Ken Griffey Jr Net Worth: American retired professional baseball outfielder George Kenneth Griffey Jr. (born November 21, 1969), also known as “Junior” and “the Kid,” spent 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Along with a brief stint with the Chicago White Sox, he played for the Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds, and Cincinnati Reds for most of his career. Griffey is one of baseball’s most prolific home run hitters; his 630 home runs rank as the seventh-most in MLB history.
He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame and a thirteen-time All-Star. Griffey won ten Gold Glove Awards in center field and was also a superb defender. He shares the record for the most games with a home run in a row (eight, with Don Mattingly and Dale Long).
Griffey obtained lucrative contracts with internationally renowned businesses like Nike and Nintendo; some attribute his success to helping MLB’s reputation recover following the 1994 labor crisis. Only 31 players have played in major league games across four different calendar decades, and Griffey is one of them.
Ken Griffey Jr Early Life
On November 21, 1969, George Kenneth Griffey Jr. was born in Donora, Pennsylvania. Given that his father, Ken Griffey Sr., joined the Cincinnati Reds when Ken Jr. was around six years old, Ken was born into a sporting family.
The family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, after his father joined the Reds. Griffey Jr. later realized that the team’s success was more significant than his own. He had learned this lesson from his father.
As a young child, Ken demonstrated his athletic potential, and during his high school years, he excelled as a baseball player. After hitting 17 home runs throughout two seasons, he was named the 1987 US high school baseball player of the year.
Even though Ken Jr. had potential as a baseball player, he also developed into a talented football player and even had scholarship offers to play for several institutions.
Ken Griffey Jr Personal Life
The two children born to Griffey and his wife Melissa are now living in the world. Together, they have adopted a third child. George Kenneth III, also known as Trey Griffey, is their son and an NFL wide receiver.
Taryn, their daughter, plays basketball for the women’s team. Florida is currently home to the Griffey family. You can also read our most recent story on Chris Tucker and Shia LaBeouf’s respective net worths.
Health Issues
Griffey has pleurisy, a disease that causes the lining of the lungs to swell and produce excruciating pain. His condition was initially identified in 2007.
Suicide Attempt
Ken Griffey Jr. attempted suicide when he was 18 years old. By taking more than 250 pills of aspirin, he tried to overdose, but after being transferred to an intensive care unit in a hospital, his life was saved.
He acknowledged that, before this attempt, he had considered suicide. He also claimed that his despair and disagreements with his father contributed to his decision to commit suicide.
Ken Griffey Jr Career
The Seattle Mariners selected Ken Griffey Jr. with the first overall pick in the 1987 draft, launching his professional career. He signed with the Bellingham Mariners of the Northwest League and the San Bernardino Spirit of the California League, receiving a $160,000 signing bonus immediately.
In 1989, he made his debut for the Mariners, and Ken established himself over the following 11 seasons. He hit 398 home runs and stole 167 bases during this time. Griffey gained fame for his spectacular diving catches while playing defense.
When Ken and his father simultaneously played on the same team in 1990, it was another wonderful experience. The MLB had never done this before, and Ken’s dad eventually retired in 1991. Griffey was also a key contributor to the memorable Division Series win over the New York Yankees.
Griffey contributed to Seattle’s AL West championship in 1997. Injuries had damaged Ken’s form by 1999, and Sammy Sosa passed him in the season’s home run totals. Griffey was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in the year 2000.
Again, his accomplishments were insignificant in light of those made earlier. Ken continued to experience injuries; in 2004, he tore his right hamstring. By 2005, Ken was recognized as the National League Comeback Player of the Year after his form improved.
Griffey spent several years with the Reds and had some excellent seasons, but the experience wasn’t generally viewed favorably. Griffey obtained a $4 million buyout and returned to the Mariners to complete his career after a brief stint with the Chicago White Sox.
He continued to perform at a high level for the past two years, even though some onlookers thought he had only been brought to Seattle to increase ticket sales. Ken Griffey Jr. left the baseball industry in 2010.
Ken Griffey Jr. had young baseballers around the globe wearing backwards caps. It wasn’t a fashion statement. Junior says he had a “peanut head”, and he just wanted to wear his dad’s hat!@thepivot https://t.co/6DOkE3qwl3@FredTaylorMade @OfficialCrowder @alicialauren pic.twitter.com/RkOdBsT3An
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) October 4, 2022
Endorsements
Over the years, Ken added several lucrative brand endorsement contracts to his MLB pay. He signed two of his most enduring partnerships with Nike and Nintendo. He was regarded as one of Major League Baseball’s most marketable athletes during his playing career because of his positive image and lack of drug use allegations (unlike many of his contemporaries). At one time, Griffey was also shown on the Wheaties cereal box.
Film And Television Appearances
Griffey has taken on various cameo parts for numerous movies and television shows in addition to his baseball career. There are movies like “Little Big League” and “Summer Catch,” as well as television shows like “The Simpsons” and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
Ken Griffey Jr Net Worth
American former professional baseball player Ken Griffey, Jr., has a $90 million fortune. Griffey, sometimes known as “Junior” or “the Kid,” played for teams like the Seattle Mariners and the Cincinnati Reds throughout his career.
Ken is regarded as one of baseball’s most successful home run hitters and rose to fame due to his prodigious number of home runs. He hit 630 home runs in total, ranking him ninth all-time in home run production.
Ken was a great defensive player who won the Gold Glove Award ten times for his work in center field in addition to hitting many home runs. He garnered 99.32% of the vote in 2016, which was more than enough to get him inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Griffey was also a 13-time All-Star. He finished his career with the Mariners before becoming a special consultant in the front office.
Career Earnings And Contracts
Ken Griffey Jr. made a total salary of $150 million during his baseball career. That is equivalent to almost $190 million after inflation. He reached his highest yearly salary of $12.5 million throughout four seasons (2001, 2003, 2004, 2005).
In 2001, $12.5 million was equivalent to $18.4 million now. It was $2.3 million for his last MLB contract. His largest contract was his nine-year, $116.5 million deal with the Cincinnati Reds in 2000. The agreement postponed the payment of half the money. Ken continues to receive $3.5 million annually from the company in this manner. He’ll keep getting paid that until 2025.
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