By Kevin Kelly
Enquirer staff writer
ST. LOUIS - The receiving line began forming before Ken Griffey Jr. even touched home plate.
Adam Dunn, who was on deck when Griffey hit his 500th career home run in the sixth inning Sunday at Busch Stadium, was the first to greet the Reds center fielder.
"I'm just really happy for him because he's been pressing so much," Dunn said. "It's just a relief for him to get it out of the way."
Catcher Jason LaRue and first baseman Sean Casey followed and hugged Griffey before he disappeared in a team huddle in front of the Reds dugout.
"It was just one of those things that was great to see," Griffey said. "I wasn't expecting my teammates to come out of the dugout. For those guys to do that I really appreciate it.
"I thought for sure Casey was going to blindside me."
For those who work alongside Griffey on a daily basis, had seen previous seasons cut short because of injury and had been living his pursuit of 500, the moment was one to remember.
"It was a special day for all of us," Casey said. "Only 20 guys in the history of the game have ever hit 500 home runs.
"For it to be one of your teammates, it's something I'll never forget and it's something I'll always tell my kids about. It's a great memory for everybody."
The congratulations continued when, before the start of the bottom of the sixth inning, every member of the Reds bullpen came onto the outfield grass in left field to hug Griffey. It was a spontaneous show of support and caring.
"We didn't want to wait until the end of the game when the moment was over," Reds closer Danny Graves said. "Everybody thought it was a good idea to go out there between innings."
A friend of Griffey's since they were children, Reds shortstop Barry Larkin was as thrilled as anybody that Griffey attained the milestone.
"I'm very happy for him," Larkin said. "Not really relieved because I knew it was going to happen.
"But it happened on Father's Day in a great place with great tradition. If not in Cincinnati then what better place to have it happen than in St. Louis."
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