The quote that did it for me was at the end, "I just wanted to wear my dad's hat". Anyone who's a father can appreciate that. That melted my heart. Griffey Jr. was a one of kind classic. His numbers are impressive....but so what. If you ever had the blessing of seeing this man play you know he turned the sport of baseball into an art form (whether he was at the plate or running down a fly ball in center). Best of luck to you Jr. on this next journey in your life.
I'm a diehard Boston fan. But Jr. is my ultimate favorite player. For those of us who never saw Ruth, Gehrig, Ted, Aaron, Mays, Mantle, Stargell, Killebrew, Ozzie, Ryno, or Ripken, the Kid was our superstar! Played the game the right way!
I'm a die hard Toronto Blue Jays fan, but it might very well be because of Ken Griffey Jr. This man made me love the game of baseball, and made me want to watch my hometown Blue Jays. Thanks Jr, you were a delight to watch. As a righty that's never played the game professionally, I always tried to mimic that sweet swing when playing for fun.
Man it was great watching this man and the rest of the mariners growing up.Baseball was never my sport but I got into it because of those mariners back in the day.GO MARINERS!!!
Ken Griffey JR was the greatest player I've ever seen from his defense to offense his skills will never be matched he put up numbers without steroids and he played the game the right way a no doubt first ballot hall of famer THE GOAT
With Jr. just moments away from induction I'm floored by all the positivity in the media and in the public. It shows that the world is still a place where people can be acknowledged for achieving great heights transcending our upbringing, race, politics, or religion. Long live the Kid!
He said what he wanted to say from his heart instead of reading a speech. I cried watching this. But they were tears of appreciation and gratitude. Thanks junior.
When i was a young kid growing up in the seattle area, I, as well as every other young kid, wanted to be Ken Griffey Jr. Best 5 tool player to ever play, I would make the arguement that he is the best to ever play. Imagine if he wasn't injured, he would have shattered Hank Aaron's record for home runs. Forget how spoiled i am to say "I saw Junior play." Thanks for everything you did for Seattle sports. We may not have a title in town, but no one else had a Junior
I grew up a big fan of Ken Griffey Sr...I cannot imagine how proud he is to have raised a little boy, who would grow up and become such a loved and respected man. Who would also just happen to become a Baseball Hall of Fame inductee...What are the odds of that...Just incredible. We love you Mr. Ken Griffey Jr... Thank you for the wonderful memories.
even as a longtime Atlanta Braves fan. It was a honor of seeing His Father in a Braves uniform. And one thing is for sure Junior was one of the Purest Players ever in Baseball. Congrats KG JR
im 38 years old born 76.i never saw ruth mays demagio araon reggie Jackson !jr is by far the greatest ball player ive ever seen. he had it all run catch hit big arm.there will never be someone with such a natural swing of beuty.yes injuries slated his career.I know in my heart he never touched a needle in his life.he would have crushed the hr record.he built Safeco field..thank you jr for the memories you are the goat.enjoy when you walk into cooperstown.LEGEND THE KID JR!!!!!!!
you are my favorite player i grew up watching u getting that amazing catch n I wish u can play for another 2 or 3 years one of the greatest center fielder ever Thank you Griffey you deserved it!
I appreciate the kind words about my video! Trust me when I say that "The Kid" made the fans in Seattle crazy about baseball during those golden years...
As a REDS Fan who as a nerd kid would literally pray that Griffey Jr. would become a Red , I can honestly say he was meant to lead The M’s. I’m so glad he’s an RED , but The M’s were his team.
The most sweetest swing in Major League Baseball Ken Griffey Jr had it all he deserved to be in the Mariners Hall of Fame as well as the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown there's not much to say except that the man had perfect mechanics for baseball and I think the best duo in baseball was Ken Griffey Junior and Jay Jay buhner
I've watched this speech so many times over the years. You can tell all those people sitting behind him are his family, not just because of blood but because of love. You can't bring up great representatives of baseball as a whole and not bring Jr's name.
Seattle your a lucky franchise in the fact that you got experience a player of this caliber. Millions of baseball youths watched this KID play a game that was way above anything we have ever seen. While I love the Houston baseball hero's of my time Bagwell, Biggio, Berkman, Ryan and Scott, not one of them even gets in the same conversation as the KID. Always will be revered by all baseball fans.
I think the best hitting Duo of all time in my opinion is Ken Griffey Junior and Jay buhner Junior had the sweetest swings and the pureist swing in baseball history and Jay buhner was right behind them best duo ever in Major League Baseball
@@neubauerjoseph Nice. Glad you got to make it. Mine was 8/18/2001 Safeco Then Petco was in 2010 was my 1st game there. I’ve been half dozen times to Petco.
