“It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.” -Aristotle
Before he was a future Hall of Famer, Ken Griffey Jr became one of baseball’s
greatest players to ever step on a diamond. We know all the accolades throughout
his career but, there was a time when Ken Jr didn’t know if fulfilling expectations would
cement his legacy. Superstar athlete at a young age, while battling silent struggles
that nobody knew about. “The Kid” as we grew up admiring with his hat backward, smiling
from ear to ear which never left his face. One of the many Nike athletes with a
signature shoe, and all the fame which came with being a professional athlete. A dark
moment in his life came to the surface at the age of 17. Ken Griffey Jr attempted suicide by
swallowing 277 aspirin pills and finds himself in the hospital.
Arguments with his father, depression, and anger led to this suicide attempt.
Having a lot of people who watched your every move, while trying to create your
career and legacy came without warrant. His father Ken Sr got into an
argument which led to Griffey Jr ripping an IV out of his arm. Despite this, it
changed the relationship with both. Even with a better understanding, a healing journey
was just beginning. With his father’s last name, who was a great baseball player as well in
his own right; came heavy expectations in carrying a legacy. Everyone expects Ken Jr to
surpass his father’s career. Like most young black men, growing up with a strained
relationship with your father is a generational curse. But for Jr, the price of
expectations was heavy enough to drive him into depression. Nobody knew he
was battling these issues early in his career.
While Griffey Jr was hiding his depression, he still had the perfect swing 90s kids
try to emulate. He was hurting, while trying to live up to the expectations and
facing scrutiny. Griffey Jr survived his attempt; others were not so fortunate as the
likes of Donnie Moore and Willard Hershberger. Fighting these personal demons
can lead to self-destructive behavior and fall into the pits of dark moments in time.
The anxiety of living a life to fulfill other’s dark twisted expectations came with a
price. Griffey Jr lived to tell about his near-suicide attempt to save others.
Athletes struggle with the stigma surrounding mental health and are afraid to say, “I
need help.” In a world full of toxicity and high levels of testosterone, men forget
they’re human as well. Griffey Jr fought his demons in silence while
hitting home runs and making acrobatic catches on a nightly basis. All the fame,
money, and endorsements couldn’t take away the depression he battled.
In the end, Ken Griffey Jr opened up about this incident and the message is clear:
check on your loved ones. Your phone call or text may save their self-termination
from becoming a tragedy. We’re all human and experience the highs and lows of
life. Having a support system in place can do wonders for everyone. One moment
in time can change the way you feel about life. For “The Kid,” his story is bigger
than baseball. He won in life and that alone is far more rewarding than a World
Series title. Stai tuned.
