TIMELINE

1987

Began pro at age 17 after being selected first overall in the 1987 June draft.
First hit was a home run at Everett on June 17.

1988

Split the season between San Bernardino and Vermont.

Finished 3rd on San Bernardino club in home runs (11) and 4th in stolen bases (32), despite
playing in only 58 games.

1989

Made the big club out of spring training as a non-roster player by hitting .359 with
2 home runs and 21 RBI in 26 spring games.
Doubled in his first ML at-bat (off Dave Stewart) April 3 at Oakland.
Hit first homer on first pitch he saw at the Kingdome vs. Chicago (off Eric King)
on April 10.
Hit an inside-the-park home run vs. New York on May 21 (off Clay Parker).
Received 79,051 votes for the All-Star Game, all write-in.
At age 19, was the youngest player in the Major Leagues.

1990

Finished 4th in the AL in total bases (287), 5th in hits (179), 7th in batting average (.300), T8th in
triples (7) and 9th in slugging percentage (.481).
Named AL Player of the Month for April.
Became first Mariner ever elected to the starting lineup of the All-Star Game when he received
2,159,700 votes; was also the 2nd-youngest player to ever start in an All-Star Game (Al Kaline in
1955).
On Aug. 31 vs. Kansas City, played with his father for first time.
Hit back-to-back home runs with Ken Sr. in first inning at California on Sept. 14
(off Kirk McCaskill); Jr.s came on a 3-0 count.
Earned his first Gold Glove award, becoming the 2nd-youngest player to receive the honor
(Johnny Bench in 1968).

1991

Re-wrote Mariners record book as he set club marks for batting average (.327, since broken),
doubles (42, since broken), slugging percentage (.527, since broken), intentional walks (21, since
broken) and grand slams (tied at 3, since broken).
Led the AL in grand slams, ranked 4th in average and doubles, 6th in slugging, 8th in on-base
pct. (.399) and RBI, and 10th in total bases (289).
On May 25 vs. Texas, made one of the best catches of his career to rob Ruben Sierra of an extrabase hit; back-handed the line drive on a dead run an instant before crashing feet-first into the
wall in RC.
Was the AL leading vote-getter for the All-Star Game ( 2,248,396 votes); was in the starting
lineup for the second straight year.
Named to APs post-season All-Star team and received his second consecutive Gold Glove Award
and first Silver Slugger Award.

1992

Named All-Star Game MVP at San Diego after going 3-for-3, including a homer off Greg
Madduxwas the first All-Star Game homer by a Mariners player.
Recorded 500th career hit May 7 vs. Toronto (HR off Jack Morris).

1993

Established club records in runs (113, since broken), total bases (359, since broken), home runs
(45, since broken), intentional walks (25, since broken) and slugging (.617, since broken).
Became 6th-youngest player ever to hit 100 career home runs on June 15 vs. Kansas City.
Tied ML record homering in 8 consecutive games July 20-28tied ML mark with 8th-inning blast
off facing of third deck on July 28 vs. Minnesota (off Willie Banks)joined Braves Dale Long
(1956) and New Yorks Don Mattingly (1987) as only players to homer in 8 consecutive games.
Hit 40th HR on Sept. 1 vs. Detroits Mike Moore, becoming the first Seattle player to hit 40 in a
season and the 10th-youngest in history.
Hit 45th homer at Minnesota (off Larry Casian) on Oct.1 and broke Ruppert Jones 1979 club
record for runs scored.
Was ALs top vote getter for All-Star Game with 2,696,918 ballots.
Became first player ever to hit B&O warehouse at Baltimores Camden Yards during HR-hitting
contest on July 13 with a 460-foot shot.
Received his fourth Gold Glove and second Silver Slugger Award.

1994

Became the first Mariners player ever to lead the American League in homers with 40 during
strike-shortened season.
Hit career homer #161 June 15 at Texas becoming the clubs all-time HR leader (Alvin Davis held
record with 160).
Selected to the starting lineup of his 5th consecutive All-Star Game; was the leading vote-getter
in the Majors, amassing an all-time record of 6,079,688 tallies.
Won ASGs home-run hitting contest on July 11 at Pittsburgh with 7 long balls.

1995

Hit a game-winning, 3-run, third-deck homer on Opening Day in Mariners 3-0 win.
Missed 73 games due to the injury (Mariners went 36-37 during his absence).
Selected to his 6th straight All-Star starting lineup and received the 2nd-most votes in the AL
(1,204,748).
Collected career hit #1,000 with a single on Aug. 16 at Minnesota, becoming the 7th-youngest
player in history to reach the 1,000-hit plateau.
Hit a 9th-inning, 2-run HR off John Wetteland to beat New York on Aug. 24 for his first gameending hit.
Had an outstanding post-season, hitting a combined .364 with 6 home runs and 9 RBI in 11
games.
Hit 2 home runs in Game 1 of the Division Series vs. NYYsingled and scored winning run from
first base in the 11th inning of Game 5 of the Division Series (The Double by Edgar Martinez).
Five home runs in the Division Series tied Reggie Jacksons mark for most home runs in a postseason series.
Won sixth consecutive Gold Glove following the season.

