Ken Griffey Jr. and Nintendo: A Perfect Pair Quiz

Answer: "Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball"

"Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball" came out in 1994 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). The game did not have the official MLB license, therefore, Griffey was the only "real" professional player on the game.

The "Griffey" games did not gain the official MLB license until the Nintendo 64 Era.

Answer: (on D-pad) Left, Left, Right, Right, Right, Left, Left (Before the Pitch)

Just before the pitch comes in, you tap on the D-pad: Left, Left, Right, Right, Right, Left, Left. Griffey will sometimes say "I'm back!"

As soon as he hits the ball it usually heads out over the fence in left-center, generally between 410 and 460 feet. Griffey then comments: "That ball's going, going gone!" or "Man, that ball was crushed."

Answer: Frank Liberty

Frank Liberty played for The Cleveland Indians on "Winning Run" and was the virtual version of the infamous Albert Belle. I guess they thought "Liberty Bell", which is a pretty weak reason for the name. Not sure where they got the idea to use Frank for the first name.

Answer: Super Screwball

The "Super Screwball" simply did not exist. The Special Pitches available included: Super Fastball, Super Change-Up, Cut Fastball, Splitter and Knuckleball. The Super Fastball topped out at 106 MPH, while the Super Change-Up somehow made it the plate going a mere 45 MPH.

Answer: Seattle Mariners

Ken Griffey Jr. was an icon for the Seattle Mariners throughout the 1990s. He was much more than just a baseball player, he was one of the most popular athletes in the nation.

Griffey was on Pizza Hut commercials, guest-starred on "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" and "The Simpsons", had a fake Presidential campaign from Nike (Griffey In '96), and even had his own chocolate bar called simply "Ken Griffey Jr. Bar".

Answer: Pedro Martinez

Pedro Martinez was a Perfect 10, 10, 10 for the Boston Red Sox on "Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey Jr." Greg Maddux was close, but he only had 9 Speed, leaving him at a 9, 10, 10.

David Cone wasn't dominant when this game was released in 1998, his best days already behind him.

Johan Santana probably would be a 10, 10, 10 if the game came out today... but he was only 19 years old in 1998, and still in the Minor Leagues.

Answer: Nintendo of America Employees

Nintendo of America Corporation, being the majority owner of the Seattle Mariners in 1994, let their employees take the virtual field with Griffey for this SNES release. This also explains why Nintendo chose Griffey Jr. year after year to grace the covers of their baseball games. In some ways, Nintendo owned Ken Griffey Jr.

As for the others:
Famous Actors played for the California Angels
Baseball Legends played for the New York Yankees
U.S. Presidents played for the Kansas City Royals

Answer: "Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball", "Ken Griffey Jr.'s Winning Run", "Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey Jr.", "Ken Griffey Jr.'s Slugfest"

"Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball" was first, for Super Nintendo. It came out in 1994.

"Ken Griffey Jr.'s Winning Run" came second, also for Super Nintendo, in 1996.

"Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey Jr." was the first officially MLB licensed Griffey game and the first of the two Nintendo 64 games. It was released in 1998.

"Ken Griffey Jr.'s Slugfest" wrapped up the Griffey games, and came out for Nintendo 64 in 1999.

Answer: Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez was only an "8" hitter on "Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey Jr". He also had two other "10" hitters on his team, the Seattle Mariners: Edgar Martinez and obviously, Ken Griffey Jr. The Mariners were ridiculously stacked, and they were a cheap team to play with.

There were only eight "10 Rated" hitters on the entire game: Larry Walker, Paul Molitor, Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez, Tony Gwynn, Frank Thomas and Mike Piazza.

Answer: "It's Showtime! Call - Call - Call Me Junior."

This is what Griffey says, when you turn the game on: "Hi, this is Ken Griffey Jr. Let's play Major League Baseball."

Then the screen cuts to Junior at the bat, swinging for the fences, and he says: "It's Showtime! Call - Call - Call me Junior. Call - Call - Call me Junior..." and he kept telling us to call him "Junior" until someone pressed the Start button.