Mark the calendars. On June 2nd, 2010, legendary outfielder and ambassador for the game, Ken Griffey Jr. has announced his retirement from Major League Baseball.

You could not ask for a better guy to represent a game. Griffey Jr. embodied what it is to be a role model. He excelled on the field, stayed out of trouble off the field and was a genuinely nice guy. Over his 22 seasons as a Major League Baseball player, Griffey Jr. hit 630 home runs, drove in 1836 runs, had a career batting average of .284, all while nabbing a Gold Glove Award 10 times, one MLB MVP and 13 All-Star Game appearances.

Griffey Jr. played tough, ALWAYS. His 20 surgeries are a testament to his dedication to the game. Griffey Jr. did what was right by staying away from the entire steroid controversy that has tainted the game as of late, proving that you can still be a dominating player by simply working hard.

Perhaps my favorite Griffey Jr. story was from the 2005 season, when Griffey rushed to the aide of a young fan whose grandfather died of a heart attack at a Reds game. It shows what a truly caring individual Griffey Jr is.

Needless to say, I have agreed with EVERYTHING Griffey Jr. has done over his career…expect for one.

Griffey Jr. retired in the middle of a season. Yes, we know that he is not even a glimmer of his old form. He was batting an abysmal .184 this year, but for Griffey Jr. to give up in the middle of the season and hand up his spikes is sort of, well, lame.

I know that he does not want to be remembered for the way he is playing this year, but really, are any of us going to remember him that way? I know that he did not want to be a distraction to his team mates, but leaving in the middle of the year is telling all the kids that have idolized him–for all the right reasons–that is is okay to give up in the middle of a season. That it is okay to leave when things are tough. For me, I would like to have seen Griffey Jr. finish out the year, and give his fans one last chance to see him play, while also showing today’s kids the right way to leave the game you love.

What are your thoughts on the way Griffey Jr. retired? Do you agree with his choice to leave now, or should he have waited until the end of the season?