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Mariners News: M’s to Retire Ken Griffey Jr’s Number 24
By Ben Garza
The Seattle Mariners announced that they would retire the first player number in their history, number 24 for Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr.
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Yesterday, in New York, during the Hall of Fame press conference, Griffey announced that he would wear a Seattle Mariners cap on his Hall of Fame plaque. He will be the first player to wear a Mariners cap in Mariners history.
Today the Mariners flew him to Seattle to hold the press conference. A red carpet and all Seattle Mariners employees lined the hallway and cheered as he approached the conference room.
New HOFer Ken Griffey Jr. Is greeted by #Mariners staffers as he arrives for Safeco Field press conference pic.twitter.com/WbSDcnk83q
— Larry Stone (@StoneLarry) January 9, 2016
At the press conference, Mariners President Kevin Mather welcomed Ken Griffey Jr., then proceeded to announce that the Mariners would retire his number 24. Griffey’s number is the first player number that the Seattle Mariners will retire. The number 24 will go next to the already retired number 42 for Jackie Robinson, that was retired by all Major League teams in honor of Jackie Robinson. The Mariners announced that no one in the entire organization would ever wear number 24.
First Mariners number to be retired. pic.twitter.com/2bImo27YI6
— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) January 9, 2016
The Mariners announced that Ken Griffey Jr would throw the first pitch on Opening Day, April 8th. The weekend of August 5, 6, and 7 will be Ken Griffey Jr weekend at Safeco Field. They will hold the ceremony to retire the number on August 6th.
Griffey will throw out the fist pitch Opening Day. Aug 5,6,7 will be Ken Griffey Jr weekend at Safeco.
— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) January 9, 2016
Griffey was then interviewed by the press. As usual with Griffey, it was pretty light and upbeat. When asked about his announcement day he noted he had to wash dishes as his first duty after he received the phone call. When asked about how it feels to have saved baseball in Seattle.
There was 24 other guys that helped me. It was not just me that saved baseball in Seattle. Nobody is bigger than this game-Griffey
— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) January 9, 2016
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The press also asked how he felt about the Mariners retiring his number. His reply was that he felt thankful that the writers voted for him and that the Mariners were honoring him as well. He was also asked about what it meant to have his number 24 be retired and put up next to Jackie Robinson’s 42. He said that he didn’t do half of what Jackie Robinson did. He was also asked if he was going to wear his cap forward or backwards on his plaque.
Griffey on possibility of wearing cap backwards on HOF plaque "I may have to leave that to a fan vote."
— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) January 9, 2016
The last few days have been a whirlwind for the Kid. He flew to New York for the first news conference. He rang the bell on the New York stock exchange with his fellow inductee Mike Piazza. He’s gotten calls from several hall of famers telling him that it’s only going to get more busy as time passes. Today he was honored by the Mariners as they announced the retirement of his number. Mariners fans will pack Safeco in August for his weekend. This is a first for the franchise and the fans. The Kid will be celebrated like never before in the house that Griffey built.