Nike Honors Ken Griffey Jr.'s Hall of Fame Induction With Special Releases

Ken Griffey Jr.’s first signature sneaker has been Nike’s go-to Griffey model for years, and the Air Griffey Max 1 is back again with a new colorway that seemingly connects to one of baseball’s more meaningful summer moments, while also honoring the 10th anniversary since "The Kid" was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame (2016).

Set to release on July 10th, the special Nike Air Griffey Max 1 arrives in a palette that instantly calls back to Griffey’s Seattle Mariners days. Hits of "Midnight Navy," "Fresh Water," and "Team Gold" line up with the visual language of the HBCU Swingman Classic, but the Swoosh has included these touches on the commemorative sneaker as a nod to the Swingman paisley print found on the suit Griffey Jr. wore to his Hall of Fame induction. This touch acknowledges the elegance and importance of the milestone, which arrived 20 years after the original launch of the iconic Air Griffey line.

The shoe keeps the model’s signature mid-cut build, ankle strap, oversized Swoosh placement, and visible Air cushioning, but the details do most of the work here. Midnight Navy covers the nubuck overlays, strap, tongue, and collar, while white leather underlays break up the upper. Look closer, and that white section appears to feature subtle embroidered detailing, adding a more premium finish than the usual plain leather base.

Teal accents hit the Swoosh border, midsole pods, and heel branding, while Team Gold appears across the rope laces, lace loops, forefoot Swoosh, and “24” strap detail. The result lands somewhere between Mariners nostalgia and event-ready storytelling, with enough gold and teal contrast to keep the dark base from feeling too simple.

Because "The Kid" made a name for himself on the baseball diamond first-and-foremost, the Swoosh has created a limited run of Air Griffey Max 1 cleats that match the special sneaker.

The Nike Air Griffey Max 1 sneakers and cleats release on July 10th, 2026 at retailers, including Foot Locker and Nike.com.

For more sneaker news, check out all upcoming Jordan releases.