MLB baseball was the first sport I was passionate about, but I haven't followed it very much at all since the 80's. Griffey, Jr's MLB debut was 1989. I've heard his name of course and new he was a big star, but I had no idea he was as great as the all-time greats in MLB history. Shame I never got to see him play. I don't even think I've even see a highlight of him playing. Will have to youtube him and catch up on his greatness. Interesting that you put him up there in the discussion with Mays, Mantle, Cobb, and DiMaggio... Griffey Jr is tied for #8 all-time in MLB home run titles with 15 others, including Mantle and Mays. Major League Baseball titles leaders - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia And Griffey is 5th all-time in career home runs (630 over 22 seasons), right behind #4 Mays (660 over 22 seasons), and ahead of #16 Mantle (536 over 18 seasons) and #70 DiMaggio (361 over 13 seasons). http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/HR_career.shtml It's also interesting that you put him up there in the discussion with Mays, Mantle, Cobb, and DiMaggio because this 1999 Major League Baseball All-Century Team did the same thing, he was right on their tails in votes for best outfielder of the century, even though he didn't have a chance for his legend to grow like the guys before him did... Outfielders, Major League Baseball All-Century Team Babe Ruth (1,158,044) Hank Aaron (1,156,782) Ted Williams (1,125,583) Willie Mays (1,115,896) Joe DiMaggio (1,054,423) Mickey Mantle (988,168) Ty Cobb (777,056) Ken Griffey, Jr. (645,389) Pete Rose (629,742) Stan Musial (571,279) And looking at that entire 1999 Major League Baseball All-Century Team, Griffey Jr was only one of 3 active players in 1999 to make the list, along with Ripken Jr, Clemens, and McGuire...active players at the time in bold... Lou Gehrig (1,207,992) Babe Ruth (1,158,044) Hank Aaron (1,156,782) Ted Williams (1,125,583) Willie Mays (1,115,896) Joe DiMaggio (1,054,423) Johnny Bench (1,010,403) Mickey Mantle (988,168) Nolan Ryan (992,040 votes) Sandy Koufax (970,434) Cy Young (867,523) Mike Schmidt (855,654) Jackie Robinson (788,116) Ty Cobb (777,056) Brooks Robinson (761,700) Yogi Berra (704,208) Cal Ripken, Jr. (669,033) Ken Griffey, Jr.(645,389) Rogers Hornsby (630,761) Pete Rose (629,742) Roger Clemens (601,244) Ernie Banks (598,168) Bob Gibson (582,031) Stan Musial (571,279) Honus Wagner (526,740) Mark McGwire (517,181) Walter Johnson (479,279) Warren Spahn (337,215) Christy Mathewson (249,747) Lefty Grove (142,169) Major League Baseball All-Century Team - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joltin' Joe DiMaggio was a 13x All Star just like Griffey Jr, yet DiMaggio is apparently is "the only player [in MLB history] to be selected for the All-Star Game in every season he played"... Griffey Jr missed being an All Star in '89, '01, '02, '03, '05, '06, '08, '09, and I assume '10 as well) Joe DiMaggio - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia DiMaggio (MLB '36 to '42, '46 to '51), missed the '43 to '45 MLB seasons (when he was ages 28 to 31) because of WWII, he was in the US Army Air Forces during that time. DiMaggio gets his sergeant's stripes .
To add to that: 1990-1999: Bonds -- 8x All-Star (missed in '91 and '99) Junior -- 10x All-Star (every year in the 90s) Bonds -- 8x Golden Glove (missed in '91 and '99) Junior -- 10x Golden Glove (every year in the 90s) Bonds -- 7x Silver Slugger (missed in '95, '98, '99) Junior -- 7x Silver Slugger (missed in '90, '92, '95) Bonds -- 1x Home Run Derby winner ('96) Junior -- 3x Home Run Derby winner ('94, '98, '99) Bonds -- zero 55+ home run seasons Junior -- 2x 55+ home run seasons ('97, '98) Bonds -- 3x 40+ home run seasons ('93, '96, '97) Junior -- 6x 40+ home run seasons ('93, 94, '96, '97, '98, '99) Bonds -- 1 home run title ('93) Junior -- 4 home run titles ('94, '97, '98, '99) etc, etc
