The Kid was immortalized this week.
Ken Griffey Jr, one of the best players of all time and a hero to legions of baseball fans was elected into the Hall Of Fame by a near-unamous vote this Monday, so we thought it would be only right to pay tribute KicksOneTwo style: a list of his best shoes.
Not many baseball players get signature shoes, but Ken Griffey Jr had several…and a few were absolute classics. We present our top three, in order. Turn your hat backwards before you read on.
3. Air Griffey Max GD 2
The 00’s were somewhat of a roller-coaster ride for The Kid, as he changed teams (Mariners to Reds), uniform numbers (24 to 30 to 3) and dealt with many injuries. On the footwear side, one of the highest points on the roller coaster was the Air Griffey Max GD 2, which will be returning in retro form this summer. The clean red and black design with a full-length Air Max bubble made for a versatile shoe, fit for the field, the gym, or the streets.
2. Air Griffey Max 2
The Kid’s second shoe was worn during what was arguably his finest season (1997), in which he hit 57 home runs and took home the AL MVP award. The Max Air cushioning was carried over from his first signature model, but the strap (also from the first model) was ditched in favor of carbon fiber detailing on the heel. A memorable sneaker for a very memorable season.
1. Air Griffey Max 1
When it comes to signature shoes, the first model is often the best (just look at the Jordan I), and that rings true for the Griffey line as well. The first ever signature shoe for any baseball player, the Griffey 1 is one of the most classic Nike trainers ever, and was re-retroed in 2009 to the delight of sneakerheads and baseball fans all over. You’ve gotta turn your hat backwards when you throw these on. It’s only right. Now that The Kid is in the HOF, might we see another re-release or a special colorway? We can only hope.
What was your favorite Griffey model/colorway? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter, and, as always, be sure to follow us on Instagram for all the fire sneaker pictures you can handle.
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