He was introduced to Major League Baseball on August 25, 1973. He played for the Cincinnati Reds (1973-1981, 1988-1990) New York Yankees (1982-1986), Atlanta Braves (1986-1988), and Seattle Mariners (1990-1991). When his son joined the Mariners in 1989 the Griffeys made history as the first father and son to play major league baseball simultaneously, and when he joined his son there in 1990 they became the first father-and-son teammates.