--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Growing up, I played 'Ken Griffey, Jr…" description: "\"Growing up, I played 'Ken Griffey, Jr. Baseball' and just whatever I could get my hands on. When I was really young, I was a big fan of Mario and that ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/157/justin-verlander-17970_able_growing-up-i-played-ken-griffey-jr-baseb_1687992.jpg" --- # Growing up, I played 'Ken Griffey, Jr. Baseball' and just… ![“Growing up, I played 'Ken Griffey, Jr. Baseball' and just whatever I could get my hands on. When I was really young, I was a big fan of Mario and that type of stuff. I still play videogames now, so it was really cool for me to be able to play as myself on '2K6' or '2K7,' I believe it was, when I…” quote by Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/157/justin-verlander-17970_able_growing-up-i-played-ken-griffey-jr-baseb_1687992.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/157/justin-verlander-17970_able_growing-up-i-played-ken-griffey-jr-baseb_1687992.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/157/justin-verlander-17970_able_growing-up-i-played-ken-griffey-jr-baseb_1687992.jpg) > “Growing up, I played 'Ken Griffey, Jr. Baseball' and just whatever I could get my hands on. When I was really young, I was a big fan of Mario and that type of stuff. I still play videogames now, so it was really cool for me to be able to play as myself on '2K6' or '2K7,' I believe it was, when I was a rookie.” [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reflects on childhood gaming experiences and personal connection to sports video games **In simple terms:** Childhood gaming shaped love for sports games Key Takeaway Embrace nostalgia in hobbies Themes nostalgia gaming identity Mood playful reflective Type personal anecdote motivational When to use this quote - Playing sports games - collecting memorabilia - relating to fans - marketing personal brand Key Concepts Selfexpression personal branding Questions to Reflect On - How do early hobbies influence current passions? - Can nostalgia enhance fan engagement? A Different Perspective May overlook professional development focus ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [2K7 Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/2k7-believe-1025132/) [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big/) [Big fan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-fan/) [Cool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cool/) [Could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/could/) [Fan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fan/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Ken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ken/) [Mario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mario/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/now/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play 2K6](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-2k6-1025131/) [Play Videogames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-videogames-639732/) [Played](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/played/) [Played Ken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/played-ken-1025133/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Rookie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rookie/) [Still](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/still/) [Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff/) [Type](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/type/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Videogames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/videogames/) [Videogames Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/videogames-really-1025134/) [Whatever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whatever/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a football guy at heart; maybe I should have played football for a living instead, because I play a lot of football videogames,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kidd/i-m-a-football-guy-at-heart-maybe-i-should-have-played-football-for-a/) [Jason Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kidd/) > [Writing for videogames is really unique. You learn all the rules of writing, but there's a whole other set of rules for game writing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhianna-pratchett/writing-for-videogames-is-really-unique-you-learn-all-the-rules-of/) [Rhianna Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhianna-pratchett/) > [When I play videogames I'm trying to go deep every pitch. I'm definitely not going to try to do that in real life. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-pedroia/when-i-play-videogames-i-m-trying-to-go-deep-every-pitch-i-m/) [Dustin Pedroia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-pedroia/) > [I'll take a couple of breaks for some food, but other than that, that's pretty much all I do is play videogames and practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninja/i-ll-take-a-couple-of-breaks-for-some-food-but-other-than-that-that-s/) [Ninja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninja/) > [I used to play videogames, but I don't have too much time anymore. I used to have 3DO, but I could never find any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-goldberg/i-used-to-play-videogames-but-i-don-t-have-too-much-time-anymore-i/) [Bill Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-goldberg/) > [“Pigs can play videogames too difficult for 3-year old children!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-dale/pigs-can-play-videogames-too-difficult-for-3-year-old-children/) [Selena Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-dale/) > [I'd like to work with some of the videogame companies for the simple fact that they obviously need some sort of writer's help. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/i-d-like-to-work-with-some-of-the-videogame-companies-for-the-simple/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I grew up with a single mom, two brothers, and a sister, and after school, we would play outside then go home for dinner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetrious-johnson/i-grew-up-with-a-single-mom-two-brothers-and-a-sister-and-after/) [Demetrious Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrious-johnson/) > [I don't know why, I always play a woman when I play videogames.