Good morning Obots!
The series concludes today with Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. — the only father-son duo to hit back-to-back home runs in the same game.
(From The Starting Five)
At 19, Ken Griffey Jr. stepped into a major league batter’s box with the highest of expectations and hit a double in Oakland off ace Dave Stewart. He followed with a home run his first at bat in the Kingdome and Seattle fans were sold on his youthful expressions, talent and passion. The world got a supreme look at baseball’s future and before the injuries he was as good as any athlete in any sport we have ever seen.
It began with his Pop.
Ken Griffey Sr. was an outfielder for those great Big Red Machine teams of the 70′s and Junior was in the club house when the Reds won the World Series titles in 1975 and 1976. A young Griffey followed his father, as most boys do, everywhere he went and to every team and clubhouse. Sr. played for the Reds, Braves, Yankees, and a brief stint with the Mariners to join his son before retiring.
Their relationship was special and it was never more evident than when they both played with the Mariners in 1990 and 1991. The Griffeys became the first Father and son to become teammates and also the first to hit back to back home runs in Angels Stadium on September 14, 1990. Earlier in the initial game as teammates, Junior stated his best moment was when his Pop threw out Bo Jackson at second from left field.
Jr. hit his 500th homerun on Father’s Day and with the landmark homer he tied his Pop in hits with 2,143. His 600th was smashed with his Dad and family in the stands. The Griffeys are a soul model example of a family story every kid should know regardless of race.