@@kingdingaling2469 yeah that game was classic, the mariners vs the jays and they won 8-7 and came back 7-1 and got 11 walks from the 7 innings on. it was crazy because the mariners that game could not hit the baseball except for a few singles or doubles. I even saw a bases-loaded intentional walk. being at the game was crazy "the crowd was empty but the people that stayed behind were like "good eye good eye." Just like a little league game. I and a few others said if this was a playoff game or a world series .
Was that Trey? I always remember hearing about Trey, as a little kid. Sports were different back then. So much more family oriented. So much warmer. Jr. was a class act, and it was a kick to watch him play with his Dad.
Ken Griffey Jr. Was the greatest center fielder behind Willie mays I grew up idolizing JR from he graceful defensive plays in centerfield to his awesome offensive skills at the plate and on the bases he was voted to the hall of fame with the most votes in history he should've been a unanimous decision but still there will never b another KEN GRIFFEY JR greatest player I've ever seen CONGRATS TO THE KID for being the newest member of the baseball hall of fame
damn the Jay Buhner part got me lol... not even a seattle fan but as a kid growing up in NY playing wiffleball we all tried to swing and stand like griffey. they dont make athletes like this anymore.
Thank god there are role models like KGJr in the world. It's funny because in allot of ways he reeks of innocence... It's something to be called "The Kid" even though you are 43! I Just re watched this and its pretty fucking cool how great of a player he was and how honest he was to the game and himself. The fact that he's a Mariner and I was there front row during his hey-days in the Kingdome just hits it home!
Cincinnati's own, KG, Jr.!!! The Mariners were lucky to have had him. A CLEAN player during the steroid era. Better on offense and defense than all the roid guys.
Griffey at 20:07: if you don't think these 3 guys wanna win? you are sadly mistaken......LOL, they are the reason why the Mariners have sucked since 2001
The quote that did it for me was at the end, "I just wanted to wear my dad's hat". Anyone who's a father can appreciate that. That melted my heart.
Griffey Jr. was a one of kind classic. His numbers are impressive....but so what. If you ever had the blessing of seeing this man play you know he turned the sport of baseball into an art form (whether he was at the plate or running down a fly ball in center).
Best of luck to you Jr. on this next journey in your life.
I'm a diehard Boston fan. But Jr. is my ultimate favorite player. For those of us who never saw Ruth, Gehrig, Ted, Aaron, Mays, Mantle, Stargell, Killebrew, Ozzie, Ryno, or Ripken, the Kid was our superstar! Played the game the right way!
The subtle middle finger when Bone wipes away a tear was awesome!
Griffey jr. And Jay Buhner will always be linked in baseball history!
My fave athlete next to Jordan. Never got caught up in the tabloids nor the steroids debacle he was a true athlete. #24Ever #TheKid
1995 division series against the Yankees walk of double and Griffey jr. Scoring the winning run was my favorite moment!
I'm a die hard Toronto Blue Jays fan, but it might very well be because of Ken Griffey Jr. This man made me love the game of baseball, and made me want to watch my hometown Blue Jays. Thanks Jr, you were a delight to watch. As a righty that's never played the game professionally, I always tried to mimic that sweet swing when playing for fun.
Man it was great watching this man and the rest of the mariners growing up.Baseball was never my sport but I got into it because of those mariners back in the day.GO MARINERS!!!
The most beautiful swing ever created...
Ken Griffey JR was the greatest player I've ever seen from his defense to offense his skills will never be matched he put up numbers without steroids and he played the game the right way a no doubt first ballot hall of famer THE GOAT
Willie Mays? ..lol Just kidding. Jr was the real deal....but not Willie Mays...lol
Correct, Willie Mays was absolutely the greatest then we got Griffey jr.
1q1w 19
With Jr. just moments away from induction I'm floored by all the positivity in the media and in the public. It shows that the world is still a place where people can be acknowledged for achieving great heights transcending our upbringing, race, politics, or religion.
Long live the Kid!
Nothing makes me feel old like seeing The Kid retire. What an amazing player and a joy to watch.
I bet you didn't experience 1995...You fuckin groupie.
There wouldn't be a team in Seattle tofsu if it wasn't for Ken Griffey Jr and Edgar Martinez gives me goose bumps just thinking of those days
He said what he wanted to say from his heart instead of reading a speech. I cried watching this. But they were tears of appreciation and gratitude. Thanks junior.
