Griffey’s 500th Is a Junior High

Ken Griffey Jr. trotted around the bases as if it were just another home run. It was anything but that.

Griffey hit a 2-and-2 fastball from Matt Morris into the right-field stands to lead off the sixth inning Sunday at Busch Stadium, securing a spot in the record books as the 20th player with 500 homers.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d ever accomplish this,” Griffey said. “All the aches and pains I’ve had this year were gone for like two minutes. It was awesome.”

The star center fielder ended a frustrating stretch with the swing, which helped the Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-0. At 34, he became the sixth-youngest player to reach the milestone.

Griffey, stuck on No. 499 for a week, took a few extra seconds to watch his drive fly into the seats, then dropped his bat and slowly trotted around the bases with his 19th homer of the season.

“I’m sure he’s relieved,” Red Manager Dave Miley said. “I’m sure he’s happy to get it over with.”

The base coaches simply shook Griffey’s hand as he passed by. When Griffey crossed the plate, he tapped fists with teammate Adam Dunn, who then patted Griffey on the helmet. His teammates then came out on the field to congratulate him after the historic homer.

“I just told him, ‘About time,’ ” shortstop Barry Larkin said. “That’s all.”

Griffey then went to a box next to the Reds’ dugout and hugged his father, Ken Griffey, and children. The elder Griffey said Junior told him, simply, “Happy Father’s Day.”

Ken Griffey Sr. said, though, that his son won’t get off that easily.

“It was a nice Father’s Day present, but it’s an easy way to get out of giving me something,” Griffey Sr. said. “He used to do that for me for my birthday all the time.

“He’s got to get something else now.”

Griffey Jr. jokingly said he gets his dad the same thing every Father’s Day. “Old Spice and underwear,” he said.

Griffey, the first to reach 500 in a Cincinnati uniform, received a warm ovation from a sellout crowd of 45,620 on Lou Brock bobblehead day. He then received a standing ovation as he ran out to the field before the bottom of the sixth, responding with a wave of his cap.

“Under those circumstances, it wasn’t like it was a game winner,” Cardinal right fielder Reggie Sanders said. “They were already up 5-0.

“But they would do it whatever the circumstances were, because they appreciated it. That’s why they’re the best fans in baseball.”

Before Griffey reached center field, Red relievers came out of the bullpen and congratulated him.

“I wasn’t expecting all of my teammates to come out,” Griffey said. “I really appreciate it. I thought for sure [Sean] Casey was going to blindside me.”

The ball was caught by 19-year-old Mark Crummley of Mount Carmel, Ill., who gave it to Griffey after the game. Griffey gave Crummley the jersey off his back and a large shopping bag filled with other memorabilia that included a signed bat from Casey.

“It didn’t seem right to plea-bargain,” Crummley said. “So I gave it back to him.”

Jung Keun Bong (1-1) gave up three hits in six scoreless innings, and three relievers finished a combined four-hit shutout to end the Reds’ nine-game road losing streak. The slump was the team’s longest since it dropped 10 in a row from June 1-24, 1998.

The Reds, who got a three-run homer from Jason LaRue in the fourth, also averted a three-game sweep and ended the Cardinals’ six-game winning streak. The NL Central leaders have won 15 of 20.

Jimmie Foxx was the youngest player to hit 500 homers, reaching the milestone at 32. Willie Mays, Sammy Sosa, Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth also hit theirs at 34.

Griffey was the fastest to 350, 400 and 450 before being slowed by injuries the last three seasons. From 2001-03, he played in only 234 games and hit 43 homers.

Three other active players have hit 500 homers. Barry Bonds is third on the career list with 676, Sosa has 549 and Rafael Palmeiro has 538. Fred McGriff needs seven homers to become the 21st player to hit 500.

Griffey was five for 21 with four runs batted in in six games since homering June 13 against Cleveland, and he hadn’t come close to the fences before hitting his big homer off Morris, a drive estimated at 393 feet.

Among those in the crowd watching the historic homer was Cardinal Hall of Famer Stan Musial, born in the same town, Donora, Pa., as Griffey. Musial, who also shares a birthday with Griffey, played high school baseball with Griffey’s grandfather. During a pregame visit, Griffey told Musial he wanted to play until he’s 40.

“For him to come down and say, ‘Hurry up and get this over with’ and ‘Good luck!’ that meant a lot,” Griffey said.

Griffey finished one for three with a sacrifice fly and two RBIs.

Morris (7-6), who had won his previous three starts, gave up six runs on six hits in six innings. He has allowed a major league-high 23 homers in 15 starts and wasn’t overly perturbed about being a footnote to history.

“I stayed away with breaking balls until on a 2-2 count I tried to slip a fastball by him,” Morris said. “I guess people have been doing that 500 times, and it didn’t work.”

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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

500 Home Run Club

No. Player...HRs

1. Hank Aaron...755

2. Babe Ruth...714

3. x-Barry Bonds...676

4. Willie Mays...660

5. Frank Robinson...586

6. Mark McGwire...583

7. Harmon Killebrew...573

8. Reggie Jackson...563

9. x-Sammy Sosa...549

10. Mike Schmidt...548

11. x-Rafael Palmeiro...538

12. Mickey Mantle...536

13. Jimmie Foxx...534

14. Willie McCovey...521

14. Ted Williams...521

16. Ernie Banks...512

16. Eddie Mathews...512

18. Mel Ott...511

19. Eddie Murray ...504

20. x-Ken Griffey Jr....500

x-active player

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Moving Up

Active home run leaders:

*--* Player, team No. 1. Barry Bonds, San Francisco 676 2. Sammy Sosa, Chicago Cubs 549 3. Rafael Palmeiro, Baltimore 538 4. Ken Griffey Jr., Cincinnati 500 5. Fred McGriff, Tampa Bay 493 6. Frank Thomas, Chicago White Sox 435 7. Juan Gonzalez, Kansas City 434 8. Jeff Bagwell, Houston 430 9. Jim Thome, Philadelphia 404 10. Gary Sheffield, N.Y. Yankees 389

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