Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael Schatz
Ken Griffey Jr. became the face of baseball in the 1990s, captivating fans with his remarkable talent and flair for the dramatic. From jaw-dropping plays in the outfield to majestic home runs, to catchy endorsements, you couldn’t think of baseball and not think of Ken Griffey Jr.
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Join us as we take a look at some of the moments and remarkable achievements that made ‘The Kid’ one of the greatest players in MLB history.
The Call To The Show
Ken Griffey Jr. made his MLB debut on April 3, 1989, as a 19-year-old. With as much hype as any player in recent memory, Griffey proved he belonged by hitting .264 with 16 home runs and 61 RBIs in 127 games. Although he finished third in the ROY voting, his rookie season set the stage for a legendary career, making it clear that baseball had a new superstar.
Historic Back-to-Back Home Runs With His Father
On September 14, 1990, Ken Griffey Jr. and his dad, Ken Griffey Sr., pulled off one of the coolest feats in baseball: hitting back-to-back homers in a game. Playing for the Mariners, they took Angels pitcher Kirk McCaskill deep, becoming the first father-son duo to do so. Altogether, they played 51 games together before Sr. retired in 1991.
Unforgettable Home Run Derby Performance At Camden Yards
Ken Griffey Jr. put on a show during the 1993 Home Run Derby. Taking place in Camden Yards, Jr. wowed the crowd by blasting a ball over the right field stands and hitting the iconic warehouse. It was one of – if not the – most memorable moments in Home Run Derby history.
Despite the impressive fete, Griffey would lose to Juan Gonzalez in the first-ever Home Run Derby overtime. But he’d make up for that defeat by winning in 1994, 1998 and 1999.
The Iconic Slide To Clinch The ALDS
After falling behind the Yankees 0-2 in their best-of-five ALDS in 1995, the Mariners weren’t just on the brink of elimination, their place in Seattle was very much up in the air. But Ken Griffey Jr. wouldn’t have that. After winning Games 3 and 4, the ALDS headed back to Seattle for a decisive Game 5. In the bottom of the 11th, with Griffey on first, Edgar Martinez roped a double down the left field line.
Griffey raced around the bases and made history with a dramatic slide into home plate, securing the Mariners’ victory and propelling them into the ALCS. This moment not only saved the Mariners’ season but also helped secure financing for a new ballpark. Safeco Field would be known as ‘The House That Griffey Built’.
1997 American League MVP
Already a superstar, Ken Griffey Jr. cemented his place as one of the game’s best when he took home the American League MVP award in 1997. He finished the season with a .304 batting average, 56 home runs and 147 RBIs, the latter leading all of MLB.
#500 On Father’s Day
On June 20, 2004, Griffey became the 20th player to hit 500 career home runs. What made this extra special was that it came on Father’s Day with his father in the stands to watch. And the topper? The home run tied him with his father in career hits at 2,143.
Collecting The Hardware
Ken Griffey Jr. had a knack for making the impossible catch seem routine. Diving, crashing into fences, jumping over fences, it didn’t matter. If you hit the ball to centerfield, there was a good chance Ken Griffey Jr. was going to track it down. He was so good that he took home 10 Gold Gloves over the course of his career, tied for 2nd all-time by a center fielder.
He was also a fan favorite, collecting 13 All-Star nominations. In 1992, he took home the All-Star MVP. And with his father’s All-Star MVP in 1980, they became the only father-son duo to win the award.
Making History
On June 9, 2008, Ken Griffey Jr. entered rarified air when he took a 3-1 pitch from Marlins pitch Mark Hendrickson deep for his 600th home run. He would finish his career with 630 home runs, good enough for 7th on the all-time list.
Many around baseball believe that if Jr. hadn’t had so many games taken away from him because of injury, he would be the all-time home run leader.
A Record Vote Into The Hall Of Fame
Everyone knew Ken Griffey Jr. was a first-ballot Hall of Famer. But when he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016, the final vote tally was staggering. He received 99.3% of the vote, the highest percentage any player had ever received at the time. It’s only been surpassed by Derek Jeter’s 99.7% in 2020 and Mariano Rivera’s unanimous 100% in 2019.
This induction wasn’t just a nod to Griffey’s remarkable stats, but a testament to how he played the game—with a kid’s joy and pure love for baseball that fans and players alike couldn’t help but admire.