Ken Griffey Sr. had a long and productive major league baseball career playing for the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves from 1973 to 1991. While he never achieved the superstar status of his son, Ken Griffey Jr., Griffey Sr. established himself as a reliable and talented player who had many accomplishments over his 19 seasons. He is also well remembered by baseball card collectors for the many cards produced featuring his likeness throughout his playing days.
Griffey Sr. was born in 1950 in Donora, Pennsylvania and grew up in the same town as his son, Ken Griffey Jr. He was drafted by the Reds in the 5th round of the 1969 MLB draft and made his major league debut with Cincinnati in 1973. One of Griffey Sr.’s earliest baseball cards comes from his rookie season with the Reds in 1973. Sporting his distinctive afro hairstyle, the 1973 Topps #189 Ken Griffey card captured Griffey Sr. at the beginning of what would be a long career. While not one of the higher valued rookie cards on the market today, the 1973 Griffey is still a desirable piece for any Reds or Griffey collection.
Over his first several seasons with the Reds, Griffey Sr. established himself as a solid outfielder and hitter. He appeared regularly in Topps sets in the mid-1970s, including the 1975 Topps #185 and 1977 Topps #220 cards. Griffey developed a reputation for his speed and defensive abilities, winning a Gold Glove award in 1979. That season is also represented by the 1979 Topps #218 card, showing Griffey catching a fly ball against the outfield wall. Griffey Sr.’s defensive skills and baserunning made him a valuable asset for the Reds throughout the 1970s.
The early 1980s brought some career-defining seasons for Griffey Sr. with Cincinnati. In 1980, he hit a career-high .336 batting average and appeared on the 1980 Topps #242 card. This card highlights Griffey’s breakout season at the plate. He followed that up with another strong campaign in 1981, hitting .301 with career highs in home runs (22) and RBI (82). Griffey’s success is documented on the 1981 Topps #264 card. This card from the height of his Reds career is among the more desirable Griffey issues for collectors.
After 13 seasons with Cincinnati, Griffey Sr. was traded midway through the 1986 season to the Atlanta Braves. This transition is notable to baseball card collectors as it marked Griffey’s first card appearance in a Braves uniform. The 1986 Topps Traded #48T card captured Griffey adjusting to his new club. He continued producing at the plate for Atlanta over the next few seasons, appearing in 1987 Topps #305, 1988 Fleer #468, and 1989 Topps #80 cards as a reliable veteran for the Braves outfield.
Griffey Sr. played six seasons for Atlanta from 1986-1991 before retiring at the age of 41. Over his 19-year career, he compiled a .296 batting average with 153 home runs and 861 RBI. He was a .300 hitter four times and finished within the top 20 in MVP voting twice. Griffey also racked up over 1,800 career hits and 500 doubles. While never achieving the superstardom of his son, Griffey Sr. had a long, consistent career that established him as one of the best players of his generation.
After retiring from playing, Griffey Sr. spent over a decade as a hitting coach in the majors. He helped develop young hitters on staffs with the Mariners, Reds, and White Sox. Griffey Sr. was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 2016 in recognition of his accomplishments during 13 seasons with the franchise. To this day, Griffey remains one of the most popular and iconic players in Reds history.
The baseball career of Ken Griffey Sr. is well documented through the many baseball cards produced during his playing days in the 1970s, 80s and early 90s. Cards like his 1973 rookie, 1980 and 1981 Topps highlights, and 1986 Braves debut are some of the most significant Griffey issues that resonate with collectors today. While not in the same card value stratosphere as some of the stars from that era, Griffey Sr.’s cards remain a staple of any vintage collection focusing on the Big Red Machine era of the Reds or Griffey’s overall career. They serve as a reminder of a reliable, consistent player who had a memorable nearly two decades in the major leagues.