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-faison/i-don-t-know-why-i-always-play-a-woman-when-i-play-videogames/) [Donald Faison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-faison/) > [I don't play videogames and generally think that online activism is a giant waste of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/i-don-t-play-videogames-and-generally-think-that-online-activism-is-a/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [When you're never home and traveling, you don't play videogames.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olga-kurylenko/when-you-re-never-home-and-traveling-you-don-t-play-videogames/) [Olga Kurylenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olga-kurylenko/) > [Guys that play videogames are hot!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-ziering/guys-that-play-videogames-are-hot/) [Nikki Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-ziering/) > [I play videogames all the time on the plane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/i-play-videogames-all-the-time-on-the-plane/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [We have over an hour of footage with Ken Marino. Same with Kevin Smith. Because you never know, when you let people who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-miller/we-have-over-an-hour-of-footage-with-ken-marino-same-with-kevin-smith/) [Lauren Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-miller/) > [I never give anyone advice: it can backfire horribly. In the 1950s, Eric Morecambe told Ken Dodd to get his teeth fixed. But those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-merton/i-never-give-anyone-advice-it-can-backfire-horribly-in-the-1950s-eric/) [Paul Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-merton/) ## More by Justin Verlander > [I don't think anybody's goal is to be mediocre. I think everybody should want to be the best. I've always felt that way. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/i-don-t-think-anybody-s-goal-is-to-be-mediocre-i-think-everybody/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [I really like the iPad. I think that's pretty cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/i-really-like-the-ipad-i-think-that-s-pretty-cool/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [When an artist wants to paint a painting, they have all those things in their head that they want to portray on a canvas.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/when-an-artist-wants-to-paint-a-painting-they-have-all-those-things/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [I like to challenge hitters with a 'Here it is, hit it,' mentality. It's definitely a big part of my game, especially when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/i-like-to-challenge-hitters-with-a-here-it-is-hit-it-mentality-it-s/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [For me, seeing the progression of video games and consoles - whether it be PlayStation, Xbox, or whatever - I think just seeing how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/for-me-seeing-the-progression-of-video-games-and-consoles-whether-it/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [Im a power guy. Good fastball. A knuckle curve, which I can throw for strikes. A change up which sinks down and away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/im-a-power-guy-good-fastball-a-knuckle-curve-which-i-can-throw-for/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [I am always going to be working on location, even if I have a 20-year career. Talk to me in 15 years and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/i-am-always-going-to-be-working-on-location-even-if-i-have-a-20-year/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [All I know is that if I continue to pitch well, good things will keep happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/all-i-know-is-that-if-i-continue-to-pitch-well-good-things-will-keep/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [I'm trying to win that spot and I'm fighting hard for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/i-m-trying-to-win-that-spot-and-i-m-fighting-hard-for-it/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [If I could, I'd give all 260,000 of you tickets...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/if-i-could-i-d-give-all-260-000-of-you-tickets/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [Actually, I'm a very good golfer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/actually-i-m-a-very-good-golfer/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [It's great for another young guy, another good pitcher to match up against. But like I've said many times, it doesn't really matter who's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/it-s-great-for-another-young-guy-another-good-pitcher-to-match-up/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [To hit 100 miles per hour, thats something. I couldnt believe it when I first saw it, but its something I can do and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/to-hit-100-miles-per-hour-thats-something-i-couldnt-believe-it-when-i/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [The Detroit fans treated me great. I was glad to see they knew my name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/the-detroit-fans-treated-me-great-i-was-glad-to-see-they-knew-my-name/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) > [I think video games are a huge part of our society now. Having kids play baseball video games helps them understand and love the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-verlander/i-think-video-games-are-a-huge-part-of-our-society-now-having-kids/) [Justin Verlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) [Explore all 36 Justin Verlander quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-verlander/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Growing up, I played 'Ken Griffey, Jr. Baseball' and just whatever I could get my hands on. When I was really young, I was a big fan of Mario and that type of stuff. 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