Writing to you from giddiness central here. My boy Griffey is coming back to Seattle to close out his career. It's rare in this day in age for a player to return to his roots for a victory lap. And I will be ecstatically cheering him on.
I moved to Seattle in the midst of the Mariners' historical 1995 season. Major League Baseball and the Pirates had done their damnedest to beat the fan out of me in the early 90s. Any Pirate fan can't forget the heart wrenching endings to the 90, 91, 92 seasons and the subsequent fire sale from which the franchise has never recovered. Bonds...oh don't get me started, my blood still boils over on that man. Throw in a strike killing the end of the 1994 season and I had thrown in the towel on the whole sport.
And then the Mariners and Ken Griffey Jr happened to me. Being alone in Seattle, I'd spend evenings at TS McHughs watching the Mariners games. The enthusiasm, joy and spirit the team played with in their chase for the M's first ever post season hooked me in heart and soul. And it was Ken Griffey Jr that lead the charge. Junior was able to reach the little girl in me who'd sneak her transistor radio into bed to follow the Pirate games well past her bedtime. Junior inspired that same pure love of the game that I had long ago forgotten. The Mariners reminded me of how fun, strategic and exciting baseball was. It was a magical time that forever bonded me to this city, this team and of course to Junior.
When Griffey asked to be traded to Cincinnati, that little girl in me was heart-broken, absolutely crushed. But by then I belonged to the Mariners. Safeco Field became my happy place. Eventually I just became thankful to Griffey for rekindling my love of baseball.
In 2007, Griffey returned to Safeco Field for the first time with the Reds. Injuries had kept him away from the 2001 All Star Game. Ginny & I had tickets for the Sunday game of the series. I'd not had that much fun at a ball game in years. The amount of love the sold out stadium heaped upon Junior was incredible, genuine and heartwarming. It was impossible for us to root against our Griffey, so we cheer for him AND our Mariners. It was amazing. That afternoon was a wonderful gift for me as it was only months after Chuck passed and those hours at the ballpark was the first time I was fully present and happy again. Such a joyful breath of air.
The Griffey we receive will not be the superstar he was when we had him last. Injuries and age have taken their toll. But he'll mentor our young club, be the dream DH we've been craving since Edgar left and give us all pleasure in watching that sweet swing for one last season. It'll be a fun, love-fest of a season in "The House that Griffey Built" aka Safeco Field.
Ken Griffey Jr is going to be back in a Seattle Mariners uniform. A beautiful sight to behold.
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