Ken Griffey Jr. has opted to sign with the Atlanta Braves, spurning the Seattle Mariners. The 13 time All Star has 600 HRs and 10 Gold Gloves to his credit, and is surely a first ballot Hall of Famer when he chooses to retire. However, Griffey is coming off an off year during which he was injured for much of the year, limiting the center fielder to 18 HRs and 71 RBIs while batting only .249.
He hasn't had double digit stolen bases since 1999, his last season with Seattle, and has missed 472 games since jumping from the Mariners to Cinncinnati after the 1999 season. Nonetheless, at his best Griffey Jr. was the best player of his era, an excellent defensive center fielder and a sweet stroke which produced over 600 home runs despite the injuries which caused many to dub the superstar Captain Fragile. Although at 39 years old Griffey is no longer the defensive and offensive force he once was, he provides a credibility to a very young Braves team as well as a still very servicable left handed bat off the bench.
As demonstrated last season, Griffey still has some pop left in his bat as he hit 15 HRs with 53 RBIs in his first 100 games only to tail off sharply after being traded to the White Sox at the trade deadline. Griffey is still an above average outfielder who relies mostly on guile and baseball smarts rather than the blazing speed and athleticism he displayed in winning 10 Gold Gloves in center field. Manager Bobby Cox once described Griffey Jr. as "the best high school player I ever saw", even venturing out in 1987 as the Braves GM to simply watch the young son of a former player play even with Atlanta having no chance at grabbing the touted prospect who was the first overall pick in the 1987 MLB draft.
To Seattle Mariners fans, Griffey was the face of the Mariners throughout the 90s, from the eye popping catches in centerfield and long home runs, until his defection to the Reds in favor of the monster contract. To some bitter fans Griffey deserved his plague of injuries and decreased production as a result, as well as the zero postseason appearances in his tenure with the Reds. However, to many he remained a hero, simply known as "The Kid" who wore his hat backwards and flashed his trademark smile as he captivated baseball fans with his love for the game and his once in a generation skill set.
Atlanta gets a cheap left handed veteran outfielder to platoon in the outfield, but they also acquire a first ballot HOFer who plays the game with a passion and child like love for the game. Through all of the injuries and jeers from frustrated fans, Griffey Jr. continued to wear his cap backwards and flash his trademark smile. An exception to the many stars who cheated and used steroids Griffey played the game right, and inspired an entire generation to wear their caps backwards and play with a smile.
For baseball fans during the 90s, Griffey was the best player of the decade bar none and was on track to shatter Hank Aaron's home run record until the barrage of injuries hit. But looking past the many injuries and what ifs, Griffey will one day enter Cooperstown as a player who was respected for his skills and longevity and beloved for his love for the game. Many kudos to Braves GM Frank Wren for bringing in the 13 time All Star at a bargain rate, bringing in a great culbhouse leader and able left handed bat. Perhaps Griffey will recapture a bit of the magic which made him a first ballot Hall of Famer, but even if he doesn't his legacy has already been established in the hearts and minds of those who still see him as "The Kid".
Already approaching the second decade of the 2000s, the awe inspiring play of Ken Griffey Jr. must not be lost on the many generations to be jaded by the steroid era. Here's to you Ken Griffey Jr., you played the game right and loved the game just as much as we did.
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