Ken Griffey Jr. explained his dislike of the Yankees, and who can blame him?

In one of the biggest spending eras in New York Yankees history, they could never land Ken Griffey, Jr. 

Ken Griffey, Jr. never sold his soul to George Steinbrenner, unlike the likes of Alex Rodriguez and so many stars of his era. However, it turns out he had a pretty good reason.

Griffey, Jr. holds grudges, whether he wants to admit it or not. Ken Griffey, Sr. played for the Yankees in parts of five seasons, and his son holds one specific memory dear to him. The Hall-of-Famer claims Steinbrenner wouldn’t let him sit in the dugout, which was apparently against team policy. However, what stuck with Griffey, Jr. the most was that Craig Nettles son, Jeff, was allowed to take ground balls at third base.

Why did Ken Griffey, Jr. spend his career hating the New York Yankees?

Griffey, Jr. consistently signed long-term deals to avoid free agency during his MLB career, and didn’t hit the open market until 2008 after a short stint with the Chicago White Sox. In fact, Griffey, Jr. was traded twice before then, first from the Mariners to the Reds and then to the South Side of Chicago.

However, even had he gotten the opportunity to test his value earlier, it would not have come in the Bronx.

Said interview, which aired on MLB Network, not only details Griffey, Jr.’s decision, but also shows the influence his father had on his playing career. His statements to fans — even in passing while signing autographs — years after the incident prove he never would’ve considered inking a deal with a man who treated him unfairly.

Griffey, Jr. is beloved in Seattle and Cincinnati, and his status as a small-market legend makes him one of the most universally-liked players in MLB history. Playing for the Yankees would’ve potentially ruined that status as well, so we’re thankful at least one MLB star stayed away from the evil empire.