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NO STAT IS SAFE. NO ERA IS FORGOTTEN.
VOL. 1, NO. 34 · OCTOBER 19, 2026 · EVERY MONDAY
ISSUE #034 · STEROID ERA
Ken Griffey Jr. — The Most
Natural Swing In History
On April 26, 1997, Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 3rd HR of the game — one of 56 he'd hit that season while chasing
📅 THIS DATE IN
BASEBALL Ruth's record at age 27.
THE STAT THAT SHOULDN'T EXIST 01
HE WAS THE BEST PLAYER IN BASEBALL FROM 1993 TO 1999. THEN HIS BODY FELL APART.
630 HR. 13 Gold Gloves. The Most Beautiful Swing
In Baseball History. Injuries Stole Years 28-31.
630 ~700+ 10
GRIFFEY CAREER HR projected GOLD GLOVES AT CF
HR AGE 24-29 (1994-99 PACE)
83.8 111 630 vs 700+
CAREER WAR GAMES PLAYED 2002-04 FINAL HR VS PROJECTED HEALTHY
Griffey hit 630 career HR and won 10 consecutive Gold Gloves in center field. From 1993 to 1999 he
averaged 48 HR per season — he was on pace for 700+ before his left knee and shoulder repeatedly
failed him. He played 111 games from 2002-2004 combined. He was a different player at 30 than at 27.
THE GAME YOU FORGOT 02
VS Cleveland Indians APRIL 26, 1997
3
7 On for 60+ 27 W 16-4
HR RBI SEASON HR PACE AGE RESULT
The Natural
THREE HR IN ONE GAME AT PEAK GRIFFEY
Griffey hit three home runs against Cleveland on April 26, 1997, driving in 7 runs in a 16-4 blowout. He was 27
years old and in the middle of one of the great multi-year home run stretches in baseball history. He'd go on
to hit 56 HR that season — finishing runner-up in MVP voting. The swing on each of those three home runs
was described by the broadcast as textbook. Nobody ever disagreed. The swing was the only thing baseball
ever agreed on unanimously.
ERA VS ERA 03
Where Does A Fully Healthy Griffey Rank All-Time?
GRIFFEY — ACTUAL CAREER GRIFFEY — HEALTHY PROJECTION
CAREER HR PROJECTED HR (NO INJURIES)
630 700+
GOLD GLOVES VS CAREER WAR PROJECTION
10 110+
CAREER WAR COMP
83.8 Mays/Aaron tier
Griffey's actual career puts him in the top 10 conversation. The healthy projection puts him in the top 5
argument. His knee and shoulder cost him 3-4 prime seasons. His career WAR would likely clear 110 in a
healthier body. The what-if is one of the most compelling in baseball.
Where does a fully healthy Griffey rank all-time?
TOP 3 — MAYS/RUTH/GRIFFEY TOP 5 — NOT AHEAD OF MAYS OR AARON TOP 10 BUT NOT TOP 5
CAN'T PROJECT WHAT NEVER HAPPENED
THE COLDEST MOMENT 04
2000 · THE TRADE TO CINCINNATI
He Left Seattle For Cincinnati To Be Near His Dad.
Seattle's Team Fell Apart Without Him.
Griffey requested a trade to Cincinnati after the 1999 season — he wanted to play near his father
and family. The Mariners traded the face of the franchise. Seattle then signed Ichiro, traded for
Randy Johnson, and went 116-46 in 2001 — the best record in AL history. Griffey got hurt
immediately in Cincinnati and played 111 games combined from 2002-2004. He came back to
Seattle in 2009 and finished there. The trade was the right personal decision. It cost him
everything professionally.
I needed to be home. Baseball is a game. Your family is your life.
— KEN GRIFFEY JR.
THE STAT VAULT 05
CAREER HOME RUNS CONSECUTIVE GOLD GLOVES AT CF
5th all-time. He led the AL in HR four times 1990 to 1999. His arm and range were elite
between 1994 and 1999. — not just his bat.
HR IN 1997 GAMES PLAYED 2002-2004 COMBINED
Led the AL. He was 27 years old and on a Three seasons. Hamstring, knee,
pace that pointed at Ruth's record. shoulder. The career peak ended at 30.
2016 YEAR HE WAS INDUCTED
99.32% of the HOF vote — the highest percentage in history at that time.
THE FORGOTTEN MAN 06
OVERLOOKED · UNDERRATED · DESERVES MORE
Jay Buhner
SEATTLE MARINERS · 1987-2001
.254 BA · 310 HR · 2X ALL-STAR
Griffey's Teammate For 10 Years. 40 HR Twice. Bald. Made Famous By A
Seinfeld Episode. Forgotten Otherwise.
Jay Buhner hit 310 HR and made 2 All-Star teams as Ken Griffey's outfield partner in Seattle for 10 years. He
hit 40 HR twice and was the most feared right-handed power bat on some of the best Mariners teams. He
became inexplicably famous when Frank Costanza ranted about him on Seinfeld. Beyond the Seinfeld clip,
he's rarely mentioned.
THE CONNECTION:
Buhner was the right-field anchor of every great Griffey-era Mariners team. Griffey hit the home runs
everyone remembers. Buhner hit 310 of them without anyone noticing.
COMING NEXT MONDAY
Next Monday: Barry Bonds hit 73 home runs in 2001 with an OPS+ of 235. Both are the highest single-season
marks in history. The steroid question doesn't change the numbers.
Who's Your Forgotten Man?
Reply with a player from any era who deserves more credit. Best answer gets featured next Monday.
All Eras. All Stats. No Debate.
Every Monday. No exceptions.