Growing up in Seattle, he was the childhood idol of myself and every other kid on the block. We would play ball in the street in my neighborhood for hours on summer nights, trying to imitate his swing.
I was there when he hit back to back home runs with his Dad. I was there in the Kingdome in 1995 when he slid face first into first base to end the division series against the Yankees (which many have said was the greatest division series of all time).
He not only was the greatest player of my generation, he was a family man who left money on the table to play for a team closer to his family.
Thanks Griffey for the memories.
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