By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Ken Griffey Jr. after hitting career home run No. 492 against the Florida Marlins. (Enquirer photo)

COUNTDOWN TO 500

View a complete list of Ken Griffey Jr.'s career home runs, plus look at photos and join our message board to share your thoughts on his pursuit of 500 career home runs.

If Reds center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. could plan it, he would hit career home run No. 500 in front of his home fans, at Great American Ball Park.

"Straightaway to center," he said when asked to envision the ideal scenario. "Hits the batter's eye and bounces back on the field. That's how it would be in the perfect world."

But Griffey, who has 495 career home runs, knows he can't script the big moment.

"I can't control when it's going to happen or where," he said.

And chances are his fantasy won't come to life in the next three days, when the Reds begin a homestand against the Montreal Expos, starting tonight at 7:10 p.m.

Five home runs in three games would be quite a feat for any player, even a player who, like Griffey, is one of the most prolific power hitters in history.

The outfielder now ranks No. 20 among baseball's career home-run hitters. Hank Aaron leads with 755.

BY THE NUMBERS

47: Times Ken Griffey Jr. has hit two homers in one game. 9: Times Griffey has hit two in one game as a Red, including once this season (May 8). 2: Times Griffey has hit three homers in one game (April 25, 1997; May 24, 1996). 5: Home runs against Montreal. 28: Home runs against Oakland. 30: Home runs against Cleveland. Ken Griffey Jr. has 14 home runs in 50 games - he's averaging one home run every 3.6 games. On that pace, he would hit No. 500 June 23 at New York against the Mets. REDS SCHEDULE Today: MONTREAL Saturday: MONTREAL Sunday: MONTREAL Monday: at Oakland Tuesday: at Oakland Wednesday: at Oakland Thursday: Off June 11: at Cleveland June 12: at Cleveland June 13: at Cleveland June 14: at Philadelphia June 15: TEXAS June 16: TEXAS June 17: TEXAS June 18: at St. Louis June 19: at St. Louis June 20: at St. Louis June 21: Off June 22: at New York Mets June 23: at New York Mets June 24: at New York Mets

Griffey, who is averaging one home run every 3.6 games, is on a hot streak, hitting six homers in his last 11 games.

In his career, he's hit two homers in one game 47 times, and has hit three home runs in one game on two occasions.

But he's never cleared the fence five times in three days.

Then again, anything seems possible when it comes to the Reds, who are making a triumphant return home after sweeping the World Series champion Florida Marlins. This Reds crew, picked by many baseball experts to finish at or near the bottom of the National League's Central Division, have won 15 of their last 19 games en route to securing the National League's best record.

At the heart of this team's surge is Griffey, the 34-year-old superstar who is about to accomplish a feat no player wearing a Reds uniform has ever attained. His recent tear has captured the national media's attention - including the New York Times and Washington Post.

Reds officials expect Griffey's march toward 500 will help spark plenty of interest among Reds fans this weekend. Team spokesman Rob Butcher predicted 80,000 to 90,000 fans for the three-game series.

That would be a healthy draw, given that the Expos have the worst record in the National League and not a big-name star on the roster.

Luckily, the Reds can compensate. There's first baseman Sean Casey, hitting .391; pitcher Paul Wilson, 7-0 with a 3.34 ERA; and Danny Graves, the fastest closer in history to reach 25 saves. He earned his 26th Wednesday.

But this is clearly Griffey's moment. And the outfielder, who abhors talking about himself, admits that this milestone is special. The player, who has only a handful of his home run balls, wants to keep No. 500.

Fans will undoubtedly want the 500 ball, too. Steve Wolter, of Sports Investments Inc. in Montgomery, says the ball would bring between "$50,000 and $75,000" at a national auction.

Whenever and wherever the historic blast occurs, don't expect a huge fuss. Reds chief operating officer John Allen and Griffey are meeting this weekend to discuss details of the team's response. Butcher said the Reds won't stop the game. All suggestions are subject to Griffey's approval.

"I don't like surprises," Griffey said.

Here's what will happen: If Griffey takes his quest for 500 to Oakland next week, he'll take his family - including father Ken Griffey Sr. - on the road with him.

And when he hits No. 500, Griffey will probably do his standard bat toss, watch the ball for a bit if he knows it's gone, then run the bases.

"I'm going to try not to show any emotion, just like my dad always taught me," he said. "It's one of those things he insisted on. No matter what, do not show emotion."

Off the field, there are no such restrictions.

Griffey's emotional state is happy, happy, happy.

He's healthy after three years of dealing with a series of injuries that forced him to miss 251 games. He's already surpassed his home run and RBI totals from each of the last two seasons. May was his best month as a Red.

"We all know what Junior can do when he's healthy," Reds manager Dave Miley said. "He's healthy."

For Griffey's part, the fact that the Reds are winning is more important than the milestone.

"Winning makes it fun," he said.

And, ultimately, home runs aren't what drive Griffey. He'd trade them in for a chance at World Series glory.

"Then I could show my daddy: I got one, too," he said.

Ken Griffey Sr., soon to be inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame, hit only 152 home runs. But he won two World Series rings with the Reds.

"He has a way of pointing that out to me," Junior said.

E-mail jfay@enquirer.com