SEATTLE - In his prime, Ken Griffey Jr. was considered the best player in baseball, on pace to rewrite the record books. Injuries derailed his chance to become the home run king. But his spot as one of the game's greats is without question.
Now relegated to part-time duty and with little pop left, Griffey unexpectedly decided Wednesday night to retire after 22 mostly brilliant seasons.
Griffey, 40, simply released a statement through the Mariners.
Griffey leaves with 13 All-Star appearances, 630 homers - fifth on the career list - and 1,836 RBIs. He's an almost certain first-ballot Hall of Famer.
"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 ... that I will never allow myself to become a distraction," Griffey said.
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Bad call means no perfect game for Galarraga
DETROIT - Armando Galarraga squeezed the ball in his mitt, stepped on first base with his right foot and was ready to celebrate the first perfect game in Tigers' history.
What happened next will be the talk of baseball for the rest of this season - and likely a lot longer.
Umpire Jim Joyce emphatically called Cleveland's Jason Donald - a former Arizona Wildcat - safe and a chorus of groans and boos echoed in Comerica Park.
Joyce later said emphatically that he was wrong.
"It was the biggest call of my career, and I kicked the (stuff) out of it," Joyce said. "I just cost that kid a perfect game. I thought he beat the throw. I was convinced he beat the throw - until I saw the replay," he said after the Tigers' 3-0 win.
"I didn't know if I beat the throw or not," Donald said. "But given the circumstances, I thought for sure I'd be called out."
Inside pitch
• Angels right fielder Bobby Abreu, a former Tucson Toro, hit his 500th career double against the Royals to join an exclusive major-league club. Abreu hit No. 500 in the first inning against Kyle Davies on Wednesday night, becoming the fourth player to reach 500 doubles, 250 homers and 350 stolen bases. The other three are Barry Bonds, Rickey Henderson and Craig Biggio, also a former Toro.
