Breaking News: Ken Griffey Jr. Retires
"Junior in the Dugout" by S x 2, from our Flickr pool
We can't say we didn't see it coming, but it still feels like a punch in the stomach. Ken Griffey, Jr., greatest Mariner of all time, announced his retirement today.
In a statement, Griffey said, "This has been on my mind recently but it's not an easy decision to come by. I'd like to thank the Seattle Mariners organization for allowing me to finish my playing career where it started."
For all the turmoil fans are experiencing in this mulligan of a season, never forget that if not for #24 -- with his swing, smile, leaping catches and that iconic, seared-into-our-city's-consciousness image of him rounding third like a freight train and sliding into home plate in the 1995 Division series against the Yankees -- none of this would be possible.
If you can watch that clip without getting a little choked up, you are a stronger person than this Seattlest. So long, Kid. Thanks for all you gave Seattle.
UPDATE TREAT: Griffey Everywhere
