They just wanted to pay tribute to Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza for all they did after they were drafted.
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Former Dodgers star Mike Piazza can now add that to his resume though, following an emotional entry into the hall of baseball’s legends. “You have given me the greatest gift and have graciously taken me into your family”, he said before the familiar chant broke out.
Over 40 thousand people were on hand when Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame earlier this afternoon.
“Absolutely nerve-wracking”, Piazza said with a laugh afterward.
It was a privilege to watch Junior and his incredible career and we will likely never see a hitter with his natural ability and charisma for a long time, if ever. It clearly reminded me that our family is not alone when it comes to having a connection with baseball. Piazza was given praise on the first game the Mets played after 9/11 on September 21, 2001 when he hit a two-run home run in Shea Stadium against the Mets’ rival the Atlanta Braves.
“Trey texted me while I was on the stage, ‘I love you man, ‘” Griffey said after the ceremony.
He then reached underneath the podium, pulled out a Hall of Fame cap and placed it backwards upon his head – just as he had done while warming up for games throughout his career.
“Dad always dreamed of playing in the major leagues”, Piazza said. “The race is over”. “Now is the time to smell the roses”.
Ken Griffey Jr. fights back tears. He actually began crying before he even spoke – the result of not heeding the advice of his Hall of Fame elders who suggested he avoid eye contact with his children until necessary.
“There are two misconceptions about me – I didn’t work hard and everything I did I made look easy”, Griffey said during his acceptance speech. I remember being told: ‘Don’t look at your kids, don’t look at your kids until you have to.’ Nope, not me. “Don’t do that?’ And you do it anyway?”
Piazza played 16 seasons for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres and Oakland A’s.
But then I thought about it some more…and realized that the Mike Piazza trade was one of the most important in franchise history.
Griffey debuted as a teenager in 1989 and wasted no time becoming one of the great all-around center fielders of all time.
Piazza summed up his experience with baseball, saying, “I’ve been devoted to this great game of baseball and it is a worthy cause”.
To this day, and likely forever, the moments that had Griffeys Senior and Junior in the Mariners outfield remain among the most incredible in sports history.
There were about 50,000 people at the ceremony, but at times, each dad felt that his son was speaking directly and privately to him.
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Hall officials say the crowd tied for the second largest ever for an induction (behind the year Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn were honored).
