On this day 12 years ago, Mariners trade Griffey Jr. to Cincinnati
It was the offseason that led to the formation of Redszone. I'm sure many who were around at that time remember Gallagher and "Whiffey is not your savior!"
Did it work out the way we had hoped? Thanks to injuries and ownership's failure to build a team around him, through little fault of his own, Junior and his relatively bargain priced contract were viewed by many fans as an albatross on the success of the team. Still we had the opportunity to watch a Hall of Fame player roam the outfield in Cincinnati, and one of the sweetest swings in the history of the sport. Looking back 12 years later, now that time has passed and we can judge the trade fairly, I'd like to say that the Reds won the trade, though in the world of expectations, I doubt neither the Reds organization nor the Mariners organization feel that they won. I do feel though, that we the fans of the Cincinnati Reds, won that trade made this day 12 seasons past, and I feel blessed to have had the chance to see Junior Griffey wear my team's uniform and play in my city.
Re: On this day 12 years ago, Mariners trade Griffey Jr. to Cincinnati
Re: On this day 12 years ago, Mariners trade Griffey Jr. to Cincinnati
Thanks for pointing this out today. That trade will always be a memorable one to me -- not only for what it meant to the Reds, but for what was going on in my own life. I was living and working in France and got an excited phone call from my friend very early in the morning. In the same conversation he told me about the Griffey trade, I told him that I had just met the girl of my dreams. Two years later, she would be my wife and that same friend would be the best man in our wedding.
Anyone else have memories of what they were doing when the Griffey trade went down?
Re: On this day 12 years ago, Mariners trade Griffey Jr. to Cincinnati
I guess you can say I grew up as a baseball fan with Ken Griffey, Jr. I was just getting into the hobby of baseball card collecting in 1989 when Junior's cards were one of the hottest things in the hobby. That year I was introduced to former Reds' pitcher Rob Dibble through Steve Baker, a local news correspondent from my hometown. Dibs had given me a Ken Griffey, Jr. candybar, and at that point, The Kid became my favorite player as a young teenager. I purchased the "Griffey: The Next Generation" poster with both Sr. and Jr. that summer at a souvenir shop in King's Island. It hung on my wall for years.
I always wanted to see my favorite player play for my favorite team, then one February day, when I was 22 years old, it finally happened. I had to pinch myself at the time, because I just couldn't believe it.
Now, at the age of 34, looking back, I have some regret that I feel I didn't appreciate him enough when he was here.
Re: On this day 12 years ago, Mariners trade Griffey Jr. to Cincinnati
I was a big Mike Cameron fan, but I don't regret the Reds making this trade one bit.
Jr helped make the Lindner years more tolerable.
Jr took a lot of abuse on the message boards and radio (and from John Allen) that was not deserved. I feel bad that he had to endure that.
I know during the Jr years, some people had this fantasy that if we didn't trade for Jr, somehow we would be able to get a monster pitching staff with that approx 9 million/year (that's what the true annual value of his contract was), but that was a fallacy in logic, especially when viewed in hindsight.
Re: On this day 12 years ago, Mariners trade Griffey Jr. to Cincinnati
I felt bad for Junior. Kind of reminded me of when Eric Davis played for the Reds. He could never do enough to please the fans.
I also felt bad that he came home to an organization and an owner who really didn't know how to put together a winner. Everyone counted on Junior to carry the team. But it was mostly a bad team.
Re: On this day 12 years ago, Mariners trade Griffey Jr. to Cincinnati
https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/im...3jnrzCPWJijsi_
In 1995, while living in State College, Pennsylvania, the Bengals traded up from the #5 pick to acquire the #1 and draft Penn State RB Ki Jana Carter. Suffice it to say Carter had a rocky career in the NFL, fraught with injury.
When the Reds traded for Junior, I could not help but get a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Re: On this day 12 years ago, Mariners trade Griffey Jr. to Cincinnati
Quote:
Originally Posted by
RedsManRick
I have this framed and hanging on my wall in my billiards room.
Re: On this day 12 years ago, Mariners trade Griffey Jr. to Cincinnati
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Joseph
I have this framed and hanging on my wall in my billiards room.
As do I. Its actually one of about 6 pieces of reds memorabilia that have moved with me wherever I have lived the past 12 years.
Re: On this day 12 years ago, Mariners trade Griffey Jr. to Cincinnati
Junior deserved better here. The organization failed him and, I believe, sold him a load of BS in the process. They never intended to build the team around him, they just wanted to coast on his name for a few years.
After a while, I believe Junior became jaded with the organization's indifference and the fans' blame. And he realized that he would never win a ring in Cincinnati. Ironically, he would have had a much better chance at winning in Seattle during those years with the talent the M's put on the field. And he would have played before more fans.
It's all a sad story of "what if," unfortunately. And could it have started out more ominously, with the most anticipated Opening Day in decades getting rained out after a couple of innings against the hapless Brewers?
Re: On this day 12 years ago, Mariners trade Griffey Jr. to Cincinnati
I still have the paper from that day.
Good day.
Re: On this day 12 years ago, Mariners trade Griffey Jr. to Cincinnati
The reason I am a Reds fan.
Re: On this day 12 years ago, Mariners trade Griffey Jr. to Cincinnati
Quote:
Originally Posted by
KronoRed
I still have the paper from that day.
Good day.
And here I was thinking I was the only one who saved papers like that. I've still got the 4192 paper too. :O)
Re: On this day 12 years ago, Mariners trade Griffey Jr. to Cincinnati
Quote:
Originally Posted by
_Sir_Charles_
And here I was thinking I was the only one who saved papers like that. I've still got the 4192 paper too. :O)
There's at least 3 of us.
Re: On this day 12 years ago, Mariners trade Griffey Jr. to Cincinnati
Quote:
Originally Posted by
savafan
There's at least 3 of us.
Four of us.... and I can't stand Pete.