Elected on the fourth try, Piazza joins Tom Seaver as the only players going into the Hall as Mets. Joe Black, who played in the Negro Leagues, and Chuck Harmon, the first African-American player to play for the Reds, were frequent dinner guests at the Griffey home. The Dodgers drafted him in the 62nd round only as a favor to his father’s friend, Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda. “You have to refine your craft”, Piazza added. “You just need a chance”. “Through a lot of hard work and determination, some luck, some timing, was able to build a pretty good career”. You’ll just have to picture the broad smile which punctuated that remark.
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Somehow, someway three writers felt Ken Griffey Jr. didn’t do enough to merit entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame. “I am shocked, humbled”. It’s something that you can only dream of. “I am very honored”. Griffey was clear about wanting it to have a Seattle marking.
Jeff Bagwell missed by 15 votes, and Trevor Hoffman was 34 shy in his first year on the ballot. 367 lifetime and had 4,191 hits – received 98.23 percent of the 222 votes cast.
You’ve no doubt heard by now that Junior will be the first Mariner – as in wearing the Seattle team’s cap – when his bust is enshrined in Cooperstown. Hall of Fame Bobblehead Night and August 7 will be Ken Griffey Jr.
The Hall has become something of a sideshow over the years, with far too many committees letting in far too many fringe players.
“For them to say we don’t want anybody to wear this number, it’s overwhelming”, Griffey said.
Griffey initially spent his first 11 seasons in Seattle, until 2000, when he left for the Cincinnati Reds, and later the Chicago White Sox.
Speaking to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times and the rest of the media, Griffey said: “I don’t think I did half of what he did”. “I’m going to have to leave that to a fan vote”. Musial and Robert Joseph “Buddy” Griffey played baseball together in Donora. Neither player ever failed a drug test, but no one – and I do mean no one – believes that they played clean. He also said he will declare a day in July as “Junior Day”.
Griffey was then interviewed by the press.
In seven seasons with the Dodgers, Piazza hit.331/.394/.572 with 177 HR, 115 doubles, and 563 RBIs. He was originally assigned No. 25, which is not a bad number for a young slugger. McDowell wore 31. Ojeda was 37.
We stayed in touch for a little while after the story.
“My lucky number is always in the 3s”.
“It’s something I can’t describe”, Piazza said. He could be voted in down the road by one of the committees the Hall uses to vote on old-timers, non-players, and candidates no longer on the ballot.
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No such doubts were ever harbored about Griffey Jr., the brilliant all-round talent, whose flowing swing produced 630 career home runs to go with 184 stolen bases and 10 Gold Glove awards for sensational defensive skills in center field. John Smoltz had previously been the lowest drafted Hall of Famer (22nd round in 1985). 308 average and smacked a big league record 396 homers as a catcher (and 427 overall), with his signature years coming with the Mets he quickly turned to his side.