1996

Despite missing 20 games with broken hamate bone in right wrist, posted a MVP-type season
(finished 4th in the voting).
Set (then) franchise records with 49 home runs (3rd in AL) and 140 RBI (5th in AL) and ranked
among the league-leaders in runs (5th), total bases (6th, 342) slugging (5th, .628) and extra base
hits (8th, 77).
Hit 200th career home run May 21 at Boston to become 7th-youngest in history to reach 200
HR; other 6 players are all in the Hall of Fame.
Recorded first career 3-homer game May 24 vs. NYY; scored club-record 5 runs and 6 RBI.
Broke the hamate bone in his right wrist June 19 in his first at-batmissed 20 games.
Led the Majors in voting (with 3,064,814) and was elected to his seventh straight
All-Star Game.

1997

Became just the 13th unanimous MVP selection in baseball history after posting the best season
ever by a Seattle player.
His 56 home runs were 7th-most in history, the 3rd-most since 1961, and his 147 RBI were 6thhighest total in previous 48 years.
Led the Majors in RBI and led the AL (2nd in the Majors) in home runs, total bases, slugging
percentage (.646) and extra base hits (93).
Elected to 8th All-Star Game and led the AL in voting for 5th time and Majors for the 3rd time.
Hit HR #50 Sept. 7 at Minnesota off Bob Tewksbury; became just the 15th player in history with
50 or more home runs in a season
Won 5th Silver Slugger and 8th consecutive Gold Glove.

1998

Matched his 1997 home run total with 56.

Ranked among AL leaders in HR (1st), RBI (3rd), runs (3rd), total bases (2nd), slugging
percentage (3rd, .611), extra base hits (3rd, 92) and intentional walks (4th, 11).
Homered twice on April 13 at Cleveland, becoming the 2nd-youngest player to hit
300 homers.
Won the All-Star Game Home Run Derby in Colorado, his second win.
Hit HR#41 July 30 vs. Cleveland, tying the AL record for HR prior to Aug. 1 (Babe Ruth in 1928,
Jimmie Foxx in 1932).
Hit career homer #350 Sept. 25 vs. Texas, becoming youngest player ever to hit 350 HR (28
years, 308 days).

1999

Hit 48 home runs to become the first player since Harmon Killebrew (1962-64) to lead the
American League in home runs in 3 consecutive seasons.
Hit his 7th career Opening Day home run April 5 vs. Chicago
Hit grand slams in consecutive games April 29-30, becoming only the 19th Major Leaguer and
second Mariner (Mike Blowers) to do so.
Hit the final HR in the Kingdome on June 27 vs. Texas (off Aaron Sele).
Won the All-Star Game Home Run Derby in Boston, his third win, and second straight.
Voted to MLB All-Century Team, the youngest player (29) voted to the squad.

2000

Traded to Cincinnati prior to the start of spring training.

In his first season with the Reds led the club with 40 home runs, 118 RBI, 100 runs, 289 total
bases and 94 walks.
Was voted to the All-Star Games starting lineup for the 11th consecutive year, his first as a
National League player.
Recorded career HR#400 April 10 at Colorado becoming the youngest player in baseball history
to hit 400 homers (30 years, 141 days and hit it on his fathers 50th birthday).

2001

Led the Reds with 22 home runs and ranked 3rd with 65 RBI despite being bothered all year by a
torn left hamstring.
Made his first start of the season in the Reds 65th game.
In 95 games after he returned from the DL hit .295 with all 22 homers and 95 RBI.
Missed an Opening Day start for the first time in his career.
Did not make the All-Star team for the first time since his rookie season (1989).

2002

Limited to 70 games and 51 starts because of a pair of stints on the disabled list.
Made 50 starts in CF and his first career start in LF (8/23 at HOU).
Collected his 2,000th career hit June 18 vs. Seattle becoming the 29th player in history to record
at least 2,000 hits and 400 homers.

2003

Had season-ending surgery on his right ankle on July 18 and also had surgery on his right
shoulder on Aug. 4 to repair a dislocation suffered while diving for a ball on April 5 vs. Chicago.
Recorded the first hit at Great American Ballpark on Opening Day vs. Pittsburgh, a first-inning
doublethe baseball was sent to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
Homered in 5 consecutive games July 8-12 to tie Reds club record shared by Ted Kluszewski
(8/11-8/15, 1954, 5 HR) and Johnny Bench (5/30-6/3, 1972, 7 HR).

