 600th in front of a tiny crowd in Florida. There are so many what-ifs with Griffey, including the question of whether he inadvertently managed to avoid being swept up in the Bonds/McGwire/Sosa home-run/roid-fest through injury.
There's also the occasional doubt that he was the exception in that period, but there's never been any indication that he was part of the PED culture. (Or ever showed up at the weight room, for that matter.)
The Onion summed it up three years ago. First ballot, without fail. I hope that he enjoys retirement.
posted by etagloh at 11:49 PM on June 02, 2010
Goddammit, that makes me feel old. We went to high school together-he's retiring and I'm finishing up grad school. All the best to Griff, he was a class act from a very young age.
posted by tahoemoj at 11:54 PM on June 02, 2010
What could've been.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 01:32 AM on June 03, 2010
Griffey's career in a nutshell...even when he retires, a black eye to baseball overshadows him. He was one of the best players to ever play, and had the most beautifully pure swing I've ever seen. He hit 630 HRs without steroids and through an injury-riddled career. Should be not only a first ballot HOFer, but should get a unanimous vote...
posted by MeatSaber at 01:10 PM on June 03, 2010
Oh yeah. Total first ballot guy. Won't be unanimous. Never is. Great career - really enjoyed the first ten years for sure. I remember him being so far and away one of the best I ever saw when he was with the Mariners. Could catch everything, a dynamo in centre, and the sweetest swing that could send low fastballs fucking miles.
Too bad he was a bit too throwback. Especially in the training department. He could've set some great records.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 04:30 PM on June 03, 2010
Is there anyone who has watched baseball in the past 22 years who does not admire Ken Griffey, Jr.? He's not only a great performer, but by all accounts is a "class Act". I'm glad I had a chance to at least see him via TV.
posted by Howard_T at 06:52 PM on June 03, 2010
Has anyone accused Griffey of using PED's (or had a basis to)?
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 09:55 PM on June 03, 2010
No.
posted by tselson at 11:00 PM on June 03, 2010
Should be not only a first ballot HOFer, but should get a unanimous vote...
I agree, but there will be some asshole writer who believes no baseball player should be unanimous. It blows my mind when I think of players like Ripkin Jr. can't even get 100% of the votes.
posted by sgtcookzane at 12:25 AM on June 04, 2010
If all of these holier-than-thou reporters, who vilified guys like Clemens, Palmeiro, MacGwire and Bonds for (allegedly) taking PEDs, and said they'd let their HOF votes do the talking for them, then this is the perfect way to speak up against the Steroid Era. Band together, show some proverbially balls, and unanimously vote Junior in on the first ballot. Otherwise, all you talking heads are just blowing smoke...
posted by MeatSaber at 12:32 AM on June 04, 2010
What if they think Griffey (allegedly) did steroids?
The problem is that sportswriters are the sole voters in the first place. There should be a mixed body. Some sportswriters, coaches and, well, I dunno - other Hall of Famers? I'm not a genius.
Taking it further: These people are all voted into their positions by a larger body, and there is a set term - say 10 years. They can also have their term terminated in a non-confidence vote by the rest of the body if certain criteria are met - say not naming a guy that was named on more than 70% of the other ballots in a given year. That person can defend themselves at a tribunal and following that a final vote is levied. That vote determines if they get another one next year.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 05:29 PM on June 04, 2010
I've kind of felt a similar system *should* be in place: if a player gets 95% of the vote or more, all voters who did not vote for that player are suspended from voting for 3 years. 70% is too low, but something in the ~95 region basically means "You're the only one who feels this way". Of course, that could result in outright vote-fixing (assuming that doesn't already happen today), or players who would get 80% of the vote being landslide electees because all the voters write in the name, fearing the loss of their voting privileges. But I doubt it; when guys like Henderson or Griffey go in as 96, 97% vote getters it's not the same as someone who had legitimate arguments again (like McGwire, who outside of the HRs was pretty middling). The voters know the difference; there are just a select few assholes who choose to withold a vote.
It's kind of like the douchebag sportswriter from NYC who didn't vote for Pedro for MVP back in '99 or '00 because he felt pitchers shouldn't be allowed to win the MVP (despite the fact that being a pitcher is not a disqualification by the rules, and that this same dipshit asshole voted for a NY pitcher the year before). These unathletic grudge holding pseudo- journalists are like meddling priests unnecessarily forcing themselves in as a gateway between the fans and the game.
Because honestly, if you don't believe anyone qualifies (which is what the 'no one in their first year' idiots believe, basically), you shouldn't be allowed to be voting. We would demand the removal of voters who refused to vote for black players or foreign born players, we'd never tolerate someone who said a DH shouldn't ever qualify... you literally cannot make a case for Griffey, or Ripken, or Clemens, or any of these players not being HoF players.
posted by hincandenza at 06:23 PM on June 04, 2010
I'm happy to see him bow out gracefully. It's clear his skills had diminished badly, but no one was going to be able to muster the courage to show him the door. It's best for everyone this way.
If not for health problems, he may have retired as the greatest player ever. Even with them, he's an easy first-ballot Hall of Famer.