Ken Griffey Jr.

Artist Statement

Ken Griffey Jr. was the epitome of a two-way player. He finished his career as one of the most prolific home run hitters in baseball history: 630 home runs. An exceptional outfielder as well, he also accumulated 10 Gold Glove Awards over his legendary career. Following in the footsteps of his father, a former player and coach in the major leagues, Griffey Jr. had baseball in his blood. Nicknamed “Junior” or “the Kid,” watching him play the game was a joy to watch. His playful nature included a propensity for wearing his baseball cap backward and playing the game with a big smile on his face. 

However—he was anything but playful with a bat in his hands. One of the greatest hitters the game has ever seen, Griffey could generate an incredible amount of bat speed that was unmatched at the time. The Ballistic painting was created to pay tribute to his unique batting proficiency and power in a playful manner that signified how dangerous he could be to opposing pitchers.