The man loved the game that giant smile proves it thank you kid absolute joy to watch you play !
When i was a young kid growing up in the seattle area, I, as well as every other young kid, wanted to be Ken Griffey Jr. Best 5 tool player to ever play, I would make the arguement that he is the best to ever play. Imagine if he wasn't injured, he would have shattered Hank Aaron's record for home runs. Forget how spoiled i am to say "I saw Junior play." Thanks for everything you did for Seattle sports. We may not have a title in town, but no one else had a Junior
I grew up a big fan of Ken Griffey Sr...I cannot imagine how proud he is to have raised a little boy, who would grow up and become such a loved and respected man. Who would also just happen to become a Baseball Hall of Fame inductee...What are the odds of that...Just incredible. We love you Mr. Ken Griffey Jr... Thank you for the wonderful memories.
Grew up in the bay… but the moment I saw this man play… I wished to have been in Seattle my childhood… #GOAT #THEKID
Best #24 player in any sport.
even as a longtime Atlanta Braves fan. It was a honor of seeing His Father in a Braves uniform. And one thing is for sure Junior was one of the Purest Players ever in Baseball. Congrats KG JR
im 38 years old born 76.i never saw ruth mays demagio araon reggie Jackson !jr is by far the greatest ball player ive ever seen. he had it all run catch hit big arm.there will never be someone with such a natural swing of beuty.yes injuries slated his career.I know in my heart he never touched a needle in his life.he would have crushed the hr record.he built Safeco field..thank you jr for the memories you are the goat.enjoy when you walk into cooperstown.LEGEND THE KID JR!!!!!!!
Much Love to Seattle from Cincinnati. Thank You Jr.
All I can say is thank you. He's my idol and this brought back so many memories! :)
I was out of town during this moment. I've heard about the speech. Thanks for making it possible for me to enjoy it.
Ichiro is the man.
That was Super Dope.
Thanks for the best memories of my life
you are my favorite player i grew up watching u getting that amazing catch n I wish u can play for another 2 or 3 years one of the greatest center fielder ever Thank you Griffey you deserved it!
yup yup!!! Thanks J!
I appreciate the kind words about my video! Trust me when I say that "The Kid" made the fans in Seattle crazy about baseball during those golden years...
The personification of the Joy of playing sport .
You can tell he was pissed he wasn't unanimous which is what everyone was waiting to hear. Rightfully so.
No offense to the Reds.. But Griffey will always be a Mariner first
Mastahcheech no doubt
Amen
Facts, he represented the mariners with his introduction in the hof, that says it all
I don't think any Red fan would argue that. Most Reds think he should have just stayed a career Mariner anyways.
As a REDS Fan who as a nerd kid would literally pray that Griffey Jr. would become a Red , I can honestly say he was meant to lead The M’s.
I’m so glad he’s an RED , but The M’s were his team.
The most sweetest swing in Major League Baseball Ken Griffey Jr had it all he deserved to be in the Mariners Hall of Fame as well as the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown there's not much to say except that the man had perfect mechanics for baseball and I think the best duo in baseball was Ken Griffey Junior and Jay Jay buhner
I'm from Tacoma and i grew in Cincy, those places are Griffey's land!!!!
One of the if not the most Feared hitters in the 90s...
On my lifetime and I’m 52 he’s the best I’ve ever
Seen play period end of
Story
Really that's a bold statement theres alot I mean alot of good players but the way sweet lou describes him i might believe and lou knows baseball ⚾️
I've watched this speech so many times over the years. You can tell all those people sitting behind him are his family, not just because of blood but because of love. You can't bring up great representatives of baseball as a whole and not bring Jr's name.
3:20 - 7:15, who can't avoid getting teary and feeling an overwhelming sense of nostalgia?
sitting there at the backstop was one of the best moments of my life for the Kid
Seattle your a lucky franchise in the fact that you got experience a player of this caliber. Millions of baseball youths watched this KID play a game that was way above anything we have ever seen. While I love the Houston baseball hero's of my time Bagwell, Biggio, Berkman, Ryan and Scott, not one of them even gets in the same conversation as the KID. Always will be revered by all baseball fans.
I honestly can't believe they didn't get to even ONE world series. So much talent there.
I think the best hitting Duo of all time in my opinion is Ken Griffey Junior and Jay buhner Junior had the sweetest swings and the pureist swing in baseball history and Jay buhner was right behind them best duo ever in Major League Baseball
Junior!! Thanks for saving baseball in Seattle!!
