Welcome Home Junior

Ken Griffey Junior’s return to the Mariners this past week got me thinking about my favorite sports  memories growing up, most of which involve watching him play.  I was 10 years old when he joined the Mariners and had the privelege of growing up watching one of the greatest baseball players of all time. 

 I got to watch him play for a decade during the prime of his career and do things that no one thought could be done on a baseball field.  I wanted to grow up to be just like him…right up until 8th grade when I realized I couldn’t hit the curve ball.  That was the end of my dream to play professional baseball. 

 Therefore, in honor of his return, I’ve put together a list of some of my favorite memories from my favorite player:

1.  Going to a game with some friends at the Kingdome and sitting in the center field bleachers.  We screamed at him for a good five innings…until he finally turned around and looked at us and gave us the ‘hang loose’ sign.  We thought we were the coolest!

2.  Watching him make some of the most amazing catches ever seen in the outfield.   Being in the stands and seeing him go over the wall to make catches, stretching out in a full on dive to make catches, breaking into a full sprint as soon as contact was made to chase a ball down in the gap.  He was unbelievable.  I’ll never forget the sound the crowd would make as a ball was hit his way….40,000 people holding their breath, wondering if he was going to be able to get it….and the cheers that erupted from us all when he would somehow come up with the ball.  

3. Trading away a number of Griffey rookie cards to my friend Brian Lorence, who lived across the alley.  His mom always bought him a Beckett’s Baseball Card Magazine, which he’d use to swindle me out of all my good cards.   At one point, I think he swindled me out of a Griffey Upper Deck Rookie Card, like the one seen above (although it was probably just a Donruss) for a Kevin Mitchell Rookie Card (or something like that).  At least he made me feel like I was getting the better end of the deal….

4.  Nothing will top the memories of the 1995 season.  Being so far out of the pennant race late in the season and storming their way back into playoffs…it was a great couple of months.  There is no greater sports highlight for me than Edgar’s Double in the 1995 American League Division Series. Listening to Dave Niehaus call him home still gets me a little dusty.  

I know he’s not the player he once was, but just having him back around brings a bit of joy into what has been, and what will probably continue to be, a bleak sports season in Seattle.  Welcome home Junior….I can’t wait to see you again.  I’ll be the one screaming at you from the bleachers in center field.