Griffey Returns to Seattle by Bill Rockey

GRIFFEY RETURNS

It doesn’t seem that long ago I was covering the Mariners home opener in 1989. It was not your ordinary opening day. That’s because Ken Griffey Junior was making his major league debut, and he was doing so at the age of 19.

I’ll never forget something that happened, at the Kingdome, during pre-game warm-ups. Griffey walked over to sign a couple autographs for a couple kids. I looked over and realized those kids belonged to one of my best friends from high school. The next day, there was a picture in the paper of Junior signing those autographs. My friend and I were also in the picture. I have a copy of it on the wall in my house. It’s something I’ll always remember about Griffey’s first game as a pro.

From there, “the kid”, went on to be the face of the franchise. It seemed for 11 years, whenever Junior came to the plate baseball fans watching on television would stop what they were doing until his at bat was over. If you were at the game, you’d never go to the concession stand if Griffey was due up that inning. That was the impact he had on baseball in the northwest. When he left for Cincinnati in 2000, a part of Mariners history seemed to be gone forever.

But that all changed prior to the start of spring training in 2009. Griffey, who was a free agent, decided to go back to where it all began. After talking to Hall of Famers like Hank Aaron and Willie Mays , the most famous player to ever wear a Seattle uniform decided his heart was still at Safeco Field. After being gone for nine years, Griffey chose to come back.

Covering Griffey as a member of the media was always unique. One moment, he was serious, the next moment he was joking with you like he was your best friend. Sometimes he wouldn’t talk to the media, other times he would smile for the camera’s and say some of the funniest stuff you’d ever want to hear.

One thing I did learn. If Junior went 3 for 4 with two homers and 5 rbi’s, he never wanted to talk about himself. He would talk about winning or losing the game, but if you asked how he felt about his performance, he would go in another direction.

That attitude is something many of the young members of the Mariners roster will pick up with Junior in the clubhouse. He’s now one of the veterans. It’s great to have him back.

Bill Rockey


Bio -Bill Rockey was a sports reporter and producer for KING and KIRO TV the past 30 years.
Now he's a free lance writer.

Hitting Drills

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Have you tried the Frisbee drill, Its great for keeping your hands flat through the hitting zone. The best Frisbee for the drill is a golf Frisbee.
Throw it just like you were hitting a baseball( same mechanics as a swing). Put the Frisbee between your hands with palms together. Now throw your hands through the hitting zone just like your hitting a ball. If you keep the hands flat it will fly.

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