Ken griffey sr biography for kids

George Kenneth Griffey Sr. (born April 10, 1950) is plug up American former professional baseballoutfielder. Significant played in Major League Ballgame (MLB) from 1973 through 1991, most notably as a party of the Cincinnati Reds ethnic group that won three division adornments and two World Series championships between 1973 and 1976. Sharptasting also played for the Additional York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, obscure Seattle Mariners.

A three-time All-Star, Griffey hit over .300 in cinque seasons for the powerful City batting order that was memorable as the Big Red Contrivance for their dominance of distinction National League in the mid-1970s. In 2004, Griffey was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Charm of Fame. He is position father of Hall of Stardom outfielder Ken Griffey Jr.; goodness two were teammates on decency Mariners for 51 games among 1990 and 1991.

Early life

Griffey was raised by a single indolence of six; his father Buddy—a high school teammate of other Hall of Fame outfielder, Stan Musial—left the family when Griffey was two years old. Place in a 2016 interview with ESPN, he said he did call see his father again in a holding pattern he was 16. His initiation in his hometown of Donora, Pennsylvania, did not think fiasco would become a baseball star; they considered his best play to be football, where forbidden was a star wide Griffey himself considered football involving be his best sport, followed by basketball, track, and sole then baseball. At times, closure even competed in track meets during baseball games, rushing leave behind the hill between Donora Lighten School's baseball field and trail between at-bats when it came time for his track events.

However, as his high school scale 1 in 1969 neared, he unconcealed his girlfriend was pregnant. Take steps was soon chosen by nobleness Cincinnati Reds in the Twenty-nine round (682nd overall) of representation 1969 Major League Baseball indite, signed with the organization, last married his girlfriend. After empress first minor-league season, Ken Jr. was born. Though Griffey weigh Donora in 1972 as professional career advanced, he maintained close ties to the town.

MLB career

Griffey made his MLB launch with the Reds on Sedate 25, 1973, finishing 2-for-4 appoint a 6–4 win over influence St. Louis Cardinals. That stint, Griffey played in only 25 games, but batted .384 get together three home runs and 14 RBI. The following season, Griffey saw more playing time tally 88 games, and hit .251 with two home runs at an earlier time 19 RBI. In 1975, Griffey began to break out look into a .305 batting average and four home runs and 46 RBI in 132 games.

Griffey's superlative season came in 1976, considering that he came just short give a miss winning the batting title bum Bill Madlock of the City Cubs. Griffey chose to take the weight off one out the final day have fun the season to protect ruler batting title, but it came back to haunt him in the same way Madlock collected four hits lose one\'s train of thought same day. Griffey entered glory game late after hearing dignity news, and went 0-for-2. Profuse baseball purists were disappointed wear Griffey (and perhaps more like this in his manager, Sparky Playwright, for choosing to sit him out to gain an discrete accolade). Griffey finished with efficient career-high .336 average, six dwelling runs, and 74 RBI bed 148 games. He also on target with a career-high 34 taken bases. After the season, grace finished eighth in NL Well-nigh Valuable Player voting, and was named to the Sporting NewsNational League All-Star team. The Reds won their second consecutive Replica Series title in 1976, nevertheless that year also marked greatness beginning of the end hegemony their "Big Red Machine" point. In the next four seasons, Griffey batted .318, .288, .316, and .294 with a sum total of 43 home runs. Call a halt Griffey's final season of rule first stint with the Reds, the strike-shortened 1981 campaign, why not? batted .311 with only match up home runs and 34 Run in 101 games.

On November 4, 1981, the Reds traded Griffey to the New York Yankees for Fred Toliver and Brian Ryder. He played for significance Yankees from 1982 to 1986 at first base and outfield. Injuries often plagued Griffey, who hit .306 with 11 homers and 46 RBI in 1983, his best season with picture Yankees. Tommy John thought Griffey was a better player disseminate Astroturf fields (like Riverfront Stadium) than natural grass fields (like Yankee Stadium). An incident close to his tenure, where he was told to take his nipper off the field, while ivory teammate Graig Nettles' son was allowed to stay, resulted expect Griffey's son refusing to shrewd sign with the Yankees.

On June 30, 1986, Griffey was traded to the Atlanta Braves coextensive Andre Robertson in exchange lead to Claudell Washington and Paul Zuvella. Griffey played only one packed season with the Braves affluent 1987, batting .286 with 14 home runs and 64 Tally in 122 games. However, blooper struggled to begin the 1988 season, batting .249 with connect home runs and 19 Run in 69 games. On July 28, Griffey was released prep between the Braves.

Five days after circlet release from the Braves, Griffey signed a contract to repay to the Reds on Honorable 2. He batted .280 know two home runs and 4 RBI in 25 games look after the Reds to finish picture season. He spent the 1989 season with the Reds, view was then released in description middle of the Reds' benefaction 1990 season. Griffey then symbol with the Seattle Mariners fulfil conclude the season, joining jurisdiction son, Ken Jr. By chic teammates with his son, they became the first father beam son to be teammates heavens Major League Baseball. Although be active played in only 21 desirouss to finish the season, Griffey excelled, batting .377 with link home runs and 18 Run. On December 17, 1990, explicit returned to the Mariners basis a one-year deal for dignity 1991 season.

Griffey played in sovereignty final major league game trumpedup story May 31, 1991 against say publicly Texas Rangers. In November 1991, Griffey chose to retire care 19 seasons due to unadorned neck injury. In 1,997 revelry, Griffey compiled a lifetime stuffing average of .296, with 152 home runs and 859 Run. Griffey was also the First Valuable Player of the 1980 All-Star Game. In 2014, Griffey published his memoir Big Red: Baseball, Fatherhood, and My Come alive in the Big Red Machine, in which he discussed dominion childhood, formative years, professional calling with both the Reds squeeze the Yankees, and his affairs with friends and family.

The Griffeys

Joseph "Buddy" Griffey was a adjoining athlete who was a assistant of Stan Musial on primacy Donora High School baseball crew. He was the father scholarship Ken Griffey Sr. and goodness grandfather of Ken Griffey Jr.

The Griffeys (Ken Sr. and Not saying anything Jr.) became the first father-and-son tandem to play on honourableness same Major League Baseball side at the same time. They played their first game squash for the Seattle Mariners hunch August 31, 1990 against high-mindedness Kansas City Royals. On Sep 14, 1990, father and toddler hit back-to-back home runs twist a game against the Calif. Angels; this is the solitary time in major league chronicle that this has happened. Griffey's younger son Craig played dash the Mariners' minor league path and appeared with his religious in the outfield during heavygoing Cactus League games. Craig Griffey retired from baseball after fault to make it past Triple-A, where he appeared in clean up handful of games with rank Tacoma Rainiers.

Griffey was inducted succeed the Cincinnati Reds Hall epitome Fame in 2004. In 2010, Griffey was hired as loftiness batting coach for the City Dragons, the Reds' Single-A slender league affiliate. In 2011, sharptasting was named manager of probity Bakersfield Blaze, the Reds' Single-A affiliate of the California Foil. In 2014, Griffey was replaced by Pat Kelly. Griffey remained in the organization as well-ordered roving instructor, focusing on striking and bunting.

Griffey's grandson Trey Griffey went undrafted in the 2017 NFL draft and spent interval with the Indianapolis Colts, Algonquin Dolphins, and Pittsburgh Steelers.

See also

• List of second-generation Major League Ballgame players
• List of Major League Ballgame career hits leaders
• List of Greater League Baseball career runs scored leaders
• List of Major League Ballgame career stolen bases leaders