1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:12,160 Speaker 1: H m hm hm live all deep left, fio, back 2 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 1: to back, father to and they're on their feet here 3 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:32,920 Speaker 1: at the Big A. How about that? Put another log? Five? 4 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 1: Nobody here is getting time. This is the Firepit hosted 5 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 1: by Matt Ginella. Can you hear me? Mr Ken Griffey Jr. 6 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 1: Go lower left and hit start video. Mr Grippy, This 7 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:05,680 Speaker 1: is Alex, Peggy and Rexcellent my my production team. These 8 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 1: guys have been the backbone of all my travel stories 9 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:10,360 Speaker 1: for the Golf Channel for the last seven years. My 10 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 1: condolences sounds that you understand your pain. Are those gold 11 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 1: Those are literally gold gloves behind you? How many gold gloves? Uh, 12 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 1: there's a total of twelve. I've got ten from from 13 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:36,039 Speaker 1: nineties and and then I have to one was the 14 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 1: one of the best defensive players um for the first 15 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 1: fifty years of rawlins gold gloves and the other one 16 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 1: is uh gold glove for the decade. That's damn good. Okay, 17 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 1: settling stoked the fire because today we're catching up with 18 00:01:56,400 --> 00:02:00,680 Speaker 1: Ken Griffey Jr. He's seventh on the time list of 19 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 1: home run leaders with six hundred and fifty and in 20 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 1: two thousands sixteen he was inducted into Baseball's Hall of 21 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 1: Fame with the highest voting percentage ever. We're talking to 22 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:16,079 Speaker 1: the kid about his father, about being a father, playing 23 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 1: golf with Tiger and his father, and we're revisiting one 24 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 1: of the most memorable moments in the history of fathers 25 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 1: and sons, what's commonly known as quote. We finally did it. 26 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 1: Towards the end of the time I had with Junior, 27 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:34,359 Speaker 1: I asked him what stat he was the most proud of, 28 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:37,919 Speaker 1: which I'll get to in a second. Throughout this story. 29 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 1: For perspective on Griffey Jr. And Senior, fathers and Sons 30 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:46,359 Speaker 1: and the back to back, I called Tom Verducci, Sports 31 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 1: Illustrated senior baseball writer, three time National Sports Writer of 32 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: the Year as well as a studio analyst for Fox 33 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:57,919 Speaker 1: Sports and the MLB Network. Verducci wasn't surprised. Junior told 34 00:02:57,919 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 1: me that he was most proud of twelve of gold 35 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 1: gloves because it meant he was the best at his 36 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 1: position and it was representative of the way he played 37 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 1: the game. One thing you remember about the gold Gloves 38 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:15,120 Speaker 1: to voted on by coaches and managers, so that's not 39 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:18,959 Speaker 1: a popularity contest, and like all start voting. It's not 40 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 1: like even an m v P or a bunch of 41 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:23,360 Speaker 1: writers like me are getting together and looking at stats 42 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:26,640 Speaker 1: and deciding who's the best. These are people with the 43 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:29,919 Speaker 1: knowledge and wisdom of how the game is played and 44 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:32,680 Speaker 1: who does it, the best coaches and the managers. So 45 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 1: you know that resonates a lot with someone like junr 46 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:39,720 Speaker 1: who grew up around the game, understands what baseball who 47 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 1: baseball lifers are all about, what's important. So yeah, I 48 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 1: mean there's an old saying that you know, you never 49 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:48,280 Speaker 1: take your offense out the defense with you because you know, 50 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 1: sometimes you can have a bad day, you go over four, 51 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:51,840 Speaker 1: but you can still win a game. And if I 52 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 1: do something good on defense, And I'm sure Junior lived 53 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 1: that every day. Not that he had too many bad 54 00:03:57,320 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 