Griffey’s 600th HR should have been in Seattle

Not minutes after it was reported that Ken Griffey, Jr. swatted his 600th home run, the “what ifs” began to ring out from Mariners fandom.

What if Griffey had played his entire career in Seattle? Would he be wearing a World Series ring? Who knows? If nothing else, it’s a fun conversation to have.

The question that has a more concrete answer is this: Should Griffey have hit his 600th home run as a Seattle Mariner. The answer is a resounding, “yes.”

Griffey pouted and whined his away into a forced trade to Cincinnati after the 1999 season. What set the wheels in motion for the tantrum wasn't the construction of Safeco Field and a perceived out of reach right field porch.

It was a front office lead by Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln that decided there would be no “star” player egos on this squad. An impossible requirement in professional sports. It was going to be all about team, Cracker Jacks and boat races at Safeco Field. The only star player ego in this Mariners organization would belong to Lincoln.

So, Griffey hit is 600th in Miami as a Cincinnati Red. He may comeback to play a game or two to end his career. Or just sign a ceremonial contract and retire the next day.

There are lots of questions that can be asked about Junior’s career. Most of them don’t have an answer except for which uniform he should have been wearing yesterday.