You  have to give this guy a lot of credit, for his talent, his longevity and his putting up of big career numbers despite playing hurt for a good deal of the time.  He has come back from injuries several times, and even though he's at the end of his career, he can still hurt you from time to time with the bat.  Also, he's about the only current player lifetime leaders who probably never touched the juice, which is more than I can say for Mr. Pumpkinhead, Corkbat Sammy or several of these dishonest, cowardly phonies.  My rating is an averaging of his current skill level and the achievement of a career.

I don't understand how he cant average a five star. Unfourtunate injuries, but still. Come on.

Ken Griffey had his struggles ever since coming over to the Reds from Seattle. However, he has made a bit of a resurgence over the last 2 seasons, and seems to be back on pace to break into the top 10 All time in homeruns. 3000 hits once seemed like a no brainer, and although it is still potentially in reach, it is not likely. Griffey is no longer an All Star caliber player, but he is not far from that level. Still a Hall of Famer and currently a good player.

One of the prettiest swings in the league, but he's too soft to get 5 stars. It's not a matter of whether or not Griffey's going to get hurt and miss games - it's a matter of when, and how many games. Ripken, at the other end of the spectrum, got 30 stitches down the middle of his chest and played the next day, and bled right through his shirt.

I have to strongly agree with GriffeyFan04.When I think of the great baseball players, Ken Griffey Jr. comes to mind.I am sick of hearing about Barry Bonds.To me, he should be stripped of all of his achievements.

Ken Griffey Jr. was the best player of the 90's and it's a shame that injuries have dampened his play in this decade. 10 Gold Gloves, 12 All-Star games, 500+ HR, 1400 RBI, 1997 AL MVP, 3-time AL HR Leader, 1 All-Star game MVP, 3-time HR Derby winner. He's the #1 HR hitter of active players who don't use steroids. Bonds and Sosa are soooo juiced. Griffey is only 35 years old. He's five years younger than Bonds. That means that despite the injuries, Griffey can still be where Bonds is at and well beyond Sosa...without steroids. All of his injuries have been out there on the field in full view of the fans. There's no back spasms from sneezing like Steroid Sosa's syringe after-effects or Bonds' knee operation to let the roid controversy cool down. If Griffey were to retire tomorrow, I would rank him as one of the best players to ever step onto a ball diamond. The Kid could do it all and he's played the game the way it's supposed to be played: doing whatever it takes to win. Smoothest swing ever.

The best singing form when batting ever!!!

Griffey is a terrible baseball player. He had only a few good years in seattle until he came to the reds where injuries slowly took over his career. He usually gets about 300 at bats where he hits .245 and about 25-30 HR, VERY OVERRATED

He doesn't know the meaning of healthy. He was good before injuries came his way, but nobody can claim he's good or bad now because they never see him play.

can't stay healthy. had he, the man would own them game. i've never seen a ballplayer play baseball so effortlessly.

He would have been better than Bonds if he hadn't gotten injured so many times.

I'd give him a 3.5, but since they don't give half stars, I'll round it up to four. In his prime, in Seattle, he was by far the best player in baseball. He could do it all - hit for power, average, run, and play excellent D. No other player in baseball and few in all sports could match his overall talent and charisma. Sadly, that ship has sailed. He had one solid season in Cincy - his first. And that was far below the numbers he was capable of putting up in Seattle. Hall of Famer? Yes. Five hundred home runs, several MVP-type seasons and simply the most dominating player in the 90s. He's certainly not getting any younger and I think he's kidding himself when he wants to play. He's 34, still capable of playing a few more years. In all honesty, he should rest on his laurels and hang it up. There's little more he can do - he already has his Hall of Fame ticket waiting.

spoiled brat. cry baby. can't play through the pain. lacks personal responsibility. everything is someone else's fault. a liability rather than an asset. his dad shouldn't have named him junior, he is a stain on the name.

Thank god Griffey has found his stroke again and is healthy! Now he is a definite hall of famer and will continue to hit home runs as long as he is healthy. He has the sweetest swing in the game and can still play defense.

just started paying attention to baseball again....took griffey a couple of injuries and a couple of years to find his groove in cinci but finally has that swing back...no swing in baseball has ever compared

Will always be tha man.

