Ken Griffey Jr.
Baseball · Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
- High school
- Archbishop Moeller High School
- Pro team(s)
- Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox, New York Mets
- Hall of Fame
- ⭐ National Baseball Hall of Fame
Ken Griffey Jr. was born in Donora, Pennsylvania — where his father Ken Sr. grew up — but was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he attended Archbishop Moeller High School. Selected 1st overall by the Seattle Mariners in the 1987 MLB Draft at age 17, "The Kid" arrived in the major leagues at 19 and immediately became the most electrifying player in the game. His swing was a work of art. His defense in center field was otherworldly — he won 10 consecutive Gold Gloves from 1990-1999. He won the 1997 American League MVP and became the game's biggest star through the 1990s. After returning home to play for the Cincinnati Reds in 2000, injuries slowed him down, but he retired with 630 home runs (5th all-time). Inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016 with 99.3% of the vote — the highest percentage ever at that time.