The Mariners drafted teenage superstar and second-generation player Ken Griffey Jr with the first pick in the 1987 MLB Draft and watched as he blossomed into a Hall of Famer
On June 2, 1997, the Seattle Mariners selected teenage superstar and second-generation player Ken Griffey Jr with the first pick in the 1987 MLB Draft. The outfielder would go on to blossom into a Hall of Famer and one of the greatest all-around players in the history of baseball.
Over the course of 22 major league seasons, Griffey became the face of baseball during the 1990s, combining breathtaking athleticism with a joyful style of play that captivated fans across generations. Nicknamed “The Kid,” he hit 630 career home runs, won 10 Gold Gloves, earned 13 All-Star selections, and captured the 1997 American League Most Valuable Player Award while helping elevate the Mariners into national prominence.
Griffey’s smooth left-handed swing remains one of the most recognizable and admired in baseball history, often serving as the standard by which future sluggers are judged. Beyond the numbers, he helped popularize the sport through his charisma, signature backward cap, and appearances in video games and commercials that made him a cultural icon.
In 2016, Griffey’s remarkable career was immortalized when he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, receiving a then-record percentage of votes and cementing his legacy as one of the game’s all-time greats.