2004

Selected to the All-Star starting lineup for the 12th timeat the All-Star Game in Houston
participated in ceremonies honoring the 14 living players who hit at least 500 home runs.
With his parents in attendance, hit his 500th career homer June 20 at St. Louiswas his 4th
career homer on Fathers Day and career hit number 2,143, the exact number produced by his
father in 19 Major League seasons.

2005

Won the Ernie Lombardi Award as the Reds MVP and was a unanimous selection for the Joe
Nuxhall Good Guy Award, both as voted by the Cincinnati chapter of the Baseball Writers
Association of America.
Received National League Comeback Player of the Year Awards in voting by fans and in voting by
his peers.
Was a finalist for the National Leagues Hank Aaron Award and the 2005 Hutch Award.

2006

Hit career homer #563 Sept. 25 vs. Chicago, trying Reggie Jackson for 10th on the
all-time list.
Hit 15th career grand slam May 20 at Detroit.
Hit the 700th Griffey homer (Senior 152, Junior 548) June 19 at New York (NL) with his father in
attendance.
Played for USA in the inaugural World Baseball Classicnamed to the WBC All-Tournament team
after hitting .524 (11x21) with 3 homers and 10 RBI.
Was the Reds nominee for both the Roberto Clemente Award and the Hutch Award for his
humanitarian and charitable efforts.
Was Seattles winner of the Hometown Hero Award presented by DHL.

2007

Produced his 9th 30-homer season and his 11th season with at least 90 RBI.
Led all NL players in All-Star fan voting (2,986,818).
Named to the Rawlings Gold Glove All-Time Team as voted by fans.
Hit HR #569 May 10 vs. Houston (off Matt Albers), tying Rafael Palmeiro for 9th all-time.
Moved into 8th all-time (Harmon Killebrew) with #573 May 22 vs. Washington.
Moved into 6th place with #587 July 16 at Atlanta (moving past Frank Robinson).
Batted .385 (5x13) in 3-game series in Seattle June 22-24, his first visit to Safeco Field since he
was traded.

2008

Spent most of season with Cincinnati prior to trade to Chicago (AL) on July 31.
Became the 6th player in history (3rd left-hander) to reach the 600-home run milestone June 9
at Florida.
Became the 18th player in baseball history with 5,000 total bases with a home run on July 4 vs.
Washington (5,001).
Made his White Sox debut on Aug. 1 at Kansas City, going 2-for-3 with 2 RBI.
Hit his first home run with the White Sox on Aug. 20 vs. Seattle, tying Sammy Sosa (609) for 5th
place on the all-time list.

2009

Re-signed with Mariners as a free agent on Feb. 21, 2009.

HR #8 June 23 vs. San Diego was the 5,000th HR in Mariners historyHR also tied Lou Gehrig on
all-time hits list.
Became only 12th player in Major League history to notch double-digits in home runs 20 times
in a career (every year but 2002).
Hit walk-off single in 14th inning Aug. 12 vs. CWS in 1-0 victory; 9th career walk-off hit (last:
6/30/08 vs. PIT w/CIN)6 of 9 game-ending hits came in extra innings.
Hit game-tying, 2-run pinch-hit HR June 19 vs. Arizona (off Tony Pena)6th career pinch-hit HR
(first since 9/25/06 vs. CHI w/CIN).
Hit a solo home run on Opening Day (4/6) at Minnesotawas his 8th career Opening Day homer,
all coming in his 12 seasons with the Mariners (also: 1990, 1993, 1995, 1997-2, 1998, 1999)tied
Frank Robinson for the most OD homers in ML history.
Hit HR#2 April 15 vs. LAA, his 400th homer as a Marinerbecame first player in Major League
history to hit 400 homers with one team (SEA) and 200 with another (210 with CIN)was
wearing #42 for Jackie Robinson Day.

Hit game-tying 2-run home run May 10 at Minnesota7th career homer on Mothers Day (T2nd
in ML history) and 100th career home run off a rookie pitcher (off LH Jos Mijares).

2010

Announced retirement from baseball June 2, 2010, capping 22-season career.

Retired on the same day (June 2) 23 years to the day after he was selected first overall in the
1987 June draft.
June 3 was the first day since 1974 there was not a Griffey on an active Major League roster.
Griffey had 572 different teammates (played at least one game) during his 22-year MLB career.
Is among an elite group of 29 Major Leaguers to play in at least 4 decades.

2013

Inducted into the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame.

2016

On Jan. 6, was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE

Appeared in 18 career postseason games with the Mariners (1995, 1997) and White Sox (2008).
Is a career .290 (20x69) hitter in postseason play with 6 home runs and 11 RBI.
Hit .391 (9x23) with 9 runs, 5 homers and 7 RBI in the 1995 ALDS vs. the Yankees.
Hit .333 (7x21) with 2 doubles and one homer in 1995 ALCS vs. Cleveland.