American League: Ken Griffey Jr. to Announce Retirement

[MiamiHomer]

SEATTLE -- Ken Griffey Jr. is retiring Wednesday, FanHouse has learned.

Sources said that Griffey, who didn't report to Safeco Field for the Mariners' game against the Minnesota Twins Wednesday, is saying "it's over.''

Griffey, the man who more than any other helped build the Mariners into a viable franchise as the premier center fielder of the the 1990s, played for Seattle from 1989-1999 and came back again in 2009 where he helped revitalized the franchise.

But he hasn't been able to duplicate that success in 2010 and he's gotten increasingly less playing time. He's only had seven at-bats since May 18 as Mike Sweeney has become increasingly more productive as the Mariners' designated hitter.

The formal announcement should come within the hour.

Ken Griffey Jr. to Announce Retirement

[Metes]

I saw his last game and at-bat Monday night. That part's cool, but it's a sad way to go out. Last year he was still productive.

[Ramp]

it's time

[MiamiHomer]

At least he realized it now and didn't want to continue on when he really wasn't himself anymore.

[Fritz]

I'm just bummed out that a lot of his career was squandered playing in Cincinnati.

[kylekash]

And a lot of his career was squandered on the DL.

[nny]

From fangraphs:



sad

[Fritz]

That was my point. All those injuries in Cincinnati. The city doesn't bother me, the injuries sucked though.

[Chewford]

He was the shit in the 90's. The whole second half of his career was sad though. He'll still go down as one of the baseball greats though and he's well liked by everyone and rich and he did it the right way unlike other great players of the era.

[MiamiHomer]

Could you imagine if he did stay healthy how absurd his numbers would look.

[emkayseven]

first time since 1974 there's no griffey in baseball

[Bobbob1313]

He was the shit in the 90's. The whole second half of his career was sad though. He'll still go down as one of the baseball greats though and he's well liked by everyone and rich and he did it the right way (maybe. We don't really know with any amount of certainty. Though we'll always give him the benefit of the doubt.) ed's note, bobbob added this unlike other great players of the era.

I need to put something here to make the board recognize my right to post this.

Sure, there's no reason to think he did. But there was no reason to think A-Rod did until he got caught. I just don't like that everyone pretty much says "He was the only guy who did it the right way."

[Madman81]

Umm 'cept apparently A-Rod had giant bitch tits while Jr. has never been an impressive physical specimen in terms of appearance.

[Ramp]

I need to put something here to make the board recognize my right to post this.

Sure, there's no reason to think he did. But there was no reason to think A-Rod did until he got caught. I just don't like that everyone pretty much says "He was the only guy who did it the right way."

He gets the benefit of the doubt, he wasn't caught. That's life.

[kylekash]

If Jr. was on roids he wouldn't have spent so much time on the DL :-P