Mariners' Griffey retires after 22 MLB seasons
Source: Agencies |
June 4, 2010, Friday
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SEATTLE Mariners slugger Ken Griffey Jr, the "heart and soul" of a franchise whose 630 career home runs rank him fifth on the all-time Major League Baseball list, retired after a 22-season career, the team said on Wednesday.
The 40-year-old, a 13-time All-Star outfielder, was selected first overall by the Seattle Mariners in 1987 and also spent time with the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox before returning to the Mariners in 2009.
"While I feel I am still able to make a contribution on the field, and nobody in the Mariners front office has asked me to retire, I told the Mariners when I met with them prior to the 2009 season and was invited back, that I will never allow myself to become a distraction," Griffey said in a statement.
"I feel that without enough occasional starts to be sharper coming off the bench, my continued presence as a player would be an unfair distraction to my teammates, and their success as a team is what the ultimate goal should be."
Griffey thanked the Mariners for allowing him to finish his professional career where it started and said he looks forward to a continued relationship with the organization.
Earlier this season Griffey denied a report that he had fallen asleep in the team's clubhouse during a game.
He ends an illustrious career trailing only Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714) and Willie Mays (660) for home runs. The outfielder also won 10 Gold Gloves.
The only thing missing on his otherwise impressive resume was a trip to the World Series.
In 2,671 games, Griffey batted .284 with 1,836 RBI.
The Mariners said Griffey's performance was a big part in getting the team a new ballpark in 1999 and felt he was also key in ensuring the team remained in Seattle.
"Ken is truly the heart and soul of this franchise. Without his contributions there is little doubt that Safeco Field would not exist and, almost certainly, baseball would have left the Northwest," said Mariners President Chuck Armstrong.
"He always gave his all on the field, and quietly was a force for good in the community."
Griffey spent 11 seasons with the Mariners before going to the Reds in 2000. After a brief stint with the White Sox in 2008 he returned to Seattle the following season but knee problems limited him to just 11 games in the field.
This year, he was batting .184 with no home runs and seven RBIs in 33 games.
For a time in the 1990s, he was considered the best player in baseball. But then injuries began to take their toll and his production started to decline.
The 40-year-old, a 13-time All-Star outfielder, was selected first overall by the Seattle Mariners in 1987 and also spent time with the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox before returning to the Mariners in 2009.
"While I feel I am still able to make a contribution on the field, and nobody in the Mariners front office has asked me to retire, I told the Mariners when I met with them prior to the 2009 season and was invited back, that I will never allow myself to become a distraction," Griffey said in a statement.
"I feel that without enough occasional starts to be sharper coming off the bench, my continued presence as a player would be an unfair distraction to my teammates, and their success as a team is what the ultimate goal should be."
Griffey thanked the Mariners for allowing him to finish his professional career where it started and said he looks forward to a continued relationship with the organization.
Earlier this season Griffey denied a report that he had fallen asleep in the team's clubhouse during a game.
He ends an illustrious career trailing only Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714) and Willie Mays (660) for home runs. The outfielder also won 10 Gold Gloves.
The only thing missing on his otherwise impressive resume was a trip to the World Series.
In 2,671 games, Griffey batted .284 with 1,836 RBI.
The Mariners said Griffey's performance was a big part in getting the team a new ballpark in 1999 and felt he was also key in ensuring the team remained in Seattle.
"Ken is truly the heart and soul of this franchise. Without his contributions there is little doubt that Safeco Field would not exist and, almost certainly, baseball would have left the Northwest," said Mariners President Chuck Armstrong.
"He always gave his all on the field, and quietly was a force for good in the community."
Griffey spent 11 seasons with the Mariners before going to the Reds in 2000. After a brief stint with the White Sox in 2008 he returned to Seattle the following season but knee problems limited him to just 11 games in the field.
This year, he was batting .184 with no home runs and seven RBIs in 33 games.
For a time in the 1990s, he was considered the best player in baseball. But then injuries began to take their toll and his production started to decline.
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