It’s tough to go out on top when you’re a major sports star, whether it be actually winning a championship or choosing to retire when you’re still playing at a high level.
In terms of winning the top prize, just ask the likes of Dan Marino and Karl Malone, both of whom played for many years without reaching the pinnacle of their professions.
As for retiring, many athletes struggle with the decision of when to step aside. As the saying goes, "You’re a long time retired."
If the athlete in question is still playing well, it makes it that little bit harder to stop doing something that you love, no matter how old you are.
The only players that immediately spring to mind as leaving on their own terms with a championship in tow are John Elway, Michael Strahan, and Michael Jordan (at least the second time he retired).
The reason for bringing this up is because it now looks like Ken Griffey Jr. may have an opportunity to join this exalted company, given the recent moves being made by the Seattle Mariners.
Of course, Griffey himself isn’t quite the player he was 10 years ago, but he has still been a welcome addition to the club, contributing through his impact on team camaraderie. That isn’t to say he can’t still produce on the field; lest anyone forgets, "The Kid" managed to lead the Mariners in walks during 2009.
It’s no secret that the Mariners locker room was divided in 2008, but the return of Griffey put an end to this. You only have to look at the way the players interacted with each other as they thanked the fans after the final home game of 2009.
This newfound harmony has led to a domino effect, not least with the M's recording the biggest improvement in MLB between 2008 and 2009, jumping from 61 wins to 85.
In turn, Seattle has suddenly become a more desirable destination for players, as proved by the recent addition of Chone Figgins, giving the team an excellent one-two punch at the top of the batting order with a certain Ichiro Suzuki.
Talking of one-two punches, the Emerald City now also has arguably the top pitching combo in the majors after the almost surreal acquisition of Cliff Lee from Philadelphia to join Felix Hernandez at Safeco Field.
Ever since Jack Zduriencik and Don Wakamatsu have joined the club, everything they’ve touched seems to have turned to gold. Save for a bit more power in the batting lineup (and you wouldn’t put it past Zduriencik to sort this out sooner rather than later), the team appears primed to make a run at the playoffs and their first ever World Series.
All of this activity must be putting a big smile on the face of Griffey. Certainly, there aren’t many players in the history of the game more deserving of the chance to go out on top.
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