Ken Griffey Jr. Announces Retirement: Next Stop, Cooperstown

If a “Baseball Mt. Rushmore” existed, with the most influential baseball players of all time, Ken Griffey Jr. would be one of the players etched into the monument. 

His impact on the game of baseball is that significant. He captivated baseball fans around the world, and he personified style and class for 22 seasons.  

Griffey is arguably one of the most popular baseball players of all time, and his approach to the game was what made his beloved fans admire him. He did everything his way, in a humble manner, without stepping on anyone’s cleats.

He ended his career exactly the way he wanted to. No press conference, no long-winded goodbyes, and no disruptions. He simply released a statement through the Mariners, and that was it.

Griffey never put himself in front of his team. He never tried to stand out; but it is was nearly impossible to blend in with the numbers he put up.

Griffey was one of the greatest hitters, fielders, and all-around players to ever put a mitt on. Despite missing hundreds of games throughout his career because of injuries, he put together the type of numbers that will land him in the Hall of Fame the moment he becomes eligible.

Here is a quick glimpse of some of the monstrous numbers Griffey posted while playing for the Mariners, Reds, and White Sox :

*630 career home runs (fifth best all time)

*13-time All-Star

*10-time Gold Glove winner

*1997 AL MVP

There are three factors that Hall of Fame voters need to weigh when considering a player for the Hall of Fame. 

The first factor is statistics. This is by far the most important factor the Hall of Fame should award the best players for what they accomplished on the field. The stats show an athlete’s body of work.

The second factor is impact. The player has to not only have outstanding numbers, but he also has to have a lasting impact on the game somehow.

The third factor that voters should always consider is legacy. A player has to leave the game with a favorable legacy that will make voters want to choose him.

Griffey’s stats alone are solid enough to send him to Cooperstown. With his influence on pop culture and widespread popularity, Griffey is a lock for the Hall of Fame. 

He single-handedly saved Seattle’s baseball franchise when he entered the league in 1989. Fans  will remember Griffey as the most honest and genuine player from an era filled with scandals, lies, and cheaters.

Steroids and performance enhancers will forever tarnish the era that Griffey played in, but yet, there were no blemishes in his game.

Everything Griffey did was pure. His game was flawless and he will be remembered as one of the best all-around players in history.