The Kid

The Kid

        Many call baseball, the American past time, a game that many love to watch.  When I think of baseball, I think of the great players of my generation such as Ken Griffey, Jr.  To me  Ken Griffey, Jr. was the greatest all around baseball player of my generation.

When watching Junior, I saw so many amazing plays from him in the out field or at bat that showed how gifted he really was.  He was the most complete player in his prime than any other player in my generation. When it came to hitting, fielding, and to base running Junior, was the most complete package.  He hit an amazing 630 home runs while bating a life- time average of 284.  He played 22 seasons and was a 13 time all star.  His play in the outfield was awesome as well.  Junior. was a tremendous center fielder.  As a great center fielder, Juinor won 10 straight gold gloves award.  Although Junior was excellent with the glove he was mostly known as home run hitter.  Junior.  hit  2,781 base hits with 1,836 rbi’s, which further demonstrates his expertise.

Some of the great stats that Junior, complied in his career was to hit 8 home runs in 8 consecutive games.  This record he shares with Don Mattingly, and Dale Long.  Junior played for the Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds, and the Chicago White Sox.  His career began with the Mariners in 1989 as a matter of fact in his first home game with Seattle he hit a home run at his first at bat.  Junior,. would play the game of baseball from 1989 until 2010. As a player Junior, earned the nick- name “The Kid” because of his career began at such a young age. Junior made history as the second youngest player to ever start in a major league all star game.  Despite a career full of injuries he left a legacy of greatness that only the games’ greatest could follow.

Although Junior. was a great baseball player, many would say that playing baseball was in his genes. His father Ken Griffey, Sr. had a stellar career as a baseball player himself with the Cincinnati Reds, Atlanta Braves, while completing his career with his Seattle Mariners. As a matter of fact the father and son duo made history together by hitting back to back homers in the same game. 

  

With the successful career of his father, Junior had tremendous pressure to live up to.  At one while the pressure became so intense that Junior, tried to commit suicide. Life was then difficult for Junior, as he tried to come out of his father’s shadow.  As a great baseball player, playing behind his dad was very difficult. Even with a suicide attempt and all the pressures of life, could not stop the greatness of “The Kid” on the diamond.

As Griffey, Jr. completed his career, his battle with injuries would take their toll on his ability to play the game of baseball.  He gave so much to the game of baseball, with so much enthusiasm and pride,  Ken Griffey, jr. to me is the greatest all around player of my generation