Bombshell here tonight as Ken Griffey Jr. has announced his retirement, effective immediately.

Thus ends the career of the greatest Seattle Mariner ever, at 630 home runs --- fifth-most in Major League baseball history behind only Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays.

Team president Chuck Armstrong said at a hastily called press conference on the field about 15 minutes ago that this had all happened in just the last hour or so.

"It caught me off-guard today with the swiftness of the decision,'' Armstrong said, saying that he didn't try to talk Griffey out of it, that Griffey was at peace with his decision.

Proof of that is that Griffey's name remains on the lineup card for tonight's game --- and his jersey remained in the locker as batting practice began.

The M's said there will be a brief acknowledgement of Griffey tonight with something bigger down the road.

Griffey won't be here tonight, they said, so no press conference with him, though again, something is expected down the road.

Here's the official statement from Griffey as released by the team:

"I've come to a decision today to retire from Major League Baseball as an active player.

This has been on my mind recently, but it's not an easy decision to come by. I am
extremely thankful for the opportunity to have played Major League Baseball for so long
and thankful for all of the friendships I have made, while also being proud of my
accomplishments.

I'd like to thank my family for all of the sacrifices they have made all of these years for
me. I'd like to thank the Seattle Mariners organization for allowing me to finish my
playing career where it started. I look forward to a continued, meaningful relationship
with them for many years to come.

While I feel I am still able to make a contribution on the field, and nobody in the
Mariners front office has asked me to retire, I told the Mariners when I met with them
prior to the 2009 season and was invited back, that I will never allow myself to become a
distraction. I feel that without enough occasional starts to be sharper coming off the
bench, my continued presence as a player would be an unfair distraction to my
teammates, and their success as team is what the ultimate goal should be.

My hope is that my teammates can focus on baseball and win a championship for
themselves and for the great fans of Seattle, who so very much deserve one. Thanks to
all of you for welcoming me back, and thanks again to everyone over the years who has
played a part in the success of my career."

His last at-bat came in a pinch-hitting role Monday night when he grounded into what could have been a double-play (the Twins got only one out) in a 5-4 loss.

He was hitting .184 this season with no home runs and seven runs batted in in 33 games and 98 at-bats.

He had decided to come back, at age 40 (he turned 40 in December) for one more season after a triumphant return to Seattle last year when he batted .214 with 19 home runs and 57 RBI.

Armstrong said the decision "all just happened within the last hour'' and that Griffey had been on the phone with Mariners officials throughout the day. Armstrong said that "this is his decision'' and no one else's.

He also spoke of what Griffey meant to the team in saying that "we might not be here today but for Ken Griffey Jr.''

Griffey was a 10-time All-Star with the Mariners and leads the team in HRs (417 as a Mariner) and is second in RBI (1,216) and third in hits (1,843).

He ends his career with 2,781 hits, 46th on the all-time list, and is tied for sixth in extra base hits with 1,192.

Obviously, lots more through the night on this.