The Ken Griffey Jr. statue outside of Safeco Field was vandalized, with a replica of the Seattle Mariners legend’s bat stolen in the process.
In Seattle, Ken Griffey Jr. is an icon, revolutionizing the game of baseball in the 1990s with his smooth swing, historic long bombs and Gold Glove in center field. No one messes with “The Kid”, so Seattle Mariners fans are not happy about the desecration of his statue outside of Safeco Field. The Seattle Police Department reported this on Tuesday, with the efforts to recover the stolen item listed has a high priority.
BREAKING: Someone has stolen Ken Griffey Junior's bat outside Safeco Field: @Mariners #Seattle @KING5Seattle @SeattlePD pic.twitter.com/9I2QeJLmjA
— Chris Daniels (@ChrisDaniels_TV) October 18, 2017
CBSSports.com reports that the suspect has now been apprehended by authorities, with MLB Twitter followers weighing in on what the potential punishment should be:
— Rich Boudet (@richboudet) October 18, 2017
If you need a reminder of that beautiful swing, we have you covered thanks to Major League Baseball and the Seattle Mariners:
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“The Kid” has Hall of Fame-worthy stats, and he officially joined the Cooperstown elite back in 2016.
- Major League Baseball Hall of Famer
- 13-time All-Star (1990–2000, 2004, 2007)
- American League MVP (1997)
- 10-time Gold Glove Award (1990–1999)
- 7-time Silver Slugger Award (1991, 1993, 1994, 1996–1999)
- Career batting average: .284
- Hits: 2,781
- Home runs: 630
- RBI: 1,836
- National League Comeback Player of the Year (2005)
- 4-time AL home run leader (1994, 1997–1999)
- American League RBI champion (1997)
- #24 retired for the Seattle Mariners
- Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame
- Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame
- Major League Baseball All-Century Team
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No one messes with “The Kid” and gets away with it. Growing up, he and A-Rod were my two baseball heroes, so messing with any of them gets my blood really boiling. I’m glad the bat is returned to its rightful owner and that justice has been served.