Baseball profile: Ken Griffey, Jr.—Cincinnati Reds

Baseball Digest, August, 2008 by Rick Sorci

FULL NAME: George Kenneth Griffey, Jr.

AGE, HT., WT: 38, 6-3, 205

BORN: November 21, 1969 in Donora, Pennsylvania

HOME: Orlando, Florida

STATUS/FAMILY: Married

NICKNAME: Junior

LIFE OUTSIDE OF BASEBALL: It's mostly with the family, and usually whatever the kids want to do.

SPORTS HERO WHEN I WAS YOUNG: I didn't have one other than my dad, Ken Griffey.

PEOPLE WHO INFLUENCED ME THE MOST/WHY? My mom, dad, grandmother and grandfather. It was the people who were in my life, day in and day out, because those were the people who could help me.

BEST ADVICE ANYONE EVER GAVE ME: Just be yourself.

PLAYERS--PAST AND PRESENT--I'D PAY TO WATCH PLAY BASEBALL: Kirby Puckett, Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays in the past. Today, Torii Hunter.

HOBBIES: Fishing, tennis, bowling.

TYPE OF CAR: I have a few. My favorite is the Porsche Carrera GT.

FAVORITE ACTOR: Denzel Washington

FAVORITE MOVIE: Training Day

FAVORITE TV SHOWS: I don't really watch that much TV. Probably the local news if I watch anything. We like to go to the movies a lot as a family rather than watch a tot of TV.

FAVORITE MUSIC: Hip Hop

FAVORITE FOOD: Soul Food

FAVORITE BALLPARKS: Any place where the wind is blowing out.

THREE FAVORITE CITIES ON THE ROAD: Miami, Los Angeles, New York

FAVORITE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM OUTSIDE OF BASEBALL: Dallas Cowboys

PERSON IN HISTORY I'D LIKE TO HAVE MET: Jackie Robinson

BEST TIME OF MY LIFE/WHY? I try to enjoy everything. I really enjoy doing things with the kids.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: I never had one.

CHARACTERISTIC I ADMIRE MOST IN A PERSON: Honesty

THE TRUE SIGN OF SUCCESS IS: How many people show up at your funeral.

THE MOST IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTE A BASEBALL PLAYER NEEDS: Courage

IF I COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT BASEBALL IT WOULD BE: More days off.

IF NOT A BASEBALL PLAYER I WOULD HAVE BEEN: An architect.

BEHIND MY BACK THEY SAY: I don't worry about it.

TOUGHEST PITCHER I'VE FACED: Randy Johnson.

LIFE AFTER BASEBALL: I'll be a professional vacationist. I'll spend time relaxing and having fun with my family.

I'M MOST PROUD OF: Being who I am and not who everybody thinks I should be.

MY MOST EMBARRASSING BASEBALL EXPERIENCE: I tried dipping (chewing tobacco) for the first time at age 17 during a game and it didn't go very well. I got sick and they sent me home.

MY MOST MEMORABLE GAME: For me, the games I got to play with my dad. That was a lot of fun.

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