1: days at the plate, but um, he wasn assistently great 55 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:05,840 Speaker 1: on defense in center field. Absolutely. I interviewed Griffy a 56 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 1: few weeks ago as he helped us tell the story 57 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 1: for episode three of The fire Pit, which was about 58 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 1: Alan Schipnuk at the age of twenty one writing a 59 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 1: cover story for Sports Illustrated. Junior was just twenty four. 60 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 1: We pick it up now where we left off last 61 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 1: week cover a Sports Illustrated. Was that significant to you. 62 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 1: I think the only issue that I really looked at 63 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 1: as a kid was the Swimson issue. Uh. Yeah, I 64 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 1: grew up. I grew up where my dad didn't want 65 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:46,200 Speaker 1: me to really look into sports. Um. He wanted me 66 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:49,919 Speaker 1: to do everything else. Um, you know, and that was 67 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 1: that was part of him. I mean I had a 68 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 1: talent show one year and I imitated that was in 69 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,919 Speaker 1: the fourth grade. I remember this very well. I imitated 70 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:04,480 Speaker 1: every stance from the Cincinnati Rates and I got off 71 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 1: stage and my dad looked at me and said, you 72 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:09,360 Speaker 1: are my son. I want you to be my son. 73 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 1: I don't want you to imitate anybody. You do you? 74 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 1: And from that point on it's stuck. Um. He said, 75 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 1: you're not me. You know you're you, and I want 76 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 1: you to be you. Those names have been taken with 77 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 1: something to see in a very pleasant, good evening, everybody, 78 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 1: This is Davely How find Anaheim Stadium the back to 79 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 1: back home runs by father and son. It may never 80 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:42,960 Speaker 1: be seen again. Three things your father taught you work hard, 81 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 1: be accountable, and don't make excuse slid. Yeah, if you 82 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 1: did it, you did it. One of the great things 83 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:58,839 Speaker 1: about baseball is what the connection between fathers and sons. Right, Traditionally, 84 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:01,240 Speaker 1: it's a game that's been passed on. And I'm not 85 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:03,960 Speaker 1: dissing any moms out there because they played a huge role, 86 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:06,720 Speaker 1: but the tradition of the game has passed on from 87 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 1: father to son playing catch in the backyard. Right, Your 88 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 1: first introduction of team sports traditionally has been baseball. The 89 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 1: dads are out there raking the field, managing the teams. 90 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:21,480 Speaker 1: So that bomb between father and son, I believe his 91 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:25,200 Speaker 1: strongest in baseball. My dad would always ask my mom, 92 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:27,600 Speaker 1: is he really that good? Because he never saw me play? 93 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:29,559 Speaker 1: And then when he did sing me play, always struck 94 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:32,120 Speaker 1: out because I'm trying to hit the ball five ft 95 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 1: uh my first hit with him? Uh watching rookie year, Well, 96 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 1: I just got drafted and instructional league. He's sitting in 97 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 1: an RV and he's always told me, just pretend on 98 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 1: your mom, Just pretend on your mom. And I finally 99 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:53,000 Speaker 1: got a hit and he opens the window up and 100 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 1: he goes now with that so bad and then he 101 00:06:54,600 --> 00:07:01,280 Speaker 1: drives off. Little history made here last night. It's a 102 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:03,680 Speaker 1: big a with father and son going back to back 103 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:05,919 Speaker 1: and with all the emotions that's been racing through you 104 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:08,080 Speaker 1: two guys the last two weeks. It seems like I 105 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 1: couldn't get any better, But last night it did. I 106 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 1: did feel I felt real good. Uh, you know, after 107 00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 1: I hit mine, I was hoping that he got a 108 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 1: good pitch the least, uh, you know, try to drive 109 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 1: it somewhere. And the way the ball was jumping out 110 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 1: of his ballpark, if he got it up in the air, 111 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:24,200 Speaker 1: he had a shot of getting that out of there. 