Griffey the best ever?
On Monday night, Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. crushed home run No. 600, a feat that only six other major league baseball players have accomplished.
The milestone is even more important because his name has never been mentioned with steroid, HGH or any other illegal supplement.
Griffey played his first game in the major leagues 20 years ago and at the age of 19. He had the most graceful swing and the kid could smash the ball.
They called him “Junior,” a nickname my father gave me because Griffey was one of my favorite players to watch.
I would wear a Seattle Mariners’ hat backwards and walk with a strut trying to emulate “Junior.”
Griffey was one of those players you just had to enjoy watching.
He could rob home runs with ease, gun down baserunners from the center field position and swipe bases at will.
I remember the first time seeing Griffey play in person. It was at Jacobs Field in Cleveland on a July evening. It was the Indians-Mariners.
Seattle’s lineup was loaded. Besides Griffey, it had Alex Rodriguez and Jay Buhner.
Junior doubled earlier in the game off the wall. In the seventh inning, he drilled a pitch into the upper deck — a moon shot.
Since then, I saw him play two other times, both with the Reds. Today at the age of 38, Griffey still has the sweetest swing in the game.
In my opinion, Griffey is the most talented player to ever play. Just imagine how many more home runs he’d have if he would have stayed healthy.
Congrats “Junior” on the milestone.
