SEATTLE -- He's a familiar figure to Mariners fans, the man who has tended to injured players on the field for most of the franchise's history. But after 35 seasons as the team's head athletic trainer, Rick Griffin announced Friday he's scaling back his day-to-day duties and transitioning to a new role as the club's "Athletic Trainer Emeritus."
In his new position, Griffin will continue to advise and maintain some administrative duties, but will no longer travel with the team or be involved in the round-the-clock needs of the head training position.
Griffin, 61, had been pondering retirement over the past year, but said general manager Jerry Dipoto talked him into taking the "emeritus" title and remaining active in a more limited way.