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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy is in his 36th year of covering the Cincinnati Reds, the longest tenure for any active writer covering one team. Counting spring training and postseason games, McCoy has covered more than 7,000 major-league baseball games, written close to 18,000 baseball stories and eaten enough hot dogs to give Babe Ruth indigestion.Home > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2008 > June > 09 > Entry
The joys of 600 home runs
NOTE: For a column I did on Griffey and his legacy, see the post UNDER and BEFORE this one. Hope you enjoy it.
Love him or hate him — and there seems to be no in-between on Ken Griffey Jr. — hitting 600 home runs in a career is an accomplishment for which they should add a wing in Cooperstown.
As is nearly always the case, Griffey accomplished a milestone while wearing road gray and said, “I think the only milestone homer I hit at home was my 100th.”
No. 600 came Monday night in nearly empty Dolphin Stadium, in the first inning against Florida Marlins left-hander Mark Hendrickson. If he had waited one day, just one more day, he could have done it on Joe Nuxhall Night Tuesday in Great American Ball Park.
Or he could have done it on Friday the 13th. Or he could have done it on Father’s Day.
“You can’t control when you hit home runs,” he said. “Wish I could.”
Asked about home runs he’ll remember besides the 600th, he said, “Only two. My first one and the one I hit with my dad, the only father-son to go back-to-back.”
And besides joining five baseball immortals in The 600 Club (Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Sammy Sosa) here are some other Griffey home run noteworthies:
Three were inside the park.
Fifteen were grand slams.
Five were pinch-hit.
Eight came off David Wells, the most off any pitcher.
38 were hit against Minnesota, the most against any team.
Asked about being in the same residence with guys like Mays and Aaron, Griffey said, “Willie Mays called me about 10 days ago and Hank Aaron called me the next day. The told me to relax, keep going and have fun. That helped calm me down and settled my nerves.”
What, Barry Bonds didn’t call? Good.
Well, Griffey isn’t sure. A few minutes after the game ended, a 9-4 win, Griffey check his cell phone: “72 text messages and 18 phone calls. I don’t think I have that many friends.”
Asked who he would call first, he said, “My mother (Birdie), of course.”
Ken Griffey Sr., Griffey’s wife, Melissa, and Griffey’s three kids were in the stands, and when he crossed home plate he pointed to his family in the stands.
His 12-year-old son, Trey, was dressed in a Reds uniform and was in the dugout and was one of the first to congratulate dear ol’ dad. “I caught him staring at me later and I said, ‘What?’ ” said Griffey. “He said, ‘You hit 600 homers!’ “
“It meant a lot to have Trey in the dugout and for him to be one of the first to greet me,” said Griffey. “I’m more excited about what he does than what I do.”
Griffey said the trip around the bases was quick: “I floated and don’t remember touching the bases.”
The 16,003 fans gave him a standing ovation and demanded a curtain call, which he eventually did, “But it took me longer because I wanted to accept the congratulations and the handshakes of all my teammates first.”
Manager Dusty Baker said Griffey called his shot — hey, if Babe Ruth can do it, why not Griffey? “He told me Sunday he was going to do it and I assumed he meant Monday. When he hit it, the first thing he said to me was, ‘I’m a man of my word. I keep my word.’ “
Griffey was asked if ever thought he could hit 600 homers and, of course, said, “No.”
Why not?
“My father hit 152 career home runs and I thought I would be just like him — a No. 2 hitter, move the runner over. I never thought I’d hit 200 or 300 and especially not 600. I’m just a line-drive hitter and some of my line drives go further than others,” he said.
Baker said he hopes Griffey receives a hero’s welcome in Great American Ball Park, “That they show him the love and respect he deserves. What he has done is quite a feat, quite an accomplishment.”
Asked how he planned to celebrate, Griffey smiled and said, “First I have about a two-hour plane ride back to Cincinnati that’ll get us in about 3 a.m. Then I sleep. Maybe I’ll do a little celebrating at lunch.”
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Comments
By Kyle
June 10, 2008 10:40 PM | Link to this
Calvin, you got impatient and hit the “post your comment” button more than once.By Tom
June 10, 2008 10:35 PM | Link to this
Congrats to Junior for a job well done. He shows respect for the game and also the older gentlemen in his 600 club, Hank and Willie.My son who passed away 18 yrs ago knew Ken Jr. would be a great player and a greater person. He places his family first which I admire in someone who is famous as he. That goes to show people the great family ways his parents brought him up. A special congrats to his parents for a job well done. Ken Jr. keep up the good work and play the game as it was intended. HAVE FUN. Thanks to you Hal for letting your readers make positive comments as well.By Lynn
June 10, 2008 8:51 PM | Link to this
Congratulations to a man who is both a class act and a tremendously talented player!By gen
June 10, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this
I can’t believe the fan that caught the ball refused to give it back. Florida fans suck.By Calvin S.
