Ken Griffey Sr.

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Lore & Background

Griffey's path to stardom began in Donora, Pennsylvania, where he was initially considered a football star rather than a baseball prospect. He even competed in track meets during baseball games, rushing between the fields at times. His professional journey started after discovering his girlfriend was pregnant just before his 1969 high school graduation; he was drafted by the Reds in the 29th round and signed immediately. His best season came in 1976, where he finished with a career-high .336 average, six home runs, and 74 RBI, narrowly missing the batting title on the final day. In a pivotal moment that year, manager Sparky Anderson pulled him from the starting lineup after discussing it with stars like Pete Rose and Johnny Bench. Griffey entered as a pinch hitter but went 0-for-2, allowing Bill Madlock to win the title by hitting 4-for-4. Despite this, he finished eighth in NL MVP voting and was named to the Sporting News All-Star team.

In Their Own Story

The unique chapter of father and son playing together unfolded with remarkable speed in 1990. After being released by the Braves in July, Griffey signed with the Reds for a brief stint before being released again mid-season during the championship year. He then signed with the Seattle Mariners to conclude the season, reuniting with Ken Jr. They played their first game together on August 31, 1990, against the Kansas City Royals. On September 14, they achieved a singular feat: hitting back-to-back home runs against the California Angels, the only time in major league history this has occurred for a father and son. Although Griffey played only 21 games that season to finish with a .377 average, three home runs, and 18 RBI, the moment cemented their legacy. He returned to Seattle on a one-year deal for 1991 but retired in November due to a neck injury after his final game against the Texas Rangers on May 31.

Reader's Guide

Fans seeking to understand Griffey's career should note his versatility across four teams: the Reds, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, and Seattle Mariners. His tenure with the Yankees (1982–1986) was marked by injuries but included a standout 1983 season where he hit .306 with 11 homers. During this time, a notable incident occurred when he was told to remove his son from the field while white teammate Graig Nettles' son was allowed to stay, leading Ken Jr. to later refuse considering playing for New York. In 2004, Griffey was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame. His post-playing career included serving as a batting coach for the Dayton Dragons and manager of the Bakersfield Blaze before becoming a roving instructor. He published his memoir, 'Big Red: Baseball, Fatherhood, and My Life in the Big Red Machine,' in 2014.

Did You Know?

• Griffey and his son Ken Jr. are the only father-and-son pair to hit back-to-back home runs in a single game.
• Before baseball, Griffey considered football his best sport and was a star wide receiver in high school.
• He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 29th round (682nd overall) of the 1969 MLB draft.
• Griffey's father, Joseph 'Buddy' Griffey, was a high school teammate of Hall of Famer Stan Musial.
• In 1973, his debut season with the Reds, he batted .384 in just 25 games.