MLB ALL-STAR GAME

July 12, 1999

Ken Griffey Jr.

KEN GRIFFEY, JR.: Actually the first round is always the toughest, once you get past the first round the butterflies are gone. But the first round is a tough one, because you're nervous, and you want to do well, just squeak in there somehow.

KEN GRIFFEY, JR.: My knee has been sore for like three weeks now. And some days are better than others. I haven't taken BP for about -- I think the first time in like six days was yesterday and today. So I try to stay off it as much as possible and go out there and play. And if it hurts, maybe I've got to do other things, maybe DH, but it comes and goes.

KEN GRIFFEY, JR.: No obligation to come back and defend the title, because I don't think there really is defending the title. It's a new year, and who knows, I might have hit two home runs and somebody could have hit 30 and I might not have even been invited. Just go out there and do your best.

KEN GRIFFEY, JR.: It's just going out there and having a lot of fun, that's the main thing, going out there, putting on a show for the fans, and watching mark hit them 500 feet, when you're getting them over like 420, 430, and his balls are doing the postal service just flying by you and dropping mail off at your house.

KEN GRIFFEY, JR.: Same results. His balls went much further. It doesn't matter how many you hit, I think the distance is the most important thing, that the people remember. You can hit 20 and they all go from 330 to 400, but you hit one 450 to 510, and that's impressive.

KEN GRIFFEY, JR.: This ballpark is -- you hit a 380 football in most ballparks that's an out, unless you snap hook it around that pole, and even then you've got to get some height. It's a great ballpark, if you want to look at it from aspects of guys, right-hand hitters have to hit it up to get it out, and lefties have to hit it 400 feet or 390 feet.

KEN GRIFFEY, JR.: Everybody takes it seriously. Once the first pitch is thrown, everybody wants to win, they're not going to jeopardize someone's career, but there's going to be some good, clean aggressive baseball.

KEN GRIFFEY, JR.: We were hitting balls in BP and they weren't going anywhere. We figured the National League had four right-handed hitters, we figured they were going to win it, because of it.

KEN GRIFFEY, JR.: I think the fans get a big thrill out of it. The players like to watch because we very seldom get to see McGwire take batting practice or Piazza or those guys, who are in National League, and see how far they hit it. We're out there enjoying it just as much as the fans are.

KEN GRIFFEY, JR.: Maybe five minutes -- five minutes before. I've got to do what's best for my team and the organization under some circumstances. At least I got a chance in the second half to make a run.

KEN GRIFFEY, JR.: That's a tough one. Yeah. Both players are great ball players, and you can't take anything away from either one of them. I think most of the people here are a little younger. And growing up my dad remembers Oscar Robinson playing, and I would go for Magic, Dr. J, and Michael. So the crowds get younger, and are rooting for guys that are a little younger than when their dads watched.

End of FastScripts….