Ken Griffey, Jr., is hugged by Jason LaRue after the homer. (Michael E. Keating photo)

The man, Ken Griffey Jr., is destined for baseball myth, wordlessly showing the world his niche among legends. The dream, 34 years in the making, was wrought with power and grace Sunday. With one poignant crack of the bat, Griffey hit his 500th home run leading off the sixth inning of the Reds' 6-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. (WCPO video)

He becomes Major League Baseball's 20th member of the 500-home run club. Only Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro are fellow active players with 500 or more home runs.

The mystique that captivated fans at Moeller High School followed Junior to Seattle, then Cincinnati. The foundation started by Ken Griffey Sr. was cemented by his son, the center fielder who surpassed Lou Gehrig as No. 20 on the career home run leaders list.

Many of the hits along the way have been a blur. But there have been some greats, such as Junior's favorite: Sept. 14, 1990. Together as Mariners, Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. hit back-to-back home runs. Junior's homer was a mere babe, No. 36, but even then it bore the mark of greatness. The promise of more.

Junior reached 500 despite the pundits. Despite the injuries, the expectations, the predictions. And the doubts.

Every other player reaching 500 home runs has been enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. Now an undisputed representative of the sport's greatest power hitters, Junior has logged 19 home runs in this, his 15th pro season.

Special date

The Reds will honor Ken Griffey Jr.'s 500th home run with a ceremony on Friday, June 25, prior to their 7:10 p.m. ET game with the Pirates. The ceremony will begin at approximately 6:50 p.m. ET.

That night, the Reds will give away a commemorative poster of Griffey's 500th home run.