Alan “Moose” Clausen was a Mariners employee for 31 years before he retired in 2012. Clausen was originally the Director of Sales before he moved onto final role where he sold suites at Safeco Field. One of the many perks of his job with the ball club was that he got to know many athletes from every team, but one of the people he knew best was Ken Griffey Jr.
“I’m proud to say that I’m a little friend that had an opportunity to do things with Junior,” Moose said.
When Griffey first moved to Seattle as a teenager Moose helped him find a home in the area, and that is one thing that “The Kid” never forgot. From that day forward, they built a friendship. That friendship is still going strong today.
When Moose retired in 2012, a special guest showed up at his unexpectedly at his retirement party.
“Nobody knew he was coming,” Clausen said. “Nobody.”
The soon-to-be Hall of Famer surprised Clausen at Safeco Field as the team paid tribute to their longtime employee.
“I was very emotional and he was too,” Moose said. “I walked on the track from around the field and I saw this guy get up to my left and I looked at him and I looked back and it was junior.”
“And he says ‘Moose,’ and I say ‘Junior, what are you doing here, I didn’t know you were coming,” Clausen said. “I had to be here for this, had to be’, he said. So he’s just a genuine guy. I just love him to death.”
Clausen’s wife Dorothy said that Griffey told her that he never forgot what Clausen did for him when he was a young player and he knew that he did not want to miss his retirement party where he had another chance to say ‘Thank you’.
Moose said he is disappointed that health issues will keep him from going to Cooperstown Sunday for Griffey's induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, but he called Griffey to let him know that he will be watching from afar.
“I’ve got nothing planned but to sit by the TV and watch Jr.’s induction ceremony,” Clausen said. “I’ll treasure that forever and I can’t wait to watch it.”
