SEATTLE, Wash. -- Seattle Mariners President & Chief Operating Officer Kevin Mather tonight announced that, as part of Ken Griffey Jr. Weekend in Seattle, the Mariners will officially retire number 24 in a pregame ceremony on August 6. In addition, Griffey has confirmed that he will be in Seattle for Opening Night, April 8, and will toss the ceremonial first pitch that night.
The number retirement will be the highlight of Ken Griffey Jr. Weekend in Seattle, which will take place August 5-6-7, just two weeks after the Hall of Fame Induction ceremony in Cooperstown, New York. The weekend will provide Seattle fans an opportunity to share in the excitement of Griffey's induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Beginning on Opening Day in April, no player in the entire Mariners organization, from the Dominican Academy to AAA Tacoma as well as the Major League roster, will ever wear number 24 again. This marks the first number of a Mariners player ever retired by the franchise, and will join Jackie Robinson's number 42 as the only two numbers retired by the Mariners.
"Ken Griffey Jr. was the first player selected in the 1987 Draft, a first ballot Hall of Famer, the first player in Hall of Fame history to amass over 99% of the vote and the first player to wear a Mariners Cap on his Hall of Fame plaque," Mather said. "It seems only fitting that he be the first Mariners player to have his number retired."
Other Ken Griffey Jr. Weekend highlights include:
Friday, August 5, 7:10 pm vs. the Los Angeles Angels -
Ken Griffey Jr. Hall of Fame Bobblehead Night (first 20,000 fans will receive this special bobblehead)
Saturday, August 6, 6:10 pm vs. the Los Angeles -
Ken Griffey Jr. Number Retirement Ceremony (pregame) and
Replica Hall of Fame Plaque (first 20,000 fans will receive a replica plaque)
Sunday, August 7, 1:10 pm vs. the Los Angeles -
Ken Griffey Jr. Replica Jersey Day (first 20,000 fans will receive a replica jersey)