The Kid bids farewell at age 40

Associated Press

SEATTLE

The Kid has called it quits. Just the way Ken Griffey Jr. wanted, there will be no farewell tour for one of the greatest players in baseball history. Instead, Griffey simply informed the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night his career was over.

The 40-year-old Griffey unexpectedly announced his retirement before Seattle’s game against Minnesota after 22 seasons, 13 all-star appearances and widespread acclaim.

Stuck in a limited role as a backup designated hitter and spot pinch-hitter, Griffey called Mariners’ team president Chuck Armstrong and said he was done. Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu called his players together before the start of batting practice to inform them of Griffey’s decision.

“While I feel I am still able to make a contribution on the field and nobody in the Mariners front office has asked me to retire, I told the Mariners when I met with them prior to the 2009 season and was invited back that I will never allow myself to become a distraction,” Griffey said in a statement.

“I feel that without enough occasional starts to be sharper coming off the bench, my continued presence as a player would be an unfair distraction to my teammates and their success as a team is what the ultimate goal should be,” he said.

Griffey was not in the clubhouse before the game, and the team said he would not be at Safeco Field.

Griffey was hitting only .184 with no homers and seven RBIs this year and recently went a week without playing.