Throughout this most recent decade the game of baseball has been all but ruined.
Since the Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa home run chase, the game of baseball has took a left turn and hasn't slowed down since.
In fact, many have completely lost their love for the game because of one word.
This one word has changed not only baseball, but the entire sports world.
Steroids.
A word that has torn apart the meaning of baseball, and has caused many to forget those who came before us who did it the right way.
Roger Marris, Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth, the list goes on and on.
Now when I make a list of the best players in last decade my list consists of Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Roger Clemens, and many more.
The majority of my list consists of cheaters.
Ones who needed an edge.
Ones who would take an extra five million dollars over their livelihood.
This article is a tribute to an athlete "who would prefer to even to fail with honor than to win by cheating"—Sophocles
Enter Ken Griffey Jr.
Son of the great Ken Griffey Sr, young Griffey was put under the spot light since the day he tried on his first glove.
Being the son of a professional athlete isn't all it's cut out to be.
Just ask Ken Griffey Jr.
At the age of 18, Junior tried ending his life, swallowing over 200 pills of aspirin.
Yes over 200.
The pressure seemed to be too much, but his attempt failed as he lives to speaks about it.
"It seemed like everyone was yelling at me in baseball, then I came home and everyone was yelling at me there," "I got depressed, I got angry, I didn't want to live."
If Ken Griffey Jr had not made it past that day in 1988 we would be missing one of the greatest baseball players ever.
No, that is not an understatement.
After being drafted first overall in the 1987 draft, Griffey Jr had a stellar beginning to his career, posting a batting average of over .300 in five out of his first six MLB seasons.
In 1993 he posted 45 home runs, and in 1994 he jacked 40.
In 1995, due to a number of injuries, Griffey Jr found himself on the outside looking in.
He went on to only play in 72 games that season.
Following a disappointing season, Griffey Jr went on to post four of his best seasons, which were later found to be his last four seasons in Seattle.
Griffey Jr posted 48-plus home runs in his final four seasons in Seattle, including a career-high 56 in 1997 and 1998.
Griffey also knocked in over 130 runs in all four seasons and a career-high 147 RBI in 1997.
In 2000, Griffey was traded to Cincinnati where his career began heading downhill.
Since leaving Seattle, Griffey Jr has never been himself. Injuries have caused this all-time great to be sidelined unwillingly.
Despite a numerous amount of injuries, Griffey continues to play the game he loves the right way.
Steroid free
No one knows how much time Ken Griffey Jr has left.
But I do know this, he's saved the game. He's one of the best ever and that's unarguable.
Here's a tribute to a future Hall-of-Famer, Ken Griffey Jr.
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