CHICAGO (AP) -Ken Griffey Jr. moved into his new locker Tuesday at U.S. Cellular Field, and quickly made himself at home.
Chicago’s newest slugger is hoping to spend a lot of time in his new digs in October.
Acquired in a trade with the Reds last week, Griffey made his home debut against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night after going 3-for-7 with a pair of RBIs in his first three games with the White Sox.
He got a rousing standing ovation before his first at-bat and waved to the crowd before stepping in the box. He then struck out swinging against left-hander Nate Robertson.
Griffey acknowledged having some butterflies on the way to the park.
“These guys were in first place before I got here,” he said. “I feel like usually I’m probably the loud one before the game but in no way shape or form am I on this team.”
Griffey was just one drive shy of tying former Cubs star Sammy Sosa for fifth on the career list with 609 homers before the game against the Tigers.
If not for so many injuries during his 8 1/2-year run in Cincinnati, there would certainly be more homers, and Griffey might have been the one challenging Hank Aaron’s record that Barry Bonds passed last year.
“I don’t really worry about it,” Griffey said. “I came up as a second hitter, so I really wasn’t thinking about home runs. It just happened.
“Even now the main thing is getting guys over and getting them in, it’s not hitting the ball out of the ballpark. But that is what people are fascinated with, is the home runs.”
The White Sox are hoping the 38-year-old Griffey can give them a spark offensively and steady, if not spectacular, play in center after playing right field the last two seasons. They’re most interested in run production from the middle of their order – Griffey was batting seventh Tuesday night.
“When I had the initial conversation with him, I explained we were not asking you to be our everyday center fielder. We’re only asking you to go out there when you feel great,” general manager Ken Williams said. “We have the luxury of the designated hitter.”
What Griffey wants is a chance to be in the playoffs for the first time since he was with the Mariners in 1997.
Even though he’s slowed down, Griffey said he’s not ready to stop playing anytime soon. He makes $12.5 million this season, and has an option for 2009 at a $16.5 million salary. If the White Sox don’t want to pick up next year’s option, Griffey will be owed a $4 million buyout.
“I love baseball,” he said. “I don’t think I’d rather do something else at this point in my life.”
Griffey, who made his major league debut with Seattle in 1989, gets occasional reminders about his age from younger players who tell the aging outfielder how he was their idol when they were growing up.
“I just start laughing,” he said. “I played with or against three of the coaches here, so they’ve been giving it to me a little bit about that. But for the most part (it’s) just a little awkward when they say `Hey man, I remember you when I was like 8 or 9.”’
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