Aaron yes, thank you I love the mariners even though I live in San Diego .i never forget my first mariners home game. Which was April 11, 2011.
@@neubauerjoseph Nice. Glad you got to make it.
Mine was 8/18/2001 Safeco
Then Petco was in 2010 was my 1st game there. I’ve been half dozen times to Petco.
@@kingdingaling2469 yeah that game was classic, the mariners vs the jays and they won 8-7 and came back 7-1 and got 11 walks from the 7 innings on. it was crazy because the mariners that game could not hit the baseball except for a few singles or doubles. I even saw a bases-loaded intentional walk. being at the game was crazy "the crowd was empty but the people that stayed behind were like "good eye good eye." Just like a little league game. I and a few others said if this was a playoff game or a world series .
Was that Trey? I always remember hearing about Trey, as a little kid. Sports were different back then. So much more family oriented. So much warmer. Jr. was a class act, and it was a kick to watch him play with his Dad.
Looking at that group of guys. Man almost take it for granted living there and getting to watch all of them play every day. Miss those times.
my favorite time was seeing him and his dad hitting back to back homeruns and when him and fred mcgriff went at it in the home run derby
He saved baseball in Seattle
caught the link you posted yesterday thanks again it's much appreciated!!!
Pirates fan here, but screw it, we all loved Griff. How classy was he towards everyone, but especially Jay Buhner,? just classy.
Ken Griffey Jr. Was the greatest center fielder behind Willie mays I grew up idolizing JR from he graceful defensive plays in centerfield to his awesome offensive skills at the plate and on the bases he was voted to the hall of fame with the most votes in history he should've been a unanimous decision but still there will never b another KEN GRIFFEY JR greatest player I've ever seen CONGRATS TO THE KID for being the newest member of the baseball hall of fame
Best player I’ve ever seen
The Greatest Video on RUclips!!! I don't know if I would be a baseball fan today if it was not for him. I was 9 his first year. From Louisiana!!!
I appreciate your comment. let's just say I made this video just for you! Ken Griffey Jr. Will rank as one of the greatest players of all time!
It was nice for All his teammates to be there!
this makes me feel old. this and all of the other hall of fames ceremonies lol
Love Jr👍
The player of the 90s!
Greatest there ever was, and greatest there ever will be
Those three dislikes are the 3 writers who didn’t vote Junior in the hall of fame
Buhner's always gonna get the best bro hug from Junior. Goddam I love that duo.
This is great.
damn the Jay Buhner part got me lol... not even a seattle fan but as a kid growing up in NY playing wiffleball we all tried to swing and stand like griffey. they dont make athletes like this anymore.
fav athlete of mine of all-time
greatest ball player of our time!!!!!!
Thank god there are role models like KGJr in the world. It's funny because in allot of ways he reeks of innocence... It's something to be called "The Kid" even though you are 43! I Just re watched this and its pretty fucking cool how great of a player he was and how honest he was to the game and himself. The fact that he's a Mariner and I was there front row during his hey-days in the Kingdome just hits it home!
BearDown!
you made me love baseball
GOAT
I will say this hes probably got the most effortless swing...sometimes it looked like he was playing t ball at professional level
legend
And as the cherry on top, as Rick Rizzs said earlier that night, "He did it the right way!"
The one home run hitter in that era whose name ya don’t hear mentioned when the steroid topic comes up he was just that talented
He seems so much comfortable at this speech than his baseball hof speech
Didnt make it to this, but I was at Lou's induction. Maybe by the time ichiro gets inducted the team will suck less.
l went to go see and play two times I saw him when he was a red and a mariner
Cincinnati's own, KG, Jr.!!! The Mariners were lucky to have had him. A CLEAN player during the steroid era. Better on offense and defense than all the roid guys.
You are welcome!
Baseball Super God
i dont like the mariners but he is my favorite player
I wish Mariner fans had a balls to boo Lincoln, Armstrong and John
The 7 thumbs down are obviously Yankee fans...or David Cone. LOL
the greatest never to win a world series ring and he's a HOFer
💯
Ichiro coming in as a yankee must be insulting to griffey lol
LOL Griffey's Disdain For The Yankees Is Obvious
Anyone have the video montage narrated by Macklemore from Griffey's number retirement ceremony from 8/6/16?
Griffey at 20:07: if you don't think these 3 guys wanna win? you are sadly mistaken......LOL, they are the reason why the Mariners have sucked since 2001
Gotta love the bandwagon Ken Griffey Jr fans
I mean who doesn’t love him? A superstar athlete that also has a fantastic personality