112 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 1: And when he hit it, I said, yeah, that's that's 113 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 1: out of here. I gotta see a guy who hit 114 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 1: in front of me that I look like and just 115 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 1: basically say, here it is. You know, I'll watch him 116 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 1: set up pictures. We talked about, you know, strategies like 117 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 1: if if he got a curveball the first pitch, I 118 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 1: knew I was gonna get a fastball and vice versa. 119 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 1: But they always ate, you know, the thirty eight year 120 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:54,400 Speaker 1: old guy to fastball and you know, and I always 121 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 1: buckled down, but like, I'm not gonna let his son 122 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 1: get a hit. Was like, and I was like, why 123 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 1: y'all so demanding? You know, you let him hit. But 124 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:05,840 Speaker 1: then I also told him I said, for seventeen years, 125 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 1: you protected me. Now I get to protect you because 126 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:10,480 Speaker 1: he's had a second, I had a third. He wasn't 127 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 1: really my dad when we got to the ballpark. He 128 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 1: was my teammate and he was able to separate that. 129 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 1: Now when we got in the car on the way home, 130 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:21,680 Speaker 1: I didn't here he was a dad second when we 131 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 1: got so that made it a lot easier when he 132 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:26,200 Speaker 1: he told me, he said, hey, this is your team. 133 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 1: You know I played in World Series, but this is 134 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 1: the highlight of my career is being able to sit 135 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 1: in the same dugout, were the same uniform and actually 136 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 1: play with my son. Did your dad tell you he 137 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 1: was proud of you a lot? Every now and then? 138 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 1: You know it's a dad thing. You know, they can't 139 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:45,400 Speaker 1: let everything out of the bag all at once. He 140 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:48,080 Speaker 1: just looks at it. You know, you know this is 141 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:50,920 Speaker 1: my son. You know he deserves everything he's got. I 142 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:53,719 Speaker 1: don't need to bother him. And I'm like, uh, we're 143 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:56,200 Speaker 1: going and I have to tell him like we're doing 144 00:08:56,240 --> 00:08:59,439 Speaker 1: these things, and he's like okay, and then he does 145 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 1: him and he's like I had a blast. I'm like, uh, yeah, 146 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 1: you're supposed to the raising me is over. It's time 147 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:13,000 Speaker 1: that you can enjoy father and son moments. He brought 148 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:16,720 Speaker 1: his highlight reel from high school football and he was 149 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 1: so proud of it and my boot two boys and 150 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:20,800 Speaker 1: looking at it like which one are you? Grandpa? And 151 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 1: you know you hear you can still hear the projector 152 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:29,640 Speaker 1: going like that, and he goes, I'm that guy. And 153 00:09:29,679 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 1: then he's like he scored attest and he goes, and 154 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:36,840 Speaker 1: I'm that guy. There, No, you ain't. Let's look at 155 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:39,840 Speaker 1: the swings one more time, junior. I want your description 156 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:45,400 Speaker 1: of your swing quickly, quick look at hand on the ball. 157 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 1: All right, Dad, Mine is just a little quicker, quicker. 