Ken Griffey Jr., known as "Junior" and "the Kid," had a hard act to follow when he joined the Seattle Mariners as a 19-year-old rookie. His dad, Ken Sr., was an all-star outfielder who had played on two World Series championship teams. In his first six seasons, however, "Junior" showed the kind of ability that might make him one of the best players of all time by the end of his career. In 1997 Griffey earned the most important individual single-season award in baseball when he was named the American League Most Valuable Player after hitting 56 home runs. In addition to his great talent, Griffey plays baseball with a love that he has carried with him since he was a kid watching his dad play.

George Kenneth Griffey Jr. was born November 21, 1969, in Donora, Pennsylvania. The year Griffey was born, his dad, Ken Griffey Sr., signed a contract to...