"One number. Two players representing one team." 💙
Randy Johnson talks to the Seattle crowd on how Ichiro Suzuki called Randy Johnson to ask about using the No. 51. The two are now enshrined next to each other in Mariners history forever.
This is how to make a man cry on National TV 😭😭
The friendship between Ken Griffey Jr. and Jay Buhner was built during their years together with the Seattle Mariners in the 1990s, where they became inseparable both on and off the field.
Griffey, known for his effortless talent and charisma, found a perfect counterpart in Buhner’s intensity, humor, and loyalty, creating a bond that teammates and fans could clearly see.
Over time, that connection grew into something deeper than baseball- a genuine brotherhood formed through shared victories, struggles, and years of trust inside the Mariners clubhouse.
The often-quoted statement that Griffey would want Buhner to raise his children if anything happened to him and his wife has circulated widely in baseball circles, but there is no clearly documented public record of exactly when or where it was officially said- suggesting it likely came from clubhouse conversations or later retellings rather than a formal interview.
Regardless, the sentiment captures the depth of their relationship, reflecting a level of trust that goes far beyond friendship and into family.
Their bond remains one of the most respected examples of loyalty in sports, showing how rare and meaningful true friendship can be at the highest level.