158 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:52,920 Speaker 1: I just hit the ball a little further, and you 159 00:09:52,960 --> 00:10:01,040 Speaker 1: know I get out the box a lot quicker. What 160 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:04,480 Speaker 1: I'm not sure I ever realized is that Ken Griffey Sr. 161 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:07,800 Speaker 1: Was a great baseball player and maybe the ultimate teaming 162 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 1: He had an eighteen year career. He finished with a 163 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:15,240 Speaker 1: batting average of two hundred and fifty home runs eight 164 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 1: nine RBIs. He was a three time All Star, and 165 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 1: he won two World Series rings with the Big Red 166 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:26,800 Speaker 1: Machine in five and seventy six. Again we hear from Verducci, 167 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 1: I think of a guy I n him a little 168 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:31,640 Speaker 1: bit when he was playing with the Yankees. A little 169 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 1: bit later on around the Reds. I think he was 170 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:36,720 Speaker 1: coaching for a bit there um. But he always had 171 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:38,200 Speaker 1: a smile on his face. To me, I think he 172 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:40,720 Speaker 1: loved what he did. I thought he had a great perspective. 173 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:43,920 Speaker 1: I never saw him sweat the details. Baseball is a 174 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 1: really really hard game that gives you many reasons to 175 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 1: fight yourself or the opponent. I mean, the success rate 176 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 1: is really low the best players, of course, at about 177 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:55,959 Speaker 1: three hundred. It's a lot of outs. But I never 178 00:10:56,080 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 1: saw Senior like in a down moment like then if 179 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:02,920 Speaker 1: it was a really bad laws or a bad night 180 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 1: for him. I just saw someone who had a complete 181 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:08,640 Speaker 1: joy for the game. Going back to my dad, that's 182 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 1: what he taught me is I didn't know if my 183 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: dad went over full full before. He never brought it 184 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:17,760 Speaker 1: home with them, you know. And I'm trying to teach 185 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:20,840 Speaker 1: these kids, said, hey, it is what it is. You 186 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:22,719 Speaker 1: can learn from it and you can move on and 187 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:26,360 Speaker 1: we can get better. But we're not going to dwell 188 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:30,280 Speaker 1: over a game. And that's the thing that you know, 189 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:32,720 Speaker 1: I try to teach my kids is no matter what 190 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:39,280 Speaker 1: life is, adjustments, baseball's adjustments, football's adjustments, golf sports are 191 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:43,280 Speaker 1: about adjustments. And you can't get frustrated about making those adjustments. 192 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:46,120 Speaker 1: And so we just live by that. Just take too 193 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:47,959 Speaker 1: good with the bad, don't try to get too high, 194 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:54,320 Speaker 1: and don't try to get too low. Griffy Jr. And 195 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:58,479 Speaker 1: his wife Melissa have three kids, Ken Griffy the third, 196 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 1: who goes by Tray. He's twenty six, Teren, his daughter, 197 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 1: is four, and they adopted their son, Tevin, who's eighteen. Well, 198 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:09,559 Speaker 1: I tell my kids all the time, I'm a normal 199 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:13,320 Speaker 1: dad with an abnormal job. That's it. If I didn't 200 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:17,920 Speaker 1: hit a baseball with people really care, no, but I 201 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:21,120 Speaker 1: can hit a baseball. But to you, I am dad 202 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:24,280 Speaker 1: and I always will be dad. And I always tell 203 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:28,080 Speaker 1: my kids, I want to be known as your dad. Hey, 204 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:30,560 Speaker 1: you're traded at your terrent, at your taps dad, not 205 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:34,240 Speaker 1: you know. Hey, you'r King Grafe junior son, your Kingdarfe 206 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 1: junior daughter. I want I wanted to go the other way. 207 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 1: The best thing we can do is keep passing it 208 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:43,120 Speaker 1: on right. Yeah, Well, you know that's one of the 209 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:46,040 Speaker 1: things that over the years you you you have to do, 210 00:12:46,679 --> 00:12:49,679 Speaker 1: you know, I tell my kids, everybody's a genius at something, 211 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:51,600 Speaker 1: it's up to you to find out what it is. 212 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:55,200 Speaker 1: And that's it. So you've got to find out what 213 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:58,000 Speaker 1: you're really good at. And it may not be sports, 214 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 1: but you've got to find it yourself. I can't I 215 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:04,720 Speaker 1: can't want it any more than you. I just want 216 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:10,240 