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6/9/08

Ken Griffey Jr. Hits Home Run #600

Best True Home Run Hitter Of This Era

MLB, Cincinnati Reds, Ken Griffey Jr., Home Run Record, MLB Highlights

CriticalFanatic

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Isn't it just typical that Ken Griffey Jr., during this period where his record accomplishment has been ignored, would hit his 600th home run in front of a few hundred at Dolphins Stadium.

The good news is that however many fans were there, made enough noise and long enough to get a most deserving curtain call.

Junior deserved more. A sellout crowd all on their feet would have been nice, but above all else, Griffey deserved to be considered the home run king. Unfortunately, a myriad of lower body injuries halted what we all thought would be a run at Hank Aaron's record.

All of this may not have ever happened. In 1988, Griffey attempted suicide by taking over 200 aspirins after being overwhelmed with being yelled at in baseball and at home. He obviously survived and began his career with the Seattle Marines in 1989 and has treated us to the sweetest swing in all of baseball.

So how should "The Kid" be remembered among the all-time greats? We know he's an instantaneous Hall of Famer whenever he decides to hang 'em up. His career numbers have obviously taken a dent over the last 5-6 years, but he's still Top 20 all-time in total bases, RBI's and now 6th in home runs. One random stat that I always believe shows us a respect level for a hitter's ability - intentional walks. He's 4th behind Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron and Willie McCovey.

I suppose we should let him finish his career before we worry about where he ranks, but for now Griffey deserves the title of best home run hitter of this era. And at one time, boy was he ever fun to watch in the outfield.

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6/9/08

snbslugger

7	I wish to God he had enough years left to hit 160 more, just to wash the stink of Barry Bonds off the top spot. Congrats, Junior. If it weren't for injuries that might have been #800 we saw today.

6/9/08

snbslugger

7	I wish to God he had enough years left to hit 160 more, just to wash the stink of Barry Bonds off the top spot. Congrats, Junior. If it weren't for injuries that might have been #800 we saw today.

6/9/08

TheBigThree

(Edited by TheBigThree)
snbslugger wrote:

I wish to God he had enough years left to hit 160 more, just to wash the stink of Barry Bonds off the top spot.

Congrats, Junior. If it weren't for injuries that might have been #800 we saw today.

Agreed.

I'm not one for playing the "What If?" game on too many occasions, but as a lifelong Reds diehard and someone who idolized Junior second only to MJ as a kid, I have to say that he would be shattering records left and right if he could've kept his legs in good health.

It seems like there are at least two things that most baseball fans and pundits agree on with regards to Junior:

1) He has the sweetest swing of his generation, and perhaps of all-time;
2) His only peer in terms of the electric combination of freakish defense and hitting is Willie Mays.

Those things alone qualify him as not only a legendary baseball player, but a legendary sportsman. Although his legacy may be "diminished" (which may be absurd in and of itself, because there is no diminishing someone of Junior's stature, no matter the injuries), it is not tarnished because of these post-prime years of his career.

Part of me wants him to stay in Cincy, because even if he has lost several steps through the years, magic remains each time he swings. Bonds never had that magic, because Bonds was always an ass-hole, and McGwire and Sosa had it only as long as we chose to blind ourselves from their juiced bodies. Junior may be the last, best true "ballplayer" of his time. He should be celebrated accordingly.

6/10/08

Scott Senay

0	Cry all you want, and this is someone who is from Pittsburgh, despises Bonds and attended a game in Cleveland vs Mariners that was part of Griffiey's "streak". Bonds is still the best HR hitter of all time.

6/10/08

JBrenn

0	I thought it was really classy, when over the weekend, The Kid, hit a long fly ball to center (which Shane Victorino caught), and the Philly fans cheered! Philly is supposed to be one of the toughest sports towns in America, but by God, they know an all-time great when they see one!!

6/10/08

JBrenn

2	Scott Senay wrote: Cry all you want, and this is someone who is from Pittsburgh, despises Bonds and attended a game in Cleveland vs Mariners that was part of Griffiey's "streak". Bonds is still the best HR hitter of all time. Bonds is numerically superior - nothing more, nothing less.

6/10/08

RedBirdRage

JBrenn wrote:

I thought it was really classy, when over the weekend, The Kid, hit a long fly ball to center (which Shane Victorino caught), and the Philly fans cheered!
Philly is supposed to be one of the toughest sports towns in America, but by God, they know an all-time great when they see one!!

I agree... I was surprised by the Philly fans, they moved off the "worst fanbase" list with that move.

It's ridiculous you have to be on roids or hgh or get popped with a DUI to make the news. Our dang media has become an absolute joke just like it is in the UK.

6/10/08

Scott Senay

1	JBrenn wrote: Bonds is numerically superior - nothing more, nothing less. Isn't that what, um, kinda counts?

6/10/08

WBKsports

Scott Senay wrote:

Isn't that what, um, kinda counts?

What counts the most is Barry's "Nuts" shrinking to the size of Mentos and the fact that he has to worry about premature heart attacks, strokes, liver tumors, kidney failure and serious psychiatric problems for the rest of his life. Not to mention, the body sends a message to the testicles to slow down, or even stop producing testosterone when there is too much circulating. His stats may have to me moved over to the Womens Pro Baseball Books pretty soon here...

6/10/08

nyrangers

1	griffey is one of my favorite players. i'm glad he hit the 600 mark. he is a class player that shows heart and determination every game. plus he's got a sexy swing

6/11/08

JBrenn

0	Scott Senay wrote: Isn't that what, um, kinda counts? But he had such an opportunity to be a better man, a role model, a better teammate and sportsman, and yet, he failed miserably at all of them.