20 Iconic Athletes That Were Unfortunately Made of Glass

Ken Griffey Jr.

Image Source: JOHN G. MABANGLO/AFP/Getty Images

Had it not been for Griffey’s nagging hamstring injuries, we might be talking about him as the greatest player of all-time. ‘The Kid’ was a teenage phenom from the jump, as he made eleven-straight All-Star appearances to start his career.

In 1997. Griffey secured his first and only MVP trophy. That same year, he helped in leading the Seattle Mariners to a 90-win season. The three-year run that extended from the 1997 season until 1999 — before he was shipped to Cincinnati — was the only stretch of Griffey’s career when he could stay healthy. Had he been able to stay on the field consistently, Griffey may have had a chance to challenge Barry Bonds’ home run record.