Speaker 1: you to be you experiencing youth. It's always uh an 217 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:13,640 Speaker 1: argument over which is more valuable, the strength of youth 218 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 1: or the experience of the veteran player. Which one came 219 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:23,559 Speaker 1: came through last night jr. Mine? But who went farther mine? 220 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:32,400 Speaker 1: It is still unbelievable. What's the relationship you guys have 221 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 1: as it relates to golf? You and your dad? Have 222 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 1: you been on you? Have you done trips together? Did 223 00:13:37,520 --> 00:13:41,000 Speaker 1: you did you have matches? Are you competitive? Or is 224 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:44,319 Speaker 1: it a hang? I call this g F f F 225 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:49,280 Speaker 1: that stas for Griffy Force Family Fund Um. Usually the 226 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:51,600 Speaker 1: boys in the golf cart with my dad and about 227 00:13:51,880 --> 00:13:55,200 Speaker 1: the whole number four they start ordering food and then 228 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 1: by whole fourteen they're done, and then by then when 229 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:01,840 Speaker 1: we go in to eat at the nineteenth cold, they're 230 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:05,079 Speaker 1: still hungry. So that's usually. My dad plays about eight 231 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:08,680 Speaker 1: holes of golf. At one point he was a tin handicap. 232 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 1: You know, he could move it around. The connection between 233 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:13,560 Speaker 1: father and son, I mean, it's the bond there is 234 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:16,000 Speaker 1: so strong. I think it's a shining light for the 235 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:18,319 Speaker 1: game of baseball because the game does like to promote 236 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:21,480 Speaker 1: that bond. And what's better than the two griffis I mean, 237 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:24,240 Speaker 1: what was about forty years where if you were watching 238 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 1: baseball there was a Griffy playing somewhere on the field somewhere. 239 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 1: It's amazing. I say. The one thing that was a 240 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:32,360 Speaker 1: big highlight for me and him is we got to play, 241 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:36,760 Speaker 1: uh with Tiger and Earl Oh. It was a great day. 242 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:39,320 Speaker 1: I mean, did you play against each other? Did you 243 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:41,240 Speaker 1: guys have a match like it was a father's son 244 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:45,200 Speaker 1: father son? No, No, it was just it was just 245 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:47,640 Speaker 1: us playing golf. And it was one of those days 246 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:49,800 Speaker 1: that you sit there and go that was really cool. 247 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:54,400 Speaker 1: Ile Worth or where it was that hour he actually 248 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 1: taggled with like he was like, Uh, where's your dad, 249 00:14:56,800 --> 00:15:00,840 Speaker 1: I'd go He's right down the street. What Pops is playing? 250 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:02,960 Speaker 1: You want to play? See if you play? My dad? 251 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:05,560 Speaker 1: Say yeah, hey, come over and playing. It was one 252 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 1: of those days that it couldn't have been any better. 253 00:15:08,560 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 1: The weather wasn't hot, wasn't humid, and I was you 254 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:18,480 Speaker 1: can still hear Earl teaching as we're playing. Wow. Did 255 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:22,800 Speaker 1: you ever help Tiger sort of h with the stardom 256 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:27,280 Speaker 1: and the fame and the pressure that he must have 257 00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 1: felt at some point? The only thing I told him 258 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:34,240 Speaker 1: to do that was to go see Michael. Um. Michael 259 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:36,560 Speaker 1: at that time was the biggest star on the planet. 260 00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:39,760 Speaker 1: And I said, you know, as a baseball player, I 261 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:41,960 Speaker 1: got a uniform, I got a hat. I can hide 262 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 1: during street clothes you can't hide. Being that we were 263 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:49,040 Speaker 1: all Nike guys, they were able to reach out to 264 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:53,800 Speaker 1: m J and that's how they met. Have you played 265 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:57,160 Speaker 1: any more golf with Tiger over the years? You know? Uh? Yeah, 266 00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 1: I haven't seen him in a couple of years. But yeah, 267 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:07,400 Speaker 1: you know, I think he didged me right now. It's 268 00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:12,160 Speaker 1: a certain certain things now, you know, Um, when he 269 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:14,720 Speaker 1: moved from al Worth to Jupiter, you know, I get 270 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 1: to see him every now and then. But uh no, 271 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:20,920 Speaker 1: but he dodged, he died. I meant to set up 272 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:27,200 Speaker 1: a friendly game, which leads us to the game. It 273 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 1: was September four, a fall Friday evening at Anaheim Stadium. 