Mariners' Legend Ken Griffey Jr. Releases Heartfelt Statement on Death of Willie Mays

Baseball legend Willie Mays died on Tuesday at the age of 93. One of the best players who ever lived, he made 24 All-Star Games and was a two-time MVP. In the hours after his passing, Seattle Mariners' legend Ken Griffey Jr. released a heartfelt statement.

Seattle Mariners former outfielder Ken Griffey Jr addresses the Seattle Mariners team in the dugout during an induction ceremony into the Seattle Mariners hall of fame before the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Milwaukee Brewers at Safeco Field in 2013. / Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports

Seattle Mariners' legend and National Baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. released a thoughtful and powerful statement on Tuesday night in the wake of passing of Hall of Famer Willie Mays. Mays died on Tuesday afternoon at the age of 93.

Longtime Mariners' reporter Larry Stone shared the statement on social media:

"I'm at a loss for words. I'm devastated. Heartbroken. Numb. I've been lucky enough to know Willie since I was a little kid. And my appreciation only grew over time. From the stories, the videos and then meeting him. He was a true giant off and on the field. A person I looked up to and respected. A friend. And someone I could call when I needed to talk who always had time for me, and my best interests in mind. I considered him an uncle, and, to me, he'll always be the Godfather of all center fielders."

The Mariners just released this statement from Ken Griffey Jr. on Willie Mays. Heartfelt and eloquent. pic.twitter.com/8XMAPFrzxV

— Larry Stone (@StoneLarry) June 19, 2024

Mays is considered by many to be the greatest player who ever lived but in the 1990s, the comparisons between Mays and Griffey Jr. were easy to see. Both were elite centerfielders, both had an elite power and speed combo, and both wore No. 24. Griffey is considered by some to be the best defensive centerfielder to ever play, so his admission that Mays is the "Godfather" of the position is noteable for sure.

Mays spent 23 years in professional baseball, playing 22 in the major leagues and one in the Negro Leagues. He was a two-time MVP, a 24-time All-star, a 12-time Gold Glover, a Rookie of the Year and a batting champion. He also helped the Giants' franchise win the 1954 World Series.

Now that major league and Negro Leagues statistics have been combined, he has 3,293 career hits and a lifetime .301 batting average. He hit 660 career home runs. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

As for Griffey, he spent 22 years in the majors with the Mariners, Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox. He hit 630 career homers, which is fewer than Mays (660). He was also a 13-time All-Star, a 10-time Gold Glover, a seven-time Silver Slugger and an MVP winner. Injuries sapped him of adding to those totals.

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