With all due respect to Derek Jeter and Frank Thomas, Ken Griffey Jr. is the most important baseball player in sneaker history — and it’s not particularly close. The MLB Hall of Famer is a true anomaly in that he had a full signature line consisting of both cleats and lifestyle sneakers, something no other baseball star can claim (though players like Francisco Lindor and Shohei Ohtani have released collections built on existing, non-signature silhouettes).
2026 marks the 30th anniversary of The Kid’s signature line with Nike — making the timing perfect for another run of the Air Griffey Max 1. Conveniently, this anniversary lines up with the Seattle Mariners’ deepest playoff push since 2001, the year they tied the single-season wins record with 116 before falling to the New York Yankees in the ALCS. This year’s team is led by All-Star catcher Cal Raleigh, who just posted one of the best offensive seasons by a catcher in MLB history and will compete with Yankees slugger Aaron Judge for MVP votes. For our purposes, the renewed spotlight on Griffey comes shortly after he appeared in a Nike Diamond ad wearing the shoe.
This “Freshwater” Air Griffey Max 1 has returned several times over the years, most recently in 2021. The shoe features a synthetic “Freshwater” blue base, white Swoosh logos and “24” numbering, and red accents on the tongue and heel. The rest of the upper comes in black, while a chunky, ripple-patterned sole with visible Air cushioning arrives in black and white. The sneaker is part of a mini retro run for the Griffey Max 1, joined by the alternate “Freshwater” colorway (White/Black/Teal) due out in 2026.
As an extra cherry on top, Nike has released graphic tees depicting Ken Griffey Jr. soaring over Fenway Park’s Green Monster to rob a home run. You can cop ’em HERE for $45 a pop.
When does the Air Griffey Max 1 “Freshwater” release?
The Nike Air Griffey Max 1 “Freshwater” is slated to release December 12th, 2025, priced at $170. See official images below if you need a refresher.
