Mariners to retire Griffey's No. 24 across all levels

There will never be another No. 24 in Seattle, or in the Mariners organization, for that matter.

The Seattle Mariners announced plans Friday to honor the greatest player in franchise history when they revealed Ken Griffey Jr.'s No. 24 will be retired during a ceremony Aug. 6, nearly two weeks after his induction into Cooperstown.

Griffey, who on Wednesday was elected to the Hall of Fame after appearing on a record 99.3 percent of ballots, is the first Mariners player to have his number retired, an honor that will extend down to the minor-league level.

The ceremony will take place during Ken Griffey Jr. Weekend at Safeco Field from August 5-7 against the Los Angeles Angels, the team said Friday at its press conference for the 13-time All-Star. The weekend will include giveaways for a Hall of Fame-inspired bobblehead and replica plaque.

Friday's homecoming for Cooperstown's newest member caps a week of firsts for the "The Kid."

Griffey not only appeared on an unprecedented 437 of 440 ballots, he's also the first No. 1 pick to enter the Hall, and he's the only player in team history to wear a Mariners hat on his Cooperstown plaque.

And no, Griffey confirmed, the cap will not be backwards.

Griffey, who ranks sixth in MLB history with 630 homers, compiled 83.6 wins above replacement and a 136 OPS+ over parts of 22 seasons with the Mariners, Cincinnati Reds, and Chicago White Sox.

His resume includes 10 straight Gold Glove awards and the 1997 American League MVP, which he won by unanimous vote, after leading the AL in homers (56), RBIs (147), and slugging (.646). The sweet-swinging center fielder would hit another 56 homers in 1998, one of seven seasons in which Griffey went deep at least 40 times.

Griffey, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 24, also confirmed that he will throw out the first pitch for Seattle's home opener against Oakland on April 8.

(Videos courtesy: MLB.com)