April 3, 1989: One of the most anticipated prospects to ever come into Major League Baseball, Ken Griffey Jr. made his debut with the Seattle Mariners.
Griffey had already been anointed a future star by the time he reached the professional ranks, and he did not disappoint. His first-ever at-bat was a double into deep left-center that seemed to signal his arrival, and what was to come.
Griffey went on to be a 13-time All-Star, winning the 1997 AL MVP award. He also won 10 Gold Gloves, seven Silver Sluggers, and was a four-time American League home run champion.
Here's the video of his first MLB at-bat:
Griffey's career was interrupted in the early 2000s. A number of injuries that came during the second half of his career accelerated his decline. He did, however, enjoy a brief resurgence, winning the 2006 NL Comeback Player of the Year award while playing for the Cincinnati Reds.
Griffey ended his career with 630 home runs, which currently rank sixth all-time. His sky-high potential was realized through a long career: Major League Baseball named him to its prestigious All-Century Team.
