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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Griffey joins the club


Cincinnati outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. and St. Louis catcher Mike Matheny watch the flight of Junior's career home run No. 500, a solo shot in the sixth inning on Sunday in St. Louis. 
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
R.B. Fallstrom Associated Press

ST. LOUIS – Ken Griffey Jr. trotted around the bases as if it were just another home run. It was anything but that.

Griffey hit a 2-2 fastball from Matt Morris into the right-field stands to lead off the sixth inning Sunday, securing a spot in the record books as the 20th player with 500 homers.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d ever accomplish this,” Griffey said. “All the aches and pains I’ve had this year were gone for like two minutes. It was awesome.”

The star center fielder ended a frustrating stretch with the swing, which helped the Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-0. At 34, he became the sixth-youngest player to reach the milestone.

Griffey, stuck on No. 499 for a week, took a few extra seconds to watch his drive fly into the seats, then dropped his bat and slowly trotted around the bases with his 19th homer of the season.

All of his teammates came out on the field to congratulate him after the historic homer.

“I just told him, ‘About time,’ ” Barry Larkin said. “That’s all.”

Griffey then went to a box next to the Reds’ dugout and hugged his father, Ken Griffey, and children. The elder Griffey said Junior told him, simply, “Happy Father’s Day.”

Ken Griffey Sr. said, though, that his son won’t get off that easily.

“It was a nice Father’s Day present, but it’s an easy way to get out of giving me something,” Griffey Sr. said. “He used to do that for me for my birthday all the time.

“He’s got to get something else now.”

Griffey Jr. jokingly said he gets his dad the same thing every Father’s Day. “Old Spice and underwear,” he said.

The ball was caught by 19-year-old Mark Crummley of Mount Carmel, Ill., who gave it back to Griffey after the game. Griffey gave Crummley the jersey off his back and a large shopping bag filled with other memorabilia that included a signed bat from Sean Casey.

“It didn’t seem right to plea bargain,” Crummley said. “So I gave it back to him.”

Griffey, the first to reach 500 in a Cincinnati uniform, got a warm ovation from a sellout crowd of 45,620 on Lou Brock bobblehead day. He then received a standing ovation as he ran out to the field before the bottom of the sixth, responding with a wave of his cap.

Jung Keun Bong (1-1) allowed three hits in six scoreless innings and three relievers finished a combined four-hit shutout to end the Reds’ nine-game road losing streak.

The Reds, who got a three-run homer from Jason LaRue in the fourth, also averted a three-game sweep and ended the Cardinals’ six-game winning streak.

Jimmie Foxx was the youngest player to hit 500 homers, reaching the milestone at 32. Willie Mays, Sammy Sosa, Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth also hit theirs at 34.

Griffey was the fastest to 350, 400 and 450 before being slowed by injuries the last three seasons.

Three other active players have hit 500 homers. Barry Bonds is third on the career list with 676, Sosa has 549 and Rafael Palmeiro has 538. Fred McGriff needs seven homers to become the 21st player to hit 500.

Griffey is the second player to hit his 500th homer in St. Louis. Mark McGwire connected for his 500th off Andy Ashby of the San Diego Padres in 1999.