Thursday, February 10, 2000
Griffey career highlights
• 1987: The Moeller High School star is the first player selected in the amateur draft. Begins pro career at 17 in Everett, Wash. Named No. 1 prospect in Northwest League.
• 1988: Split time between Single A San Bernardino and Double A Vermont. Hit .338 with 11 HR and 42 RBI in 58 games at San Bernardino.
• 1989: Made the Mariners out of spring training as a non-roster player by hitting .359 with 21 RBI in 26 spring games. Doubled in first major league at-bat on April 3. Hit home run on the first pitch to him at the Kingdome on April 10. Tied a Seattle record with eight straight hits. Broke the little finger on right hand and was the disabled list from July 25 to Aug. 20. Was leading all rookies in average (.287), homers (13) and RBI (45) at time of the injury.
• 1990: Become first Mariner ever elected to All-Star game. Finished with 2.1 million, second to Jose Canseco. Earned his first Gold Glove, becoming the second youngest player to do so (Johnny Bench was the youngest). Hit back-to-back home runs with his father Ken Sr. on Sept. 14
• 1991: Set Seattle marks for average (.327), doubles (42) and slugging percentage (.527). Was the AL's leading vote getter in the All-Star game with 2.2 million votes. Became the youngest player to drive 100 runs since Al Kaline in 1956.
• 1992: Named MVP of the All-Star game after going 3-for-3 with a home run of Greg Maddux.
• 1993: Set Seattle records for runs (113), home runs (45) and intentional walks (25). Tied a ML record by hitting home runs in eight straight games. Pushed his American League record of chances without an error to 573.
• 1994: Won his first AL home run title with 40 (work stoppage shortened season). Won the All-Star Game home run hitting contest.
• 1995: Opened the season three-run, third-deck homer on Opening Day to lift the Mariners to a 3-0 over Detroit. Broke both bones in his left wrist making a spectacular catch on May 26. Missed 21/2 after surgery to put a metal brace in the wrist. Hit five home runs in the Division Series against the New York Yankees, tying Reggie Jackson's mark for most homers in a postseason series.
• 1996: Set franchise record for home runs (49) and RBI (140). Elected to his seventh All-Star Game and led the Major Leagues in voting with over 3 million votes.
• 1997: Became the 13th player to be unanimously elected Most Valuable player. Hit 56 home runs and drove in 147 to break the club records he set the yer before.
• 1998: Became the youngest player to reach the 350 home run plateau and only player to get there before his 29th birthday. Became the fourth youngest player to reach 1,000 RBI.
• 1999: Hit 40 homers for sixth time. Only Babe Ruth (11), Hank Aaron (8) and Harmon Killebrew (8) have done it more time. Reached the half point to Aaron's record before his 30th birthday.
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