Who knows if he can ever regain his form.

You're all fooling yourselves. Every one knows Griffey is one of the best all around players ever. He's like Willy Mays but better. His effortless swing is the most fluid of all time. And as for talk of him being a crybaby, I'd like to see how you react when you tear your hamstring you bunch of pussies. You guys are all talk. Griffey is the man.

Ken Is An Injury Prone Cry- Baby.

Ken Griffey, Jr. is a he-man, master of the universe.

too many injuries

endurance and playing through pain are two valuable tools that Griffey does not have. He was steadily declining before he left Seattle(a great hitter's park) and has been a joke in Cincy. Boo hoo.

griffey who?

As a Reds' fan, I am sorry to say that his signing didn't payoff for either Griff or the Reds. Maybe it is time for him to go.

his struggles in Cincinatti revealed him as not a happy go lucky kid, but a freakin jerk whose teammates hate him. Not to mention he has to be the biggest pansy in the game today. Griffey had his years, but he is done. remember when he was labeled as a sure-shot to break Aarons record? i still chuckle as i remember that, because i was the one who was always against him.

Used to be a great player, remains to be seen if he can put it back together. Despite the fact he left us in Seattle, I still like the guy. He was one of the forces that saved baseball in Seattle.

He's declining, but still a 5-tool player. His swing is so smooth, so fluid, it hardly looks like he's trying and he tattoos the ball. He could hit for average at one point in the 90's, but I think those days are over. He can't hit .300 because he's become so obsessed with the long ball, with pulling it. With two strikes, he'll chase frequently. He still is a gold glove outfielder, he's still got the big arm, but I question his desire. He clearly isn't having fun out there.

A shadow of him former self. Griffey is no longer the dominant player he used to be.

Damaged goods.

Why Junior isn't number 1 on this list is beyond me. He had a down yr last year because he wasn't accustomed to playing in the National Leauge. Now that he's had a year to adjust you'll see his numbers go back to 55-60 homers, 130 RIBS, and a 300 average. Now feel dat all you Griffey haters. Oh ya and Nomar should be at most number 9. He always injured. ONE

Griffey is sooooo over rated. I just find it funny that the reds did worse with him and the mariners did better without him.

great talent - BIG BABY and ANNOYING

Over-rated. Good player but too much hype. Can't hit NL pitching. Blames everyone els for his problems

Loser, what kind of player whines this much

considering the expectations Griffey is having a mediocre year.

Sure, Junior is a tremendous baseball player, but something about him pisses me off. I guess it should be refreshing to me that an athlete put his money where his mouth is and actually made a decision that wasn't about the money. And, I don't begrudge him for making what is still an obscene amount of $$$. Yet, he doesn't hide his smugness as well as the other players and a side of me wishes that he had remained in Seattle for the year and been booed all season long.

Jen Griffey Jr. has the sweetest swing in baseball.

Best overal baseball player in baseball right now.

this guy is the total package, offense, defense and he presents the image baseball or any sport needs...

It's great to be able to watch players who will someday be legends.

He is clearly one of the greats..Good for him that he want to be nearer to his family..I am not Too impressesed with the "paycut"..please most people won't make that in a lifetime. But as far as his performance on the field 4*s.

Ken Griffey Jr. is the greatest of all time. Guarenteed to break Hank Aaron's record.

Best all around player of all time

He is a great player, but to compare him with the greatest outfielders of all time is a bit premature. If his career were to end today, you cannot compare him to Willie Mays, Ted Williams or the like.

Such a tragedy that he wouldn't sign to the Met's. I'm so disappointed, I can't bring myself to give him the five stars he would otherwise deserve.

He's the best all-around player, field, run, hit, hit for power

best batter ever b/c hits over 50 homeruns every season and has a high batting average

I hope that Ken Griffey, Jr. signs for the next couple of years with the Seattle Mariners. They have a chance to win it all.

The best centerfielder in the game since the Say Hey Kid

The Kid will leave such a mark on this game. His stats are amazing and he is not even 30 yrs old!