274 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:36,520 Speaker 1: Top of the first inning. Harold Reynolds, who let off 275 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:38,680 Speaker 1: for the Mariners, had drawn a walk and was on 276 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:42,720 Speaker 1: first base. Ken Griffey Sr. Was at the play. Junior 277 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:47,560 Speaker 1: was waiting on deck. By ball, slice the fairly deep 278 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:49,800 Speaker 1: left center field, deep all white, back in the track 279 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:52,120 Speaker 1: the wall, and makes the leap at me. The old 280 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:57,120 Speaker 1: man has done it one more time. Fly away. Yeah, 281 00:16:57,320 --> 00:16:59,880 Speaker 1: three yard pitchers had deep in the left center field 282 00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:02,720 Speaker 1: and the shop. We'll look up and bother it. Son 283 00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:06,959 Speaker 1: up hit back to back. Oh god, my, oh my, 284 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:14,359 Speaker 1: it's that in your baseball history book. Not to be 285 00:17:14,520 --> 00:17:20,120 Speaker 1: I'm done, says Junior. He's twenty if of a year. 286 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:26,840 Speaker 1: Junior can also hit a fast ball. This brings away 287 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 1: and he shows a little more strength. He hits it 288 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:31,760 Speaker 1: to the opposite field and yet goes back. But you 289 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:36,920 Speaker 1: can see that's well over the left field wall. Well, 290 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:39,680 Speaker 1: that brought Marcel Lachman, the pitching coach for the Angels, 291 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:47,760 Speaker 1: out in a quick hurry. They say it was measured 292 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:52,119 Speaker 1: at three hundred eighty eight feet and there's the the 293 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:54,159 Speaker 1: smile of a proud dad but he's still got to 294 00:17:54,200 --> 00:18:03,119 Speaker 1: get on him a little break. The biggest moment is 295 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:06,880 Speaker 1: back to back. But I didn't realize that until I 296 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:09,840 Speaker 1: was thirty eight years old and I started passing these 297 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:13,560 Speaker 1: guys on the home run chart and I got to 298 00:18:13,640 --> 00:18:18,479 Speaker 1: Frank Robinson. I remember um, and I passed him and 299 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:20,600 Speaker 1: I'm touching home plate and all I could think of 300 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:24,400 Speaker 1: was my dad sitting in a dugout after we went 301 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:27,920 Speaker 1: back to back home runs because he understood the place 302 00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:33,199 Speaker 1: in history. I'm twenty, not understanding a damn thing. Other then, Uh, 303 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:35,600 Speaker 1: we got a game to play, and he's over there, like, hey, 304 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:36,879 Speaker 1: you know we just did. I was like, yeah, we 305 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:38,520 Speaker 1: went back to back, and I'm like focused him to 306 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:40,560 Speaker 1: the game. He's over there, like, you know, we just 307 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:42,240 Speaker 1: went back to back and he's like trying to talk 308 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:43,360 Speaker 1: to me, and I'm like, I want here and I'm 309 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:47,520 Speaker 1: focused on the game. And I didn't realize that. So 310 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:49,560 Speaker 1: after the game, I called him. I said, now I understand. 311 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:52,840 Speaker 1: He goes, well, you know, I was thirty eight when 312 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:55,080 Speaker 1: it happened, and now you're thirty eight when, and so 313 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:58,960 Speaker 1: you can understand what do you remember? What did he 314 00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:03,600 Speaker 1: had at? What did you get out. We both hit fastballs. Um, 315 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:05,960 Speaker 1: he hit his straight away center. He's rounding the basis. 