Mariners Ken Griffey Jr. calls it career

Mariners DH Ken Griffey Jr. has decided to retire. 

Griffey has for a long time been in the hearts of fans all around baseball. While injuries have kept him out of the game for considerable time, he was never forgotten as one of the games all-time greats. 

Some of Griffey's accolades include 13 All-Star appearances, 630 career home runs, and 1,836 RBIs. 

"While I feel I am still able to make a contribution on the field and nobody in the Mariners front office has asked me to retire, I told the Mariners when I met with them prior to the 2009 season and was invited back that I will never allow myself to become a distraction,'' Griffey said.

Griffey has always been a favorite among his teammates, a leader in the clubhouse and on the field. Everywhere he went - Seattle, Cincinnati, and Chicago - all embraced him and his talent. He ends his career with a .284 average and a .370 on-base percentage.