The Untold Truth of Melissa Griffey Who is Ken Griffey Jr.’s Wife

Melissa Griffey is the wife of Ken Griffey, a retired professional baseball outfielder who was fondly called the ‘Micheal Jordan of Baseball’. Melissa and Ken got married in 1992 and their union has been blessed with three children, two of which are biological while one is adopted.

Melissa has been married to Ken Griffey for more than two decades and is a very supportive wife to him. She lives a low-profile life but was usually present for her husband’s games. Their union has faced certain challenges, but they have been able to stay strong. Here are the things we have been able to gather about Ken Griffey’s wife Melissa Griffey.

Melissa Griffey was Raised By Her Adopted Parents

Melissa Griffey was born on the 25th of June 1969 but was raised by her adoptive parents because her actual parents gave her up for adoption. We do not have details about who her parents or adoptive parents are and whether or not she had siblings. She is yet to reveal details about her childhood, however, we know that her adopted parents are the ‘parent figure’ she knew.

Melissa has not revealed details about her educational background, however, there are reports that she graduated from a university in the United States. But neither the course she studied nor the name of the university is known.

Melissa Griffey Got Married to Ken Griffey Jr.’s in 1992

Melissa Griffey and Ken Griffey met each other at an alcohol-free bar before exchanging marital vows in 1992. We do not have details about how long they knew each other before dating and how long they dated. What we do know is that by the time they met, Ken Griffey had already started his baseball career and their union brought a lot of attention to Melissa who preferred to keep a low profile.

Before they got married, Ken Griffey attempted suicide in 1988 as a result of depression. Nothing seemed to be working for him at home with his father and at the field with his teammates. He was tired of living and decided to take his life by abusing Aspirin. Thankfully, his girlfriend’s mother (at the time) was able to rush him to the ICU before it was too late.

In the ICU, he removed the IV in a bid to end an argument with his father. In all, the entire incident helped Ken build a better relationship with his father. We cannot say for sure if he was already dating Melissa by this time and if it was her mother who rushed him to the ICU.

Melissa Griffey is a Mother of Three Children

Melissa Griffey and her husband Ken have been married for 32 years and their union has blessed them with three children, two of which are biological while one is adopted.

On the 19th of January 1994, they welcomed their first child called Trey Griffey into the world and on the 21st of October 1995, their daughter Taryn Griffey was born. After having two biological children, Ken and Melissa decided to adopt one more child who now happens to be their third and last child. Tevin Kendall was born on the 5th of May 2002.

All of Melissa Griffey’s Children Are Athletes

All of Melissa Griffey’s children are sportsmen, just like their father. Their first son Trey Griffey plays for Arizona University and the Seattle Mariners football team. Their daughter Taryn Griffey attended the University of Arizona and played for the women’s basketball team.

The couple’s third child Tevin was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) from 2017 to 2019.

She is a Stay at Home Mom

According to reports, Melissa Griffey is a stay-at-home mom. However, she assists her husband in running his business and charity. When Melissa and Ken got married, he was actively involved in baseball and spent less time at home.

As such, she took up the responsibility of taking care of their children and supporting them. This way, his career demands wouldn’t have as much impact on their family and children. Melissa was also known for always attending her husband’s games and being his number one cheerleader. Unfortunately, things changed.

The Couple Reside in Florida

The Griffey family currently resides in Winter Garden, Florida. Although her husband is no longer playing baseball, their family is still in the limelight. Ken Griffey’s wife still maintains a low profile and is still a big supporter of her husband and children. Throughout her marriage, neither she nor her husband has washed each other’s dirty linen in public.

Ken Griffey Jr.’s Wife Also Received Insults From Fans For Her Husband’s Career Challenges

In 2000, Ken Griffey started to play for Cincinnati Reds after signing a nine-year contract worth $116.5 million. Unfortunately, he was unable to perform as much as expected as a result of injuries. His inability to perform offended fans.

In 2007, Melissa’s husband was diagnosed with pleurisy, an illness that is characterized by inflammation of the lining of the cavity surrounding the lungs that result in painful respiration. His illness made it even more difficult for him to perform better. Fans were not the only ones who could not deal with his decline in performance, his teammates were also pissed off and would sometimes rub it in his face.

Ken Griffey was not the only one getting jabs for his performance, his wife was too whenever she came to cheer her husband up during his games. Fans would throw insults at her and ask her to go back to Seattle and take care of her husband. As a result of the insults, she decided to stop attending his games.

By 2011, the challenges became so much that Ken Griffey decided to retire from professional baseball because he believed he was becoming a distraction to his teammates. In 2016, he was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame. In July 2019, he was elected to become a part of the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors. He is currently working as a senior adviser for Rob Manfred, MLB Commissioner. Ken became a minority owner of Seattle Sounders FC in November 2020.