Click Here to Read Marc's Last Column
MLB Needs Griffey More Than Ever
By Marc J. Spears, AOL BlackVoices columnist
Major League Baseball needs Ken Griffey Jr. now more than ever.
Remember Griffey? The guy who was destined for the Hall of Fame, son of former baseball star Ken Griffey Sr., who was arguably the greatest baseball player ever, as recently as the late 1990s? The center fielder who regularly made ESPN SportsCenter highlights with his catches at and over the wall. The man whose home runs were as booming as Barry Bonds’ and Mark McGwire’s made even sweeter with that long, left-handed swing?
Baseball needs some relief from the daily talk about steroids which includes everything from the recent Congressional hearings to a fatigued Bonds contemplating retirement. One way to do it is for Griffey to overcome his injuries and return to superstar form this season.
"There are certain players who, no matter what people in the stands are talking about, they're going to stop and watch him hit or have a ball hit to him," Griffey told MLB.com. "I just happen to be one of those people."
When I covered the then-Anaheim Angels and the Los Angeles Dodgers while writing for the Los Angeles Daily News in 1997 and 1998, I was able to see teams from both leagues play regularly. I was able to see the likes of such superstar position players as McGwire, Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Mike Piazza.
But most of all, I loved watching Griffey because he had all their best talents rolled up into one. The spectacular play was a regular play for him whether it was hitting a home run, diving for a catch or stealing bases with his track-like speed. The 12-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove center fielder also has 501 homers, 1,444 RBI and a .292 average. The 16-year veteran had the Magic Johnson smile and the personality to boot. He was also a media darling, regularly appearing on magazine covers, and making a few movie cameos. His was even animated for a guest appearance on ‘The Simpsons.’
"In my mind, he's a Hall of Famer," Detroit Tigers manager and former star, Alan Trammell, told the AP.
But Griffey’s star power has lessened dramatically since being sidelined by serious injuries each of the last four seasons. He had surgery last Aug. 16 to reattach his torn right hamstring. Since hitting 40 home runs and earning 118 RBI in 145 games in 2000, his first season with the Reds, he has averaged just 15.8 homers, 43.5 RBI and 79.3 games per year.
"Every year, I hope it's the year I can stay healthy," said Griffey, to MLB.com. "The last four haven't been. But because it's a game I love to play, I can bounce back."
Griffey should take note that the NBA has a feel good return story of its own in Orlando forward, Grant Hill.
Hill entered this season as a six-time NBA All-Star and once had the same acclaim in the NBA that Griffey had in baseball with endorsements, media attention and a good guy reputation. Ankle injuries, however, limited him to just 47 games from 2000-03 and he didn’t play at all during the 2003-04 season. Hill, however, recovered this season not only to play healthy but also to become a 2005 NBA All-Star starter for the Eastern Conference.
While the NBA is having many problems with: Kobe Bryant’s off-the-court issues, the USA Basketball team bringing home a bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics and the ugly fight with the Indiana Pacers and fans in Detroit among others, Hill’s recovery story was a breath of fresh air.
Of baseball’s active home run hitters with over 500, Griffey is the only one that hasn’t been accused of steroid use. At a svelte 6-foot-3 and 218 pounds, he is far from a Babe Ruth, Bonds or McGwire body type. "It never really entered my mind because the person I wanted to be like was my dad," Griffey told the AP about steroid use.
When he was healthy, Griffey was to baseball what Michael Jordan was to the NBA. And if Griffey can stay healthy and become the old Griffey this season, he would help baseball’s shredded reputation get much healthier too.
"You go out and play hard, and things happen," Griffey, 35, told MLB.com. "It's not like I did something away from the ballpark to embarrass my teammates. That's when you start questioning guys. But I've been on the field playing as hard as I can. I can't hang my head. I have to battle back."
About the Author:
Marc J. Spears is the NBA writer for The Denver Post and is a regular contributor to AOL BlackVoices. His column appears every other Tuesday on AOL BlackVoices.