A Full Pepperoni Pizza…”: NHL All-Star Recalls an Iconic Encounter With MLB Legend Ken Griffey Jr.

Ken Griffey Jr. has not played baseball since 2010, having retired after an illustrious career. But in his 22-year MLB career, the iconic outfielder left quite the impression in American sports. Even today, celebrities, athletes, and all kinds of fans are left star-struck by the Seattle Mariners’ legend. This is no surprise considering the level of superstardom he achieved in MLB.

He may have last played the game in 2010, but fans are still emulating him, even a little girl tried to play like the Mariners legend once. And most recently, an NHL All-Star recalled an iconic encounter with Griffey Jr. in an unexpected setting.

NHL All-Star Matthew Tkachuk recalled an amazing encounter with Ken Griffey Jr.

25-year-old Matthew Tkachuk has established himself as a decent NHL player, earning his first All-Star appearance during the 2021-22 season. But even he could not help but feel awe when encountering his icon, Ken Griffey Jr. in an interesting setting. He was playing golf with his brother and a couple of other guys when he met Griffey Jr. at the bar. B/R Walk-Off shared a video of Tkachuk narrating the story on Instagram.

While telling the story, Tkachuk says, “Earlier in the season, he texted me asking if I wanted to golf with Hayesy and a couple of guys. 10. AM. Breakfast. So I go up to the bar, order a beer. I look to my right, there’s a Diet, there’s a diet coke full and a half a diet coke and a full pepperoni pizza. Like a massive one. I look to the right. The reason why I’m wearing the backwards hat right now, Ken Griffey Jr.” He even approved of Griffey Jr.’s food choice saying, “That Pizza looked nice.”

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During the entire narration, the NHL winger seemed in awe of Griffey Jr.’s persona, after having met him in person. Even today, MLB fans wish to see Griffey Jr.’s iconic swing once. Most recently, during the WBC 2023, Ken took fans down memory lane with a new role he took on.

Griffey Jr. was Team USA’s hitting coach at the World Baseball Classic

During the recently concluded World Baseball Classic, Ken Griffey Jr. served as Team USA’s hitting coach. He was working with stars who probably grew up idolizing him. But there were definitely some baseball fans that were taken down memory lane as their legend sat in the dugout. 

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What do you think of Matthew Tkachuk’s iconic encounter with Ken Griffey Jr.? Kindly share your thoughts in the comments below!