Ken Griffey Junior and Frank Thomas

[Dr. Cheese]

Here is a nice essay putting the careers of these two unblemished sluggers in perspective:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...fey/index.html

As someone who remembers how effortlessly Ken Griffey produced 50+ home run seasons at his peak, seeing him almost limp towards 600 career homers really reinforces just what Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, and Willie Mays did legitimately. Griffey still has a decent chance to match Mays in career homers if he can hang around about three more years, but it won't be easy. Frank Thomas is more in the Ted Williams mold of a fantastic pure hitter who also had great power (Williams, btw, may have been the all time homer leader had he not fought in WWII & the Korean War. I know Williams is an all-time stud when you consider his war time and athletic record, and he was the first HOF player to publicly push for recognition of the great Negro League players also.)

[GrooveWarrior]

Being a Cincinnatian, it always frustrates me how much this type of thing is overlooked. Jr. is a great guy who enjoys the game and everything that goes with it. It is sad that even here locally the fans get down on him so quickly when he is injured (which has been quite a bit since he has come to Cincinnati). We are a town that has had our share of negative publicity due to athletes (see Bengals) making really bad decisions, but we all know that Jr. will be solid when it comes to character.

[MJ5150]

I watched Grif grow up and become a superstar. It was a pleasure going to the old Kingdome to watch him play. I don't think I have ever seen someone play with so much passion and love for the game.

Grif has had his moments in his Seattle days, and many people felt he was arrogant and a whiner. Those same people only saw about half of what he did for this community when he was here.

I have been a fan of Frank Thomas for a long time. I will be sad when he retires.

-Mike

[de1orean]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

It was a pleasure going to the old Kingdome

i can't recall ever having seen these words put together in this configuration

[Bad Brains]

I liked Gen Griffy ever since I first saw him on The Simpsons, and he drank too much of that tonic, and his head grew (ironically Barry Bonds fits that description in REAL life......)

[Philbiker]

Nice article.

[McHack]

I still think Jr has one of the sweetest swings EVER. The fluid sweeping motion just looks soooo effortless. It's so unfortunate that he went thru a 5 year period, where he was afflicted with season ending injuries, in the first half of the season.

[Atoz]

I read this article earlier this morning. Always been a Griffey fan (both Jr. and Dad). Like McHack, I wonder how many more HRs he'd have if not for the injuries he's had. Never really been a Thomas fan, though I respect his ability.