Ken Griffey Jr. was a star major league baseball player for many years. Griffey Jr., son of former major leaguer Ken Griffey Sr., quickly emerged from his father's shadow and was considered a superstar in his own right. During much of the 1990s, Ken Griffey Jr. was widely considered the best player in the majors.
Childhood
Ken Griffey Jr. was born Nov. 21, 1969 in Donora, Pennsylvania, but was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, while his father was playing for the Cincinnati Reds. Griffey excelled playing baseball for Moeller High School and was the first overall pick in the 1987 MLB draft by the Seattle Mariners.
Early Career
Griffey Jr. made his MLB debut in 1989, and later that season, his father, who was still playing for the Reds, arranged to be traded to the Mariners so the two could play together. Griffey Jr. won the Gold Glove in 1990 and was named to the All-Star team that season. In 1992, Junior won the Gold Glove for the third straight year and was named MVP of the All-Star Game.
Prime with Seattle Mariners
In 1993, Griffey Jr. eclipsed 30 home runs in one season in dominant fashion when he hit 45. In 1997 and 1998, Griffey Jr. hit 56 home runs, earning a league MVP award in 1997. That season, Griffey Jr. set several team records for the Mariners, including most home runs, most RBI, highest slugging percentage and most extra-base hits.
New Beginning
Despite his success, Griffey Jr. grew frustrated with Mariners management, particularly after the team moved to a new ballpark, Safeco Field, that was challenging for hitters. Griffey Jr. hoped to one day break Hank Aaron's all-time home run record, and Safeco was not conducive to that goal. Griffey Jr. left the Mariners in 2000 and returned to his roots in Cincinnati. Although Griffey Jr. hit 40 home runs in his first season with the Reds, injuries plagued the star and he hit only 22 the next season and eight the following year as he missed more and more games. Griffey Jr. spent 41 games of 2008 with the Chicago White Sox before returning to the Reds. In 2008, he became the sixth player in MLB history to hit 600 home runs.
Return to Seattle
Griffey Jr. left the Reds in 2009 and returned to Seattle, but he averaged just .214 and hit only 19 home runs, well below his career average of 38. After playing only 33 games in 2010, he retired at the age of 40.
Family
Griffey Jr. married Melissa Gay in 1992 and they have two biological children, Taryn and Trey, and an adopted son, Tevin.
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