American · Donora, Pennsylvania · Born 21 November 1969Ken Griffey Jr. was one of the most beloved and talented players of his era, admired for his smooth swing and highlight-reel defense.
George Kenneth Griffey Jr. was born in Donora, Pennsylvania in 1969, the son of major leaguer Ken Griffey Sr. The Seattle Mariners selected him first overall in the 1987 MLB Draft. His 22-season career produced 630 home runs, a .284 batting average and 13 Gold Gloves — the most by any outfielder in baseball history. He won the AL MVP in 1997. He was a 13-time All-Star. He and his father became the only father-son combination to play on the same major league team simultaneously in 1990. His effortless swing — generating power without apparent effort — and his spectacular defensive plays in centre field made him the most aesthetically gifted player of the 1990s. He was the unanimous choice for player of the decade by several publications for the 1990s. Persistent knee and leg injuries derailed his career in Cincinnati, limiting him to fewer than 100 games in four of his Reds seasons. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016 with 99.3% of the vote — the highest percentage in history at the time. He is the defining baseball player of the 1990s.
'The Kid', Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame center fielder
How They Played
Five-tool player with exceptional hitting, power, speed, fielding, and arm strength
Lasting Impact
One of the greatest players of the 1990s, widely regarded as having the sweetest swing in baseball history
Career Honours
- AL MVP (1997)
- 10x Gold Glove
- 13x All-Star
- 7x Silver Slugger
- Hall of Fame 2016 (record vote percentage at the time)
| Team | Period | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle Mariners | 1989–1999 | 1535 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 2000–2008 | 1181 |
| Chicago White Sox | 2008–2010 | 207 |
American Athletes