Ken Griffey Jr.

Ken Griffey Jr. is a former professional baseball outfielder who played 22 years of Major League Baseball (MLB) and is considered one of baseball's most iconic home run hitters, with 630 home runs, ranking seventh all-time. He also was an exceptional defender and has won 10 Gold Glove Awards.

Griffey Jr. grew up idolizing his father, Ken Griffey Sr. and has walked in his footsteps. Griffey Sr also was a professional baseball player and was well-established in his time. After Ken’s successful high school year, the Seattle Mariners drafted him in the first round of the 1987 MLB Draft, and he debuted professionally in 1989.

In 2000, Griffey was traded to the Cincinnati Reds, and he played seven seasons with the team. After that, he returned to the Mariners in 2007. In 2010 Griffey retired after playing the season.

Griffey was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016, receiving 99.32% of the vote, and he is one of the only three players in MLB history to have ever received over 99% of the vote, joining Tom Seaver and Ty Cobb.

Ken Griffey Jr.’s Personal Information

Ken Griffey Jr.’s Early Life

Ken Griffey Jr. was born in Donora, Pennsylvania, on November 21, 1969. At just three, his family relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio, where his father, Ken Griffey Sr., played for the Cincinnati Reds.

He attended Archbishop Moeller High School in Cincinnati and showcased his exceptional talent in baseball, earning recognition as the U.S. high school baseball player of the year in 1987. Griffey’s performance was remarkable throughout the high school season, as he maintained an impressive .478 batting average and hit 17 home runs.

Griffey was also a talented football player and received scholarship offers from top college football programs, such as Oklahoma and Michigan.

Ken Griffey Jr.’s Personal Life

In 1992, Ken tied the knot with Melissa Griffey, and they adopted their third child together. Ken met his wife, Melissa, during his first year with the Seattle Mariners. Their son Trey Griffey has been a wide receiver in the NFL, while their daughter Taryn has been a women's basketball team member.

The Griffey family currently lives in Florida, and aside from Ken’s remarkable baseball career, he is an active philanthropist, contributing to various charitable causes and organizations, including Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Nevada Cancer Institute, Opportunity Village, and more.

Ken has also appeared in several cameo roles in television and films, including The Simpsons, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Little Big League, and Summer Catch.

Ken Griffey Jr.’s Family Background

Ken Griffey Jr. was born into a baseball family as his father was a professional baseball player who played with the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball from 1973 to 1991, and his grandfather Buddy Griffey also played baseball and was a teammate of Stan Musial on the Donora High School baseball team. Ken's uncle, Craig, also shared his love and passion for the sport, and he played in the Minor Leagues as an outfielder.

Ken and Ken’s father became the first father-and-son duo to play baseball on the same team, and they played their first game together for the Seattle Mariners on August 31, 1990.

Ken Griffey Jr.'s mother was Alberta Griffey. She primarily led a private life as a homemaker. Tragically, she passed away battling cancer on Saturday, July 15, 2017, at Ruby Memorial Hospital.

Ken Griffey Jr.’s Wife

Ken Griffey Jr.’s wife is Melissa Griffey. She was born on 25 June 1969 in the United States and is 53. Melissa prefers to stay out of the spotlight and has maintained a private life.

Ken Griffey Jr.’s Kids

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Ken and Melissa Griffey have three children together. Trey, Tevin, and Taryn Griffey.

Trey Griffey, born on January 19, 1994, is the son of Ken and Melissa Griffey. He played college football at the University of Arizona as a wide receiver.

Taryn K. Griffey, born on October 21, 1995, is the daughter of Ken and Melissa Griffey. She is a basketball player who played for the University of Arizona and shared a passion for playing piano.

Tevin Griffey, born on May 5, 2002, is the adopted son of Ken and Melissa Griffey. He plays as a defensive back for the Florida A&M Rattlers.

Ken Griffey Jr.’s Social Media

Ken Griffey Jr. is officially active on Instagram and has over 706 thousand followers.

His Instagram handle is https://www.instagram.com/therealkengriffeyjr.

Ken Griffey Jr.’s Net Worth

Ken’s net worth is an estimated $90 million, and his earnings from baseball, endorsement deals, and other sources of income have all contributed to his wealth. as per celeberitynetworth.com.

Ken Griffey Jr. as Brand Ambassador

Ken Griffey Jr. is a brand ambassador for T-Mobile's HBCU Swingman Classic, a tournament that aims to break color barriers. He has also endorsed several brands, including Nike, Nintendo, etc.

Ken Griffey Jr.’s Investments

Ken has made strategic investments with his money throughout his career and participated in an Angel round investment in PlayersTV on June 11, 2020. He is also the first former Seattle Mariners ownership group player ever to hold partnership shares.

Ken Griffey Jr.’s Career Stats

Ken’s retirement in 2010 marked the end of an era as he finished his career with 2,781 hits, 630 home runs, 1,836 RBIs, and 1,662 runs scored.

Here is a tabular representation of Ken Griffey Jr.’s MLB career stats.

Source - MLB.com.

Ken Griffey Jr.’s Achievements

Here is a tabular representation of Ken’s Achievements so far.

Ken Griffey Jr.’s Contract

In 2000, Ken Griffey Jr. signed a nine-year, $116.5 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds. As part of the contract, $57.5 million was designated as deferred payments.

Deferred payments mean Griffey will receive this money over time rather than all at once, which is now being paid out in annual instalments of $3.59 million from 2009 to 2024. as per spotrac.com.

Ken Griffey Jr.’s Diet

Although Ken’s specific dietary details are not publicly mentioned, he did report that he dropped seven pounds this winter through diet and exercise when interviewed. as per seattletimes.com.

Ken Griffey Jr.’s House

Ken Griffey Jr. owns a luxury house in Orlando, Florida, and has invested in other real estate properties. However, records about his other investments are private.

Ken Griffey Jr.’s Cars

Ken also shares his interest in the automobile industry, and his car collection includes a 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300CE, a Bentley Continental GT, a Rolls-Royce Wraith, and a Porsche Carrera GT. These cars are known for their high performance, luxurious interiors, and stylish designs.