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Ken Griffey Jr.'s most memorable moments

SEATTLE -- Ken Griffey Jr. hit 630 home runs in his career, 417 of them with the Seattle Mariners. But these were the ones that were the most memorable.

Ken Griffey Jr. hits one of his five home runs against the New York Yankees in the ALDS, October 1995. (Credit: Stephen Dunn, Getty Images)

SEATTLE -- Ken Griffey Jr. hit 630 home runs in his career, 417 of them with the Seattle Mariners. But these were the ones that were the most memorable.

The first one: April 10, 1989

The Kid made a big splash in his Kingdome debut. On his first swing against Eric King of the White Sox, Griffey parked an 0-1 pitch just over the left-field wall.

Like father, like son: Sept. 14, 1990

Junior got a chance to do what other kids only dream of -- he got to play big league baseball with his dad.

On a late summer night in Anaheim, Ken Griffey Sr. went deep to left-center field off the Angels' Kirk McCaskill. On the very next pitch, Junior went yard to left field.


He hit the warehouse: July 12, 1993

During the All-Star Game Home Run Derby, Griffey became the first -- and only -- player to hit the warehouse beyond right field at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

That was a precursor to something else historic about to take place later that month.

The streak: July 20-28, 1993

Griffey joined Yankees great Don Mattingly as the only two men in major league history to hit home runs in eight consecutive games.

Who can forget Ron Fairly's call when Griffey went deep to right with the first pitch he saw in the 7th inning from Twins starter Willie Banks.

"There it goes! See ya later! Upper deck! Griffey has tied the major league record!" shouted Fairly.

One person who will never forget it is Mike Fassio, the Mariners' bat boy. He had one job -- make sure to grab that bat so it could go to the Hall of Fame.

"And I remember he hit, he looked up and paused for a moment before dropping the bat to look at it where it was going," said Fassio.

The walk-off: August 24, 1995

In the Refuse to Lose season, Griffey's first career walk-off home run epitomized that slogan. With the game against the Yankees tied at 7, and with a man on base and two outs, Griffey took closer John Wetteland to right field, just inside the foul pole, to win it 9-7.

It was a welcome sight for fans as Griffey had just returned from a nearly three-month layoff due to injury.

And it wouldn't be the last time that season Griffey made life rough on the Yankees.

Record performance against the pinstripes: 1995 AL Division Series

Ask Mariners fans what they remember most about Griffey in the 1995 American League Division Series against the Yankees and they'll say the image of him at the bottom of the pile at home plate at the end of Game 5.

But before that happened, Griffey put the Mariners on his back and dominated with five home runs in that series. It remains tied for the most home runs by one player in the Division Series.

That includes one in the 8th inning of that Game 5 that helped eventually propel the Mariners to the improbable series win after starting the series down two games to none.

The last one in the dome: June 27, 1999

The answer to another trivia question. Who was the last man to hit a home run in the Kingdome?

His first at Safeco Field: July 18, 1999

Facing the Arizona Diamondbacks, Griffey went deep to left center field (what we know today as The Pen) for his first home run the House that Junior Built.

Back in Seattle with the Reds: June 24, 2007

It's rare that an opposing player will get a standing ovation from fans at Safeco Field. But then again, few players are Ken Griffey Jr.

Making his first appearance in Seattle since being traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 2000, Griffey hit two solo home runs that got the crowd cheering. But those were the only runs Cincy would score in a 3-2 loss to Seattle.

400th as a Mariner: April 16, 2009

It was Jackie Robinson Day. Everyone around baseball wore No. 42. But everyone knew which one was actually 24. In his first home game back in Seattle, Griffey went deep to right field for his 400th long ball as a Mariner.

KING 5's Alex Rozier will be in Cooperstown, New York, this weekend reporting on Ken Griffey Jr's Induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter @AlexRozkierK5

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