At one point, I actually cheered for the majority of the players I just mentioned – as a matter of fact, the home run chase between McGwire and Sosa in 1998 was one of the high points in the history of baseball at the time – but I have no sympathy for players who have cheated the game.
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“Ken is the first Mariners player to have his number retired”, Mather said.
The Mariners now plan to retire Griffey’s No. 24 during the 2016 Major League Baseball season.
Griffey Sr., playing for the Yankees, almost launched himself into the first row in left field as he snagged his ball, while Junior (with the Seattle Mariners) stabbed a long shot by Jesse Barfield in center. There will never be another Ken Griffey Jr., and that goes all the way down to his ability to remain modest and respectful during all the years of adulation. “Weekend” from August 5-7. Because while Griffey’s Hall of Fame election is an accomplishment worth celebrating, it’s also worth remembering that we nearly lost greatness way too soon.
The Aug. 7 game will include the giveaway of 20,000 replica Griffey jerseys.
Griffey, who debuted for Seattle at the age of 19 in 1989, entered the National Baseball Hall of Fame a first-ballot nominee on Wednesday.
SEATTLE (AP) – Ken Griffey Jr. paused and for a moment the joking stopped. OK, the metrics and eye test are with you if you say Griffey’s the best ever. “There’s always going to be someone in each of those categories, but the one thing they can’t do is outwork you”.
Certainly in the case of Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, despite their vote percentage increasing this year, it will result in truly outstanding players not being in the Hall of Fame (whatever your thoughts on their alleged drug use, it’s hard to make a credible case that they were not players of huge talent), whilst slightly lesser players are elected despite being guilty of the same alleged cheating.
“I was able to sneak into this game, kind of limp in, if you will”, Piazza said. That’s the one thing when I talk to kids – and my kids – is be yourself.
Speaking to Reuters a day after Ken Griffey Jr. was elected to the Hall of Fame in record fashion, the elder Griffey said that some who have been overlooked by voting members of the baseball writers’ association belong in Cooperstown. I suspect the Mets’ backstop had a little fun at Jones’ expense anyway-he always did. He will be the first player to wear a Mariners cap in Mariners history.
The honors aren’t yet be over for Griffey, who is scheduled to join Piazza on Friday morning for the opening of trading on Wall Street.
“Oh, I don’t know”, he teased. He rang the bell on the NY stock exchange with his fellow inductee Mike Piazza.
For Griffey, the choice was even easier, having played 13 of his 22 seasons in Seattle. He becomes the first Mariners player to have his number retired by the team. Four players wore No. 24 prior to Reynolds.
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Following the death of golfer Payne Stewart, who lived in the same area of Orlando as Griffey did during the offseason, Griffey wanted to be closer to his family, many of who were still in the Cincinnati area, the Mariners traded Griffey to the Reds. “It’s unbelievable. Humbling. Awesome”.
