Ken Jr. GriffeyBirth Chart

Ken Griffey Jr. is a former American professional baseball player, regarded as one of the greatest outfielders in Major League Baseball history. The first overall pick in the 1987 draft, he became a star over 22 seasons, playing mainly for the Seattle Mariners and also for the Cincinnati Reds, with a brief stint at the Chicago White Sox. He was a 13-time All-Star, named the American League MVP in 1997, and led the league in home runs in four seasons.

His offensive production is notable: 630 home runs—among the highest totals in history—along with more than a thousand RBIs and a consistently strong batting average. Defensively he excelled with great range and spectacular plays in center field, earning 10 consecutive Gold Glove awards. He shares the record for consecutive games with a home run and played in games across four different decades, a rare feat in the league.

A figure with broad popular appeal, he signed endorsement deals with global brands and helped revitalize the league's reputation after the labor crisis of the 1990s. After retiring, he joined the Mariners' front office as a consultant and received honors in the Seattle and Cincinnati halls of fame and, in 2016, the National Baseball Hall of Fame by an almost unanimous vote.