THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SEATTLE — Ken Griffey Jr. was driving through the American heartland Thursday on his way home to Florida. The Mariners’ now-retired slugger felt liberated from baseball and free to begin his new life as a husband and father.
His own dad could sense that while talking to him on his cellphone.
Ken Griffey Sr. said Friday in a telephone interview with The Associated Press his son “sounds very happy” and relieved with his decision to abruptly walk away from baseball in the middle of his 22nd season.
Senior, himself a former major league star, says Junior’s pride was wounded when Seattle benched him for most of his final two weeks.
The elder Griffey says his son “was just not going to sit there” while apart from his family.
