Mods please don't consolodate this into the Griffey retirement thread...
I was as bad as anyone for criticizing and blaming Griffey for the Reds misery last decade...however after his trade and retirement I began to realize how lucky we were to have one of the greatest players of all time to play for so long in our great baseball city.
Anyway to the point, I was thinking about my favorite Griffey moments as a Red. I would like to hear everyone else's. Please remember these may not be his best moment but they are MY favorite moments.
1. The trade February 2000-Just coming off 96 wins you began to think this was a new Reds dynasty in the making. Doesn't hurt to mention former MVP Bichette had been traded to the Reds as well. I remember calling my dad when the trade was made offical and I said "Order us World Series tickets, we just got Ken Griffey, Jr.!" I still have my offical KGJ jersey that I bought at the Barboursville Mall in Huntington, WV, 2 sizes too big cause they had sold out of all others. But I didn't care I really wanted one.
2. May 11, 2006-Remember how great it was to be a Reds fan until around July 1 or so that year? Well for me the first 3 months of the season were great. My daughter was born on May 2 the same day Javier Valentine hit a walkoff single to beat the Cardinals. I was watching the game in the delievery room with my wife and after the hit I said ok honey you can have her now! The next week my cousin and I were watching TV, I was watching the Reds/Nationals game, he was watching Pantera's BTM. He told me to let him know who won the game. Griffey had been injured and made his return that night to hit a walk off pinch hit 3 run home run in extra innings to cap a come from behind victory. I noncholantly walk into the next room, he asked what happened and I said ah not much Griffey just hit a walk off homerun to win the game!
3. 2007 All Star Game-The only game in which Griffey started the ASG as a Red. It seemed that it was a long time coming to see him announced as a starter in the game. Granted he also made it in 2000 and 2004 but did not play. Oh yeah he also went 2-2 with 2 RBIs in the 07 ASG.
4. August 2000 vs. Braves-on this particular night PEte Harnisch and Tom Glavine faced each other. The Reds came out on top, something like 10-5. Griffey had a dinger and so did Harnisch!
5. May 8, 2004 vs. Giants-Griffey vs. Bonds, Griffey had 2 HRs, Larkin had one, Reds won 5-3.
Those are my favorites, what about yours?