George Kenneth Griffey Jr., nicknamed "Junior" and "the Kid", is an American former professional baseball outfielder who played 22 years in Major League Baseball (MLB). He spent most of his career with the Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds, along with a short stint with the Chicago White Sox. A member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, the first overall pick in the 1987 draft, and a 13-time All-Star, Griffey is one of the most prolific home run hitters in baseball history; his 630 home runs rank as the seventh-most in MLB history. Griffey was also an exceptional defender and won 10 Gold Glove Awards in center field. He is tied for the record of most consecutive games with a home run.
A mural of Ken Griffey Jr. in downtown Seattle from the strike-shortened 1994 season. The tick-marks represent his home runs up to the time of the strike, when Griffey Jr. was chasing the single-season home run record set by Roger Maris in 1961.
One of Ken Griffey Jr.'s signature sneakers, the Nike Air Griffey Max.
Griffey bats for the Mariners, 1997
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run is usually achieved by hitting the ball over the outfield fence between the foul poles without the ball touching the field.
Barry Bonds holds the all-time home run record in Major League Baseball
Sadaharu Oh, pictured here in 2006, holds the officially verified all-time world home run record in professional baseball.
Scooter Gennett had four home runs in a 2017 game, nearly completing a home run cycle.
The Polo Grounds left field foul line with guide rope, as seen from upper deck, 1917