Ken Griffey Jr. transcended MLB in a way that is needed again now

On Sunday night, MLB Network aired a special titled “Junior,” exploring the life and career of Ken Griffey Jr. It was a reminder that the way “The Kid” grew the game is in need more than ever now.

For many baseball fans who grew up during the 1990s, Ken Griffey Jr. was one of their favorites to watch. He helped grow baseball when it was in need. From his smile, backward hat, and picture-perfect swing to his overall play on the field, Jr. was untouchable at times. And all these years later, with baseball facing it’s most difficult time when it comes to viewers and the handling of the league, remembering Griffey’s greatness can help grow baseball again.

The popularity of “The Kid” made baseball cool. Take NBA superstar LeBron James’ words to show that.

“Growing up in inner-city, there’s like two sports that you play,” James said during MLB Network’s “Junior” documentary Sunday night. “There’s either basketball or football. That’s just, that’s just the way it is. But when you have a, when I say like a phenom like a Ken Griffey Jr. that’s playing baseball, it’s like, ‘Wow.’ You know, he’s like the staple for, you know, young African Americans. It’s like, I want to get out there, too. You know, because what he’s doing and how he’s doing it, the way he looks, the way he runs, the way he swings, he makes the game of baseball cool.”

What makes Griffey so special is the way he dominated and when it happened. During the storied steroid era, Griffey did it naturally and in a lot of fans’ eyes, even better. There was a reason Griffey got his own sneakers with Nike. His popularity was through the roof and becoming the first baseball player to have a signature shoe was something not to be taken lightly.

We can all sing the praises of Griffey (rightfully so), but what MLB needs to do is learn from his greatness and try to get fans behind the league once again. It should be possible. The talent in the league right now is among baseball’s best ever, but the number of fans continues to fall.

When thinking back to what Griffey did, it’s easy to make comparisons to the league’s current best, Mike Trout. Through Trout, you can try to capture that magic again.

One of the most important comments from the “Junior” documentary was how Griffey was doing something incredible on the field day in and day out. Whether it was an amazing catch, home run, or just overall performance, it was must-watch. He did that in Seattle.

Trout plays for the Los Angeles Angels. While they are playing in Anaheim, the same dynamic remains: On the west coast in a smaller market for the sport. And they happen to be among the most naturally talented players in the sport’s history.

However, many blame Trout’s unwillingness to be apart of marketing as he focuses more on the game, but something tells us that isn’t the case. Any time Trout speaks, fans listen. That is how important he is to the game of baseball. Even more so, Trout wants to do one thing: play baseball. That is what Griffey Jr. did as well. Through the love of baseball (and getting back on the field), baseball can become popular again.

The timing of the “Junior” documentary is somewhat uncanny. That, along with the 30 for 30 focused on the “Long Gone Summer” between Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire, brings the focus onto MLB and how the league will need to bring it’s popularity back.

Remembering Griffey right now should provide some inspiration for the league. They have the player to raise popularity, now they must go out of their way to have him grow the sport of baseball. What Griffey meant to baseball may not be replicated, but it’s something to learn from here in 2020.