During the Cubs All Access presented by Invenergy, the two former MLB legends, Griffey Jr. and Rick Sutcliffe, engaged in a hilarious conversation. It started with Cubs prospect PCA standing nearby, Sutcliffe turned to Griffey Jr. and quipped, “Not even close. Better defense than you.” Griffey Jr., known for his quick wit as much as his legendary swing, didn’t hesitate: “In what—basketball?” And the room burst into laughter. 

After all, it’s not every day you witness two Hall of Famers trading barbs like old friends. But wait, it didn’t end there!

“I cannot stand Rick Sutcliffe. He is by far the worst person I have met in my entire life. The entire Griffin family has hit five to maybe eight home runs against him,” Griffey Jr. said, giving everyone a dose of laughter. And Sutcliffe’s response couldn’t be perfect, saying he had to pitch to Griffey Jr. because Martinez was behind him and he couldn’t get him out. Getting Griffey Jr. out wasn’t a big task for him.

Interestingly, look back at Griffey Jr.’s career stats, especially against the former Cubs’ Sutcliffe, show a mixed performance. Although when facing him, Griffey Jr. had a .381 batting average, .409 OBP, and 1.314 OPS. However, he could only hit three home runs against Sutcliffe.

Even though the two couldn’t stop taking jabs at each other, they are a reminder of the camaraderie and humor that make baseball’s greatest legends so relatable. Sutcliffe then posted on X, “Jr. and I are Nike Trip Brothers!! He loves to have Fun and that’s what we did.” Well, just like it seemed, they enjoyed throwing jabs at each other. 

While we enjoy the humorous banter from MLB legends, the real surprise is seeing Griffey Jr. at the Masters—not as a player or guest, but as a credentialed photographer.

Ken Griffey Jr. makes waves at the Masters

Parting ways with baseball wasn’t easy for Griffey Jr., but what else could he have done? Joining the broadcasting booth never really intrigued him, so what did he choose? Photography. The Hall of Famer never wanted to critique players post-retirement, but he also didn’t want to leave the diamond. And photography was something that would make him “be in the moment” with the players.

And looks like it’s turning out well for him! After all, not everyone gets to capture shots at a major sporting event like Augusta National Golf Club. However, this wasn’t the first major sporting event Griffey Jr. covered. He previously had covered events like the Super Bowl and the World Series, and now he’s taking on the Masters. 

While most athletes take a break after retiring from sports, Griffey Jr. is a prime example of someone who keeps pushing forward. He already began photography during his time on the diamond, and after retirement, he took it full-time. “It’s been unreal; I got a chance to play it a couple of years ago,” Griffey Jr. said.

And just like he said, “I’m not here to take anybody’s job, but I am here to learn about as much as I can about sports photography as well as the history of the Masters. To be able to sit here and really soak it in for four or five days has really been absolutely unbelievable.” He captured every moment that could be cherished for a long.