Ken Griffey Jr: A Hometown Hero
By Zaki Anwar

“My way of saying thank you. Wherever I hit it, I’ll be thinking of the fans back here and their response the last three days. … I never experienced anything like it in my life.”
--Griffey on saluting the fans at Great American Ballpark

Ken Griffey Jr. became to the 20th player in baseball history to hit 500 home runs when he struck a 2-2 fastball from Matt Morris 393 feet Sunday night. At 34, Griffey’s the sixth quickest to reach 500 homers and the first Red to hit 500. After being met at home plate by his Reds teammates Griffey preceded to walk over to his father, wife and children. After hugging each (and kissing Melissa of course), Griffey hugged fellow Moeller graduate Barry Larkin in the dugout. When asked what Junior said to him after the homer, Senior answered “Happy Father’s Day”. The St. Louis fans gave Griffey two standing ovations not to mention a curtain call. However, things haven’t been this smooth for Griffey his whole career. Ken’s career started in Seattle where he was labeled one of the best players of all time early and often. Griffey put up outstanding numbers and was on pace to break almost every record in the books. Though undoubtedly the best player Seattle had ever seen, fan discontent had grown by Griffeys 11th season. The franchise had not seen much success and Griffeys high payroll and confident attitude made him an easy scapegoat. It even got to the point where Griffey received a death threat in the mail. With the shaky relationship with the fans and Griffey’s desire to be closer to home, Ken requested a trade. A trade that would send him back home. Back to Cincinnati. He got his wish. On February 10, 2000 the Reds sent four people in return for Ken Griffey Junior. Junior was due to be a free agent after the upcoming season. By choosing to return to Cincinnati, Griffey only received a fraction of what he would have gotten paid to leave for a bigger market. In essence, Griffey took one of the biggest pay cuts baseball has known to play for our hometown Reds. Nevertheless, Griffey was extremely pleased. “"This is something I dreamed about as a little kid, being back in my hometown where I watched so many great players," Griffey said at the news conference. Viewed as a messianic type figure, Griffey was supposed the one. The one to bring the struggling Cincinnati Reds franchise back to the glory days of the Big Red Machine. Well…. Things didn’t go exactly as planned. Injury after injury plagued Griffey’s return. From 2001 to 2003, Griffey played in 111, 70 and 53 games respectively. He failed to hit over 22 home runs and did not drive in past 65 runs. Just when it looked like Ken was about to turn the corner, he would pull the hamstring or separate his shoulder. Critics were calling Griffey one of the biggest flops of all time. The team had not improved whatsoever and Griffeys clubhouse presence was questioned. Many called him a distraction to the ballclub. It seemed like the entire city of Cincinnati wanted Griffey out. The fans which had warmly welcomed his return were now warmly welcoming his departure. Once a superstar, Griffey had hit rock bottom. To this day Griffey calls these years some of the toughest of his entire life. He gives credit to his father for the encouragement he provided. Though things were looking bleak, Griffey did not let up. Months of rehabilitation work for almost every part of his body eventually paid off. A healthy Junior has returned the Reds lineup this year. A Junior with a second life. In only 65 games Griffey has already hit 19 homers and driven in 54 runs. He has shown flashes of brilliance in the field and reminded the Cincinnati faithful of the young Seattle centerfielder they used to see on SportsCenter. In what seemed to be a turning point in fans hearts, Reds fans gave Griffey standing ovations every at bat in which Griffey stood on 499 home runs. He had won over the hearts of the fans through his determination, persistence and awfully cute smile that he just can’t seem to hide these days. And so today I encourage fans to try something new. Give Griffey his due. Great players who fight through adversity as well as Griffey has do not come around everyday. Personally, I would just like to say Thanks.

Thanks for proving me right... that you aren't done.

Thanks for the fight through the pain.

Thanks for keeping this just a game.

Thanks Kid.

And the countdown to 600 begins….