Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 25, 1994 TAG: 9405250135
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BOB SHERWIN SEATTLE TIMES
DATELINE: OAKLAND, CALIF. LENGTH: Medium
For 10 minutes Monday night he joked and signed autographs for Willie Sutherland of Fremont, Calif., and his three young sons.
Willie had caught Griffey's historic seventh-inning home run, his 21st this season, which moved him past Mickey Mantle for the most home runs in the first two months. Mantle hit 20 by May 31, 1956.
The three blond youngsters were reaching for the star who had just made history in the Mariners' 7-5 loss to Oakland.
Griffey just wanted the ball.
Willie drove a hard bargain, asking for his bat, three autographed balls and Griffey's signature on his sons' three gloves.
Griffey didn't mind. He even stayed to chat with the kids, who provided expansive details on their Little League exploits. Steve, 10, said he couldn't come to watch because he had a game.
Griffey shook all their hands as they left, and slipped back in the locker room, only to reappear.
``Hey, Steve,'' Junior yelled as the group headed for the elevator, ``good luck in your game tomorrow.''
Steve Sutherland didn't need the elevator. He already was hovering above the ground.
So much for the specter of Roger Maris. No snapping at the media. No hiding in the trainer's room. This extraordinary 24-year-old can handle the pressure.
``Junior doesn't feel any burden,'' teammate Tino Martinez said. ``He's just trying to have a great at-bat. Whether he hits a home run or strikes out, he's going to come through more times than he's not.
``He's so relaxed and locked in. I'm sure he feels no pressure.''
Nevertheless, the pressure grows daily. The Mariners star is more than one-third of the way to Maris' 1961 season record of 61 home runs, one of sports' most coveted standards.
Griffey's on a 79-homer pace. At that, rate he would tie Maris by Aug. 22 at the Kingdome against Toronto. And he'd still have 39 more games to break it.
The media has taken up the campaign. ESPN cut into its national programming for each of his at-bats Monday night. Reporters crowded around Griffey's locker, moving in and out of the pack like splitting amoeba.
The word is out.
``You can't talk to me from about 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m,'' Junior said. ``After that, [for] 15 to 20 minutes with you guys, I can handle that.''
Griffey said he didn't know what the fuss was all about with Mantle's record until less than a week ago.
``The media knew about it before I did. I picked up the paper and there it was,'' he said. ``It's early yet. You never know what's going to happen.''
Since then he has hit home runs in four straight games. Overall, he has hit a home run in eight of his past 10 games and 14 this month.
He also is on a 10-game hitting streak, going 18-of-34 (.529). He has raised his season average to .347 to go with his 44 RBI.
``It's great to see. He's a young kid with a ton of ability and really improving the image of baseball,'' manager Lou Piniella said. ``Certainly, he has done that. Baseball needs a young kid to step forward and carry the banner. He's right there at the top.
``Mantle was a great one. This kid is heading in the same direction, if he's not there already.''
Griffey is as diplomatic as he is accommodating.
``Mickey played 30, 40 years ago,'' he said. ``He played then, I'm playing now. You don't know what he could have done nowadays, with the pitching, the [improved] bats.''
Piniella, who has played, coached and managed for 26 years, has said Griffey is the best player he ever has seen. Gossage, who has played 21 years, agrees.
``If there were another league, he'd be in it,'' the Mariners reliever said. ``And he'd be the only one there.''
Athletics closer Dennis Eckersley, who retired Griffey and ended the game on a flyout to left, added, ``I've played 20 years and he's the best I've ever seen.
``I used to think Rickey [Henderson] was, but now it's Griffey. He has put it all together, power, defense, everything. He's the best.''
Oakland manager Tony La Russa, who generally declines to talk about opposing players, said, ``He's an amazing talent.''
The difference this season? Griffey said, ``[Hitting] is as simple as you want to make it. I don't think about hands, feet, alignment. I just try to see it and hit it.''
Keywords:
BASEBALL
Memo: Baseball