Mariners' Griffey calls it a career SEATTLE -- Ken Griffey Jr. retired Wednesday night, ending one of the great careers in baseball history. The 40-year-old Griffey told the Mariners that he was done playing, and manager Don Wakamatsu made the announcement before Seattle faced Minnesota. "While I feel I am still able to make a contribution on the field and nobody in the Mariners front office has asked me to retire, I told the Mariners when I met with them prior to the 2009 season and was invited back that I will never allow myself to become a distraction," Griffey said in a statement. "I feel that without enough occasional starts to be sharper coming off the bench, my continued presence as a player would be an unfair distraction to my teammates and their success as a team is what the ultimate goal should be," he said. Griffey was hitting only .184 with no homers and seven RBIs this year and recently went a week without playing. There was a report earlier this season -- which Griffey denied -- that he'd fallen asleep in the clubhouse during a game. Mariners announce Ken Griffey Jr. retiring - ESPN
wow what HH said. but could have some1 just given him a cup of coffee 2 keep him up? come on...cut him a break. he is 40. that was 1 baseball player that i didnt mind watching play. and i hate BB. l8r Griffey.
Too bad Griffey had all those injuries in Cincinnati. If he didin't he would be the alltime HR king, not Barry Bonds.
I'd also like to thank Griffey for NOT cheating the game unlike Bonds, Sosa, and McGwire. Sadly, two of those three still deny it to this day and most likely always will deny it.
