Happy Anniversary to the Mariners making the greatest No. 1 pick in MLB history

Thirty-eight years ago today, the Seattle Mariners made the most important decision in franchise history. With the No. 1 overall pick in the 1987 MLB Draft, they selected a 17-year-old high school phenom from Cincinnati, Ohio: George Kenneth Griffey Jr.

That swing. That smile. That backwards cap. Griffey didn’t just define an era — he was the era. For Mariners fans, he was the promise of hope, swagger, and greatness embodied in a sweet left-handed swing that seemed like it was blessed by the baseball gods themselves.

Watching Griffey climb the wall at the Kingdome, robbing home runs with ease, or launching majestic bombs into the upper deck — those weren’t just highlights; they were moments that made you fall in love with baseball.

Ken Griffey Jr. saved baseball in Seattle, becoming the greatest No. 1 overall selection in MLB history

Griffey debuted in 1989 at just 19 years old and homered in his first at-bat at the Kingdome. From there, he cemented himself as a superstar in the MLB. He racked up 10 Gold Gloves, 13 All-Star selections, 630 career home runs, and an MVP award in 1997. At his peak, there wasn’t a more complete or electrifying player in the game.

And let’s not forget: Griffey became the first No. 1 overall pick in MLB history to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, receiving a then-record 99.3 percent of the vote in 2016. That’s how elite he was. His induction wasn’t just a personal honor — it was a celebration for every Mariners fan who lived through the magic of 1995, the ’90s home run chases, and the transformation of Seattle into a baseball town.

Even now, nearly four decades later, Griffey remains the gold standard — not just for Mariners legends, but the standard of elite players enjoying the game and playing it just like his nickname: as "The Kid."

So today, we tip our cap to Griffey, to the swing, to the smile, to The Kid. June 2nd, 1987, changed everything for Mariners franchise that didn't seem to have a future in Seattle. Griffey saved baseball in the Pacific Northwest and Mariners fans will forever be thankful.