One of the enduring images that we have of Ken Griffey Jr. comes from his early days with the Seattle Mariners. We all remember him as The Kid, smiling in the batter’s box with his backwards hat while taking batting practice. That smile seemingly never left his face when he was on the diamond, even in his worst days.
It turns out that Griffey was battling demons that no one knew about. Back when he was 17, he tried killing himself due to the pressure of trying to be a great ballplayer and a strained relationship with his father.
Ken Griffey Jr. tried to commit suicide at 17-years-old by swallowing 277 pills. He felt a lot of pressure to be a great baseball player while battling a rocky relationship with his father.
— Kyle Malzhan (@KyleMalzhan) May 11, 2021
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Seattle Mariners star Ken Griffey Jr. battling demons no one knew
One can only imagine the pressure that he felt growing up. His father, Ken Griffey, was a three time All Star who won two World Series titles. With that pedigree, and the nickname ‘The Natural,’ one can only imagine the pressure and scrutiny he was under, and the depression that led to.
That pressure to live up to expectations, and the anxiety that he would be unable to, can take a drastic toll mentally. Sometimes, the overwhelming urge to escape, no matter how, takes over. That desire to get out of the situation any way possible can lead to some dark moments and self-destructive decisions.
Fortunately, Griffey survived his attempt. Others were not so fortunate, as the likes of Donnie Moore and Willard Hershberger succumbed to their depression and the belief that they were not good enough. There are also the untold stories, the regular people who do not have the same fame and fortune who also fall prey to the same darkness, ending their lives because they do not see another way out.
There is a major stigma surrounding depression and mental health in the United States. Although that has improved in recent years, mental health issues do not get the understanding or support they should. People suffering are told that they are imagining it, or that others have it worse in life, their struggles being minimized. Real support can be difficult to find.
With people with Griffey’s stature coming forward and discussing their own mental health issues, maybe that stigma will continue to decrease. Maybe someday in the near future, people will be able to have honest conversations about their mental health without feeling as though they are being judged. These moments of honesty and clarity, where some of the greatest athletes in the history of their games are discussing their own battles, will only help that day come faster.
Depression and the feeling of hopelessness can come for anyone. Even former Seattle Mariners star Ken Griffey Jr. was not immune to those feelings.