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FANS WANT GRIFFEY BACK IN 2010 |
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Written by Jim Rednour
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Saturday, 31 October 2009 |
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Ken Griffey, Jr. No Longer “Kid”, But Still Loves Playing
After spending more than half of his 40 years on earth in a Major League Baseball uniform, Ken Griffey, Jr. doesn’t want to give up the game that’s made him a household name and a future Hall-of-Famer. And baseball fans everywhere, especially those in Seattle, want Junior back next year to see him continue his climb up the all-time home run list.
 The man known most of his career as “The Kid” made a convincing case
for a farewell tour in 2010 by clubbing three home runs during The
Mariner’s last home stand to bring his career total to 630.
With
the Seattle crowd cheering “One More Year,” Griffey also got a hit on
his last 2009 at-bat and was humbled by
having his teammates take him for a victory lap on their shoulders
after their 85th win of the season.
Editor’s note: The Mariners
became just the 13th team since 1901 to finish with a winning record
the season after losing 100 games.)
Griffey, who said he wants
to play another year but realizes there is no guarantee based on the
direction of the team, “It was the most emotional roller coaster I’ve
ever been on,” said Griffey as he wiped away tears and hugged his
teammates. “You never know if it’s going to be your last time.”
He
hopes it’s not and believes he can still contribute as a player. “I
had a whole lot of fun doing something not many people get to do, which
is play baseball for a living," said Junior. "Now, we'll see what the
next chapter is about."
Griffey is both one of the most
prolific home run hitters and best defensive players in baseball
history, fifth on the list of most career home runs with the most home
runs of any active Major Leaguer, and is tied for the record of most
consecutive games with a home run – eight (8) between July 20 and July
28, 1993 during his first Mariners stint.
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