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Despite ovation in Cincy for homer No. 600, Griffey says injuries have prevented fans from fully embracing him.
GRIFFEY HITS NO. 600: Hal's blog | Photos | Griffey quiz | More Griffey
COMMENT: How many homers will Junior hit before he retires?
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
CINCINNATI — Ken Griffey Jr. received as warm a reception as he could expect on the road after ripping his 600th home run while facing the Florida Marlins on Monday, June 9, but Reds teammate Adam Dunn felt the sedate setting took some of the luster away from the milestone.
"It wasn't how I pictured it, like with a packed house and an elongated celebration — because I think that's what it deserved," Dunn said.
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"It was kind of like he hit it at Ed Smith Stadium in a (Class A) Florida State League game. I'm not downplaying the achievement, I'm downplaying the (lack of) hoopla."
But Griffey was treated to thunderous applause from a crowd of 34,234 when the Reds returned home Tuesday against the Cardinals, getting one lengthy standing ovation and making a curtain call before the Reds batted in the first inning and enjoying another during his first trip to the plate.
The club commemorated the event by draping a 54-foot banner of the slugger outside Great American Ball Park. A formal celebration will be held before the Reds-Dodgers game June 17.
Despite his accomplishments, though, Griffey knows he'll never be fully embraced by Reds fans. Ironically, Pete Rose, Cincinnati's favorite son, attended the game, and the cheer he received when introduced was almost equal to Griffey's.
"It's a love-hate relationship here, and I understand that," said Griffey, who went 0-for-3 with a walk. "I just go out there and play as hard as I can. The only thing I haven't been able to do in this town is stay as healthy as I would like. That's the bottom line.
"I don't really worry about it. I go out there and try to play as hard as I can for the 24 guys in the locker room, and people can say what they want and write what they want."
Griffey is one of only six players to hit 600 homers and one of just four to have 300 with one team and 200 with another (398 in Seattle and 202 in Cincinnati). And the slugger has more All-Star votes than anybody in history — 44 million and counting.
And Dunn is chagrined that Griffey's latest achievement won't be fully appreciated.
"It's like Bill Gates' money. You can't fathom how much money that is, right? It's the same with 600 home runs. It's a pretty awesome number," Dunn said.
"If it would have happened 20 or 30 years ago, someone would be knocking on his door to do a movie about it. Now, you hear about it today, and that's it."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or
at dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com