June 10, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this
Why did this blog post my last post 3 times?By Robert
June 10, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this
“And besides joining five baseball immortals in The 600 Club (Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Sammy Sosa)” I wouldn’t go so far as to put Sammy Sosa in the immortal class. Unfortunatelly, he didn’t do it the right way and baseball was all about him. Jr. is a class act all the way.By Y-City Jim
June 10, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this
I believe it may have been the mother who was dropping the F-bombs when Griffey was refusing to sign autographs during the game.By Calvin S.
June 10, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this
Mr McCoy, I posted a congrats to Grif on John Fay’s blog. I quoted from the story you wrote about the mother and the 3 kids, using it as an example of what a class act he is. A Blogger posted this, “you left out the part where he dropped a couple F bombs on the mother and her children for asking him while he was on-deck..classy” I wrote him that I was only citing your story and that I would ask you. Have you heard anything like this? Have you ever heard Griffey treat anyone like this? Have you ever known him to be anything but the class act that I believe him to be? Thanks, Calvin Snider.By Calvin S.
June 10, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this
Mr McCoy, I posted a congrats to Grif on John Fay’s blog. I quoted from the story you wrote about the mother and the 3 kids, using it as an example of what a class act he is. A Blogger posted this, “you left out the part where he dropped a couple F bombs on the mother and her children for asking him while he was on-deck..classy” I wrote him that I was only citing your story and that I would ask you. Have you heard anything like this? Have you ever heard Griffey treat anyone like this? Have you ever known him to be anything but the class act that I believe him to be? Thanks, Calvin Snider Parkersburg, WV.By Calvin S.
June 10, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this
Mr McCoy, I posted a congrats to Grif on John Fay’s blog. I quoted from the story you wrote about the mother and the 3 kids, using it as an example of what a class act he is. A Blogger posted this, “you left out the part where he dropped a couple F bombs on the mother and her children for asking him while he was on-deck..classy” I wrote him that I was only citing your story and that I would ask you. Have you heard anything like this? Have you ever heard Griffey treat anyone like this? Have you ever known him to be anything but the class act that I believe him to be? Thanks, Calvin Snider Parkersburg, WV.By JLC
June 10, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this
Congrats to a great guy! I just wish more people had been there to honor him. If I could, I’d be in Cinci tonight to congratulate the guy! The story I read about the mother and her children and the autograph situation just further enhances his image. He deserves more praise and less crap from Reds fans. Hal, let him know that some of us truly appreciate him!By Doco
June 10, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this
Big ups to Junior for 600 and for handling himself the way he has under this intense scrutiny for so many years. As fans we expect perfection. Not committing any errors, not missing any 3-1 fastballs, not getting irritable with the media or fans. For my money Griffey has been the closest. I wish I could be there tonight to show my appreciation. Hopefully GABP will be packed to the rafters to give Jr. the great reception he deserves.By John
June 10, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this
It meant a lot to have Trey in the dugout and for him to be one of the first to greet me,” said Griffey. “I’m more excited about what he does than what I do.” I will never forget Barry Bonds ignoring his son at home after hitting his 756th. The lasting memory of the worthless man that is Barry Bonds. Griffey did it the right way and is barely getting the credit he deserves.By Sean
June 10, 2008 8:08 AM | Link to this
Congrats to Griffey! Thans for aways playing the game the rightway. Also, great blog Hal!By AP-FLORIDA
June 10, 2008 7:12 AM | Link to this
FINALLY-CONGRATS TO JR,BUT DOES SEATTLE HAVE AN EXTRA SHORTSTOP?By Andy
June 10, 2008 5:01 AM | Link to this
Congrats to Griffey. Obviously, one of THE class acts in all of baseball history. I’d also like to comment on this blog. I thoroughly enjoy reading it on a daily basis. Thank you Hal for digging deep, and giving us a taste of interesting things behind the scenes, and great stories from the world of baseball!By Andy
June 10, 2008 5:00 AM | Link to this
Congrats to Griffey. Obviously, one of THE class acts in all of baseball history. I’d also like to comment on this blog. I thoroughly enjoy reading it on a daily basis. Thank you Hal for digging deep, and giving us a taste of interesting things behind the scenes, and great stories from the world of baseball!