press releases 2008

AMERICAN PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ENVOY KEN GRIFFEY JR. TO VISIT PANAMA IN JANUARY 2009

November 18, 2008

Ken Griffey, Jr., and Secretary Rice during the announcement

On November 18, Ken Griffey, Jr. became the latest American Public Diplomacy Envoy for the State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.  Griffey joins former baseball star Cal Ripken Jr., figure skater Michelle Kwan and actress Fran Drescher as envoys, Americans who go out on behalf of the values of the United States to engage with people around the world from very special positions.  Griffey is set to make his first baseball-related trip for the State Department to Panama in January.

Ken Griffey, Jr. was drafted number one by the Seattle Mariners,straight out of Cincinnati Moeller High School. He went on to become a prolific home run hitter, who is currently ranked number five on the Major League Baseball all-time home run list with 611 home runs,a list that includes some of the greatest names in baseball: Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays. He has won ten consecutive Golden Glove Awards from 1990 to 2000 for his outstanding defense in centerfield and in 2007 was named to the All-Time Gold Glove Outfield, along with Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente. Between 1990 and 2000, fans chose Ken to be starter in MLB Annual All-Star Game.