316 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:08,200 Speaker 1: I'm walking up and he shakes my hand. He goes, 317 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:11,200 Speaker 1: that's how you do his son, and I gave me 318 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:13,359 Speaker 1: that look like I can't believe you just did that, 319 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:19,960 Speaker 1: and um my account was three oh, and they gave 320 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:23,080 Speaker 1: me the green light to swing and I actually fastball away. 321 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:25,680 Speaker 1: I hit it out and I ran around. I couldn't 322 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:29,239 Speaker 1: wait to get the dug out. I couldn't wait, and 323 00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:32,040 Speaker 1: he made me shake everybody's hand before he shook mine, 324 00:19:33,280 --> 00:19:35,040 Speaker 1: and then we sat down next to each other, and 325 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:36,919 Speaker 1: that's when you'll see us in the dug out. That's 326 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:38,639 Speaker 1: when we started laughing because he was like, you know 327 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:40,560 Speaker 1: what you can did it? I was like yeah. He 328 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:42,680 Speaker 1: was like we went back and back. I'm like yeah, 329 00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:46,760 Speaker 1: He's like you could laugh and he elbowed me. Listen 330 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:49,119 Speaker 1: if I wrote that story and presented it to some 331 00:19:49,240 --> 00:19:52,200 Speaker 1: movie studio, but I got this great idea, like, get 332 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:53,919 Speaker 1: out of here. We don't want to hear it. Nobody's 333 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:56,840 Speaker 1: gonna buy that. Wait a second. The dad and his sons, 334 00:19:56,880 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 1: the youngest player in the league at twenty, and they're 335 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:02,119 Speaker 1: gonna go back to not in the backyard or in 336 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:06,760 Speaker 1: a whiffleball game, big leagues. It's crazy. I still I 337 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:10,720 Speaker 1: think it's one of the more underappreciated achievements because, let's 338 00:20:10,760 --> 00:20:15,240 Speaker 1: face it, we're never seeing that again. Who was? Do 339 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:19,679 Speaker 1: you remember who the picture was? Oh? Yeah, I do, 340 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:25,439 Speaker 1: but no, no, no, because everybody asked you, who's your 341 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:27,920 Speaker 1: first one? And I was like Eric King, and nobody 342 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:33,080 Speaker 1: asked me, was it Grand Office? I don't remember. Fourteen 343 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:36,560 Speaker 1: pitchers gave up home runs to both Griffy Senior and junior, 344 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:42,359 Speaker 1: a list that includes Dennis Eckersley, Oral Hersheiser, Jack Morris, 345 00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:47,160 Speaker 1: and Rick Sutliffe, but only one gave up back to back. 346 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:50,560 Speaker 1: We had a lead on Kirk McCaskill, but he didn't 347 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:54,639 Speaker 1: make himself available for this podcast. McCaskill, who was a 348 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:57,840 Speaker 1: fourth round draft pick by the NHLs Winnipeg Jets, played 349 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:00,840 Speaker 1: professional baseball for twelve years for the Angels and the 350 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 1: White Sox. He won over a hundred games. He's in 351 00:21:03,840 --> 00:21:06,880 Speaker 1: the Canadian Baseball's Hall of Fame, and he was most 352 00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:10,040 Speaker 1: recently the varsity baseball coach at Torrey Pines High in 353 00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:16,040 Speaker 1: San Diego. Some of the worst mistakes a picture can make, 354 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:18,280 Speaker 1: or if you've got a better O and two right, 355 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:20,760 Speaker 1: you should put him away. He gives him a home 356 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:24,320 Speaker 1: run the senior at oh and two. The other mistake 357 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:27,359 Speaker 1: you should never make is three and oh and assuming 358 00:21:27,640 --> 00:21:29,680 Speaker 1: the dude at the play, it is not going to swings. 359 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:32,880 Speaker 1: Now it's three and oh on Junior. You know, you know, 360 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:35,400 Speaker 1: as soon as his father hit the home run, what's 361 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:38,520 Speaker 1: in his mind whether it was oh or three too? 362 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:41,840 Speaker 1: In this case three oh. He's not letting a cookie pass, 363 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:44,760 Speaker 1: so he jumped all over that. So in some ways 364 00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:47,679 Speaker 1: I feel bad for McCaskill. O two, three oh, he 365 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:51,080 Speaker 1: gives up two bombs. Um. But listen, that's a pretty 366 00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:55,040 Speaker 1: cool thing to be connected to. I shocking to me. 367 00:21:55,080 --> 00:21:57,879 Speaker 1: When I asked, Junior, do you remember the picture? He 368 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:03,439 Speaker 1: was like, no, I don't. He remembered the pitches. He 369 00:22:03,520 --> 00:22:06,399 Speaker 1: knew they were both bastballs, He knew his count, and 370 00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:08,720 Speaker 1: he knew that he got the green light. He knew 371 00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:11,000 Speaker 1: that they lost the game, that Dave Winfield also hit 372 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:14,879 Speaker 1: two home runs that game, and that that pissed him off. Uh, 373 00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:17,919 Speaker 1: but he didn't remember the pictures. That doesn't surprise me 374 00:22:18,040 --> 00:22:20,320 Speaker 1: because I don't know what year it was, it was 375 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:22,280 Speaker 1: he was early in his career. I did a story 376 00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:25,160 Speaker 1: on Junior and part of it they came to Yankee Stadium. 