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Jimmie Foxx was the youngest player to hit 500 homers, reaching the milestone at 32. Willie Mays, Sammy Sosa, Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth also hit theirs at 34. Jung Keun Bong (1-1) allowed three hits in six scoreless innings and three relievers finished a combined four-hit shutout to end the Reds' nine-game road losing streak. The slump was the team's longest since they dropped 10 in a row from June 1-24, 1998. The star center fielder ended a frustrating stretch with the swing, which helped theCincinnati Reds beat theSt.
Morris (7-6), who had won his previous three starts, gave up six runs on six hits in six innings. He has allowed a major league-high 23 homers in 15 starts and wasn't overly perturbed about being a footnote to history. He ended up hitting 15 dingers for Cincinnati in 425 plate appearances prior to being dealt at the non-waiver trade deadline.
Hairston out 2-4 weeks
Griffey gave Crummley the jersey off his back and a large shopping bag filled with other memorabilia that included a signed bat from Casey. "But they would do it whatever the circumstances were because they appreciated it. That's why they're the best fans in baseball." The base coaches simply shook Griffey's hand as he passed by.
Fred McGriff needs seven homers to become the 21st player to hit 500. Who knows where Griffey could’ve landed on the all-time home run list if he didn’t miss the equivalent of two full seasons between 2002 and 2004 because of injuries. But still, finishing with 630 homers over the span of 22 years is incredible. And we can’t forget about the style/swag he brought to the game when nobody else was really doing it. The every-two-years-for-a-milestone-homer streak ended, but by the time Griffey entered the 500-homer club in 2004, he did it on what was already a memorable day.
Ken Griffey Jr. hits 600th homer
When Griffey crossed the plate, he tapped fists with teammate Adam Dunn, who then patted Griffey on the helmet. All of his teammates then came out on the field to congratulate him after the historic homer. “My father hit 152 home runs, and that’s who I wanted to be like,” said Griffey, whose father also played for the Reds.
From the standpoint of fWAR, 1996 was Griffey’s finest work, as he posted 9.7 fWAR in 140 games played. At that time, he had enjoyed his third season of 40-plus homers and set a new career-high for the time being with 49 dingers and 140 RBI. If you’re looking for another sweet swing that can torch baseballs, be sure to also check out milestone Miguel Cabrera home runs through the years.
Griffey Hits 600th Career Home Run
He’d hit three more that season with Chicago, with the first one being number 609, which tied him for fifth all-time with Sammy Sosa on the all-time list. Many have argued that his career has been a disappointment with his struggles in Cincinnati. Still, others have sworn that Griffey is the greatest player to don a professional baseball uniform.
It seemed like a sure bet that when his nine-year, $116.5 million contract was wrapping up this year, he'd be the next home run king, or close to it. Then, the city would have two of its own atop baseball's revered lists — Pete Rose as the hits king, Junior as the home run king. Then, the city would have two of its own atop baseball's revered lists - Pete Rose as the hits king, Junior as the home run king. Unlike Bonds and Sosa, Griffey has stayed clear of questions about whether he came by all of his homers legitimately.
He mentioned he had received recent phone calls from Mays and Aaron, who offered encouragement. But it was not all celebration for the Reds, who lost Hairston for two to four weeks with a fractured left thumb. He left the game in the middle of the first breaking his left thumb when stealing second. But unfortunately, that’s when the injury bug started to bite, as he played in just 158 games between 2002 and 2004.
Griffey Jr. has long since proved Perez and others who made similar forecasts correct. About all that’s left to be determined are the final numbers to stamp on his Hall of Fame plaque. Like his 400th and 500th, Ken Griffey Jr.‘s milestone home run came on the road.
Griffey reached 600 home runs in 2,439 games, the third-fewest all time. With Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa unsigned this season, Griffey, in his 20th season, is the only active player with at least 600 home runs. MIAMI -- Certain privileges come along with Ken Griffey’s stature in baseball, like pep talks from Hall of Fame players. "I have been swinging the bat a lot better the last 10 days or so," he said. "I stayed away with breaking balls until on a 2-2 count I tried to slip a fastball by him," Morris said.
"I guess people have been doing that 500 times, and it didn't work." Griffey hit a pair of high fly balls in his first two at-bats. He flied out to center near the warning track leading off the second, and hit a sacrifice fly to center to drive in the first run in the Reds' five-run fourth against Morris. Griffey is the second player to hit his 500th homer in St. Louis. Mark McGwire connected for his 500th off Andy Ashby of the San Diego Padres in 1999. The ball was caught by 19-year-old Mark Crummley of Mount Carmel, Ill., who gave it back to Griffey after the game.
Yes, with all those close similarities, he hit his 50th homer of the year on the same exact day, two years in a row. This is a guy who has been loved, respected, and admired by coaches, teammates, and fans everywhere he’s been. In 2000, Griffey returned to his hometown of Cincinnati where he was greeted with a king’s welcome. Coming to a team with such great traditions as the Reds seemed important, not only to him, but to the city of Cincinnati. Griffey hit No. 597 on April 23 at Great American Ball Park, then went 90 at-bats — the second-longest drought of his career — before connecting again in San Diego on May 22.
After hitting his 400th dinger on his father’s 50th birthday, he hit number 500 on Father’s Day, with his dad in attendance. This was his first full season since that 1993 breakout, as he played just 111 games in 1994 because of the strike and 72 in 1995 because of a broken wrist. This ended up starting the unequivocal peak of his Hall of Fame career, which included five straight seasons with at least 40 homers and 115 RBI. Griffey, one of baseball's most prolific sluggers before injuries began to take their toll, started the season with 593 home runs. Griffey received a standing ovation from the relatively sparse crowd and responded by coming out of the Reds dugout and tipping his helmet to the fans.
"It was a nice Father's Day present, but it's an easy way to get out of giving me something," Griffey Sr. said. Griffey then went to a box next to the Reds' dugout and hugged his father, Ken Griffey, and children. The elder Griffey said Junior told him, simply, "Happy Father's Day." You probably also love those noisy NFL wide receivers, club house divas, and those flashy athletes who leave little to be desired off the field and in the locker room. He has been a positive influence in the clubhouse, on the field, and in the community as well. In 2006, he even switched his number from "30" to "3," in honor of his three children.
Griffey hit 40 homers in his first season with the Reds, when he became the youngest to reach 400 career. Then came a succession of major injuries — torn hamstrings, torn patella tendon, separated shoulder, torn ankle — that knocked him way off Aaron's pace. Then came a succession of major injuries - torn hamstrings, torn patella tendon, separated shoulder, torn ankle - that knocked him way off Aaron's pace. Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 600th home run on Monday night, completing his long ascent and becoming the sixth player in history to reach that milestone. Barry Bonds is third on the career list with 676, Sosa has 549 and Rafael Palmeiro has 538.
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