With the MLB All-Star Game set to take place next week in Denver, Nike Baseball has revealed a Nike Air Griffey Metal to pay tribute to one of the greatest baseball players of all time – Hank Aaron. Aaron was an inspiration to the Griffeys and Ken Griffey Jr. got involved in the design process of the cleat with the Nike design team.
The Air Griffey Metal uses a white and black base on the upper and there are design elements from all of Aaron’s professional teams such as the tongue and heel pull tabs which pay homage to the Indianapolis Clowns, the negro league team where Aaron got his start. The Atlanta Braves tribute is seen on the pinstriped mudguard and the blue and gold eyestay near the toebox is for the Milwaukee Brewers. The gold Swoosh on the heel symbolizes his 3 Golden Gloves.
The ankle straps are debossed with Aaron’s inspirational motto of “Keep Swinging,” and inside the straps have Aaron’s Hall of Fame career stats debossed. Aaron’s 44 replaces Griffey’s 24 on the velcro tab and the sockliner has a “44” bottle cap which refers to Aaron’s use of objects to perfect his swing. 44 is seen again in gold on the lateral toe and a metallic gold plate cleat finishes it off.
The Nike Air Griffey Metal “Hank” is exclusive to Nike athletes taking part in MLB All-Star Week so expect to see guys like Marcus Semien and Mike Trout to be wearing them next week.