377 00:22:25,160 --> 00:22:28,440 Speaker 1: I've covered the Mariners through a series against the Yankees, 378 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:31,760 Speaker 1: and I think the cover was the natural something along 379 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:34,120 Speaker 1: those lines. He made an amazing one of the best 380 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:36,280 Speaker 1: catchers I've ever seen in that series. Kind of whole 381 00:22:36,320 --> 00:22:38,840 Speaker 1: home for him. But he did all the time. But 382 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:42,280 Speaker 1: I remember teammates telling me, like before a game and 383 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:44,359 Speaker 1: he again he hadn't seen a lot of the league 384 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:46,240 Speaker 1: yet in the league hadn't seen a lot of him. 385 00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:48,080 Speaker 1: He didn't ask a lot of questions about who was 386 00:22:48,119 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 1: pitching that night. In fact, there was one game where 387 00:22:50,040 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 1: I think Burke bly Levin was the pitcher for the Twins, 388 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 1: and somebody said, he said, who was pitching tonight? Somebody 389 00:22:56,040 --> 00:22:58,640 Speaker 1: goes Blin Levin and he said, is he the right 390 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:01,320 Speaker 1: he or a lefty dude? A Hall of famer going 391 00:23:01,359 --> 00:23:03,800 Speaker 1: to the Hall of Fame. But that was Junior. It's like, 392 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:06,360 Speaker 1: just tell me what time the game is, I'm good 393 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:11,960 Speaker 1: to go. Well. That's a lot of talk about fathers 394 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:16,040 Speaker 1: and sons, specifically this father and son, but it's certainly 395 00:23:16,040 --> 00:23:20,399 Speaker 1: worth mentioning that Griffy's mom, Alberta, deserves some credit for 396 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:24,719 Speaker 1: raising the kid. Well, I will tell you this, my 397 00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:29,520 Speaker 1: mom was a lot tougher than my dad. Um, you know, 398 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:34,119 Speaker 1: because she's there. And I was twelve years old and 399 00:23:34,160 --> 00:23:36,880 Speaker 1: I had a lady heckling me in the stance I'm twelve, 400 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:39,199 Speaker 1: You're not as good as your daddy, You suck your 401 00:23:39,280 --> 00:23:43,679 Speaker 1: daddy's And she was just going off on me, and 402 00:23:43,720 --> 00:23:48,119 Speaker 1: I worked. I walked the first two batters, and she 403 00:23:48,320 --> 00:23:52,000 Speaker 1: decided she wanted to just go after me. My mom 404 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:55,800 Speaker 1: stood up and said, hit the next batter. So I 405 00:23:55,880 --> 00:24:00,600 Speaker 1: drilled him, and my mom stood up that the lady 406 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:02,560 Speaker 1: again and said, look, I have hit the next one 407 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:15,120 Speaker 1: if you shut up. Do we call this podcast? It's 408 00:24:15,160 --> 00:24:19,000 Speaker 1: called the fire Pit because this is where people who 409 00:24:19,080 --> 00:24:22,680 Speaker 1: get together and tell good stories, listen to good stories, 410 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:26,520 Speaker 1: reflect on the day or the trip. You have a 411 00:24:26,560 --> 00:24:40,360 Speaker 1: favorite fire pit? No, No, we're Florida. It's hot everywhere. Hi. 412 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:44,320 Speaker 1: I'm Matt Janella, your host of the fire Pit. As 413 00:24:44,320 --> 00:24:47,240 Speaker 1: a listener to this podcast, my friends John Ashworth and 414 00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:51,120 Speaker 1: Jeff Cunningham at Link Soul in Oceanside California are offering 415 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:55,040 Speaker 1: you a discount on all future orders of what I 416 00:24:55,119 --> 00:24:59,639 Speaker 1: consider the best golf and lifestyle apparel. Whenever you go 417 00:24:59,720 --> 00:25:04,359 Speaker 1: to link soul dot com use promo code Matty. In 418 00:25:04,440 --> 00:25:08,800 Speaker 1: the meantime, make part not war, and stay safe out there. 419 00:25:13,119 --> 00:25:16,239 Speaker 1: This podcast is produced by alex u Peggy, edited by 420 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:20,080 Speaker 1: Rex Lint. Theme song by Joe Horowitz. Please rate and 421 00:25:20,119 --> 00:25:22,560 Speaker 1: review on Apple Podcasts and you might find your review 422 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:26,119 Speaker 1: featured in a future episode. Got a question, comment, or 423 00:25:26,160 --> 00:25:28,120 Speaker 1: a story for us to track down. You can find 424 00:25:28,119 --> 00:25:31,000 Speaker 1: me on Twitter at Matt Janella or on Instagram at 425 00:25:31,040 --> 00:25:35,200 Speaker 1: Matt Underscore Danilla. And if you haven't already, please subscribe 426 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:38,000 Speaker 1: to the fire Pit on iTunes, Spotify, Restitcher