By CHARLIE McCARTHY, AP
June 10, 2008
MIAMI - Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 600th home run last night, becoming the sixth player in history to reach that milestone.
The Reds outfielder homered off Florida lefty Mark Hendrickson in the first inning of a 9-4 victory against the Marlins. Griffey joined Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Sammy Sosa in the 600 club.
The 38-year-old homered with Jerry Hairston on third and one out, launching a 3-1 pitch 413 feet into the right-field seats. He received a standing ovation from the crowd of 16,003 and responded by coming out of the Reds dugout and waving his helmet to the fans.
"I don't think I touched any of the bases. I sort of floated around," Griffey said.
Manager Dusty Baker has managed the last three players to achieve the milestone: Bonds in San Francisco, Sosa in Chicago and now Griffey. He was there for Bonds' 600th, on Aug. 9, 2002.
"It's awesome every time you see a milestone like that," Baker said. "It doesn't take away from the others. It adds to it."
The game was the last one of an eight-game road trip for the Reds, who will return home tonight to play the Cardinals.
Controversy ensued in the stands following the home run. Justin Kimball, a 25-year-old from Miami, said he caught the home run ball, put it in a wool cap and then had the cap ripped from his hands. Kimball said someone ran off with the ball.
Police said they had found the fan with the baseball and would look at videotape to see if Kimball's claims could be supported.
The Marlins, however, announced Major League Baseball had authenticated the home run ball for a middle-aged male fan who would only give his first name as Joe.
