Feb 24, 2021
Image via Complex Original
With his first signature model’s recent retro, a new generation of sneaker enthusiasts are learning about longtime Nike athlete Ken Griffey Jr. The man affectionately known as “The Kid” may have been the closest thing to Michael Jordan that baseball ever saw in terms of star power. And his sneaker line is still one of the most storied in footwear.
For Griffey, the story started on the field. As the son of a pro player, he went from number one pick in 1987 to 13-time All-Star, winner of 10 Gold Gloves, 1997 AL MVP, and the first Mariner to enter Cooperstown. Griffey had it all: skills on the field, a magnetic smile, and endless amounts of swagger. It earned him adulation from adults and kids alike.