By Kevin Kelly
Enquirer Staff Writer

The cell phone rested on a shelf inside his locker Sunday afternoon, unusually quiet considering what Ken Griffey Jr. had just accomplished.

"I haven't even looked yet," said the Reds center fielder, who became the 20th player to hit 500 career home runs on Sunday at Busch Stadium. "I just know the phone's been ringing. It's been on silent for like three days."

Long after the on-field celebration and post-game news conferences - and as the congratulatory phone calls surely piled up - Griffey boarded a flight for New York where the Reds begin a three-game series against the Mets today at Shea Stadium.

There were no wild parties planned for Sunday evening, just a date with his wife.

"I'm going to do the husbandly thing and shop, which means I'm not shopping," Griffey said. "I just get to hold the bags."

The historic home run, which came on a 2-and-2 pitch from Cardinals starter Matt Morris to lead off the sixth inning, brought an end to the anticipation that followed Griffey and the Reds for weeks.

"You could see it on his face when he hugged his dad and when he came to the dugout," first baseman Sean Casey said. "He had a genuine look of relief and a genuine appreciation for what he had just done."

With the milestone now out of the way, attention refocuses on a Reds team that avoided a three-game sweep and ended a nine-game road losing streak with Sunday's 6-0 win in St. Louis.

Cincinnati trails the Cardinals by three games and the Cubs by one in the National League Central standings.

Starting pitcher Paul Wilson, a No. 1 overall draft pick by the Mets in 1994, carries a 7-0 record and 3.17 ERA into tonight's game.

The victim of blown saves in each of his past three starts, Wilson will match a career high for wins in a season (8) with his next victory. The right-hander is 1-0 with a 4.58 ERA in three career appearances against the Mets.

Following the three games in New York, Cincinnati returns to Great American Ball Park where their 21-10 home record is tops in the NL. The nine-game home stand begins Friday with the first of three games against the Pirates.

The Reds will honor Griffey and his accomplishment prior to Friday's game. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 6:50 p.m. Fans also will receive a commemorative poster showing Griffey hitting his 500th home run.

Griffey's backers are excited. For longtime Reds fan Aaron Maas, 28, Sunday's home run represented sweet vindication.

"I'm just finally glad he did it," Maas, of West Chester, said. "I'm just glad that all of the naysayers are finally put in their place."