Ken Griffey Jr., Seattle Mariners. (Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports)
On Monday, it was announced Ken Griffey Jr. opened the wallet to own a piece of the Seattle Mariners.
The Seattle Mariners announced former player Ken Griffey Jr. has purchased shares of the organization and become part-owner of the ball club. This is a move signals a new day for the Mariners and their fans.
Jr. was drafted by the Mariners first overall in the 1987 MLB Draft. He made his major league debut in 1989 and remained a key part in of the Mariners until he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds prior to the 2000 season. He remained in the Queen City until the summer of 2008, when he was traded to the Chicago White Sox for a second-half push to the playoffs. In ’09, he returned to Seattle to finish his career, retiring in the summer of ’10.
Ken Griffey Jr.’s resume in Major League Baseball is ridiculous.
- 13-time All-Star
- 3-time Home Run Derby Champion
- 1992 All-Star Game MVP
- 10 Gold Gloves
- 7 Silver Slugger Awards
- 1997 Most Valuable Player
All of that earned him an obvious spot in Cooperstown at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, going in one vote shy of unanimous. His number 24 is retired in Seattle, the third in franchise history (Edgar Martinez’s 11 & Jackie Robinson’s 42).
“As I said in my Hall of Fame speech, I’m very proud to be a Seattle Mariner,” Griffey said. “I’m excited for this incredible opportunity to join John and the rest of the Mariners partnership group. This is a dream come true because of the relationship I’ve always had with the team, its fans, and the city of Seattle. I view this as another way to continue to give back to an organization and community that has always supported me, and my family. I’m looking forward to continuing to contribute to this organization’s success in any way possible.” – Seattle Mariners
Earlier in the year, former CEO of the Seattle Mariners Kevin Mather resigned after video surfaced of him criticizing some of his players’ ability to speak English and questioned their pay. This has been looming over a young clubhouse looking to burst through in the AL West.
Griffey Jr. signing on as a part-owner looks to bode well for the organization, and he will definitely have an impact on the young players on the roster.