Mariners players give Ken Griffey Jr.'s No. 24 a special sendoff
Come Sunday, you’ll never see another Seattle Mariners player where Ken Griffey Jr.’s No. 24 ever again. That’s because the franchise has officially retired the number across all levels of their organization.
Not even the hot shot draft pick in rookie ball or the franchise’s next budding superstar will have the power to bring it back. It’s out of the rotation now, only to be seen in the stands and rafters at Safeco Field, and perhaps occasionally atop the Space Needle.
Indeed, parting is such sweet sorrow. Especially for a number with as much meaning to a franchise and a city as Griffey’s No. 24. However, the number did get a pretty cool sendoff on Saturday, as each member of the current Mariners roster sported it during the team’s on-field batting practice.
Batting practice today is the very last time any #Mariners player, at any level, will wear this number. #24EVER pic.twitter.com/2rq6PmWHrn
— #24EVER (@Mariners) August 6, 2016
It was kind of like a going away party that simultaneously tipped its cap to the legend and the legacy the number represents.
Griffey, who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame two weeks ago, put the Mariners on the map. In many ways, he put Seattle on the map as a sports town that could thrive in the great northwest. If any one athlete in any one city deserves the praise and appreciation that has been and will continue to be heaped upon him this weekend, it’s Ken Griffey Jr. in Seattle.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
