And from some other No. 24s – Kobe Bryant and Jeff Gordon (no Marshawn Lynch, though). It all got started this morning as Griffey raised a flag with his number “24” on it in Mariner colors at the top of the Space Needle. Hall of Fame bobblehead.
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“It’s not up to par, to say the least”, the Mamba said of his game. “He is, without question, the greatest player to have ever worn a Seattle Mariners uniform”. He spent 13 of his 22 seasons in Seattle, and it was there that Griffey became more than a baseball player, transcending the sport to become a touchstone of greater pop culture.
“I can’t really explain what the last two weeks have been like”. Seattle scored four times in the seventh thanks to three straight walks by reliever Jose Valdez (0-1), just called up from the minors. And that’s a tribute to you guys here – who treat baseball players, basketball players and football players like normal people.
During warmups, members of the Mariners all wore No. 24 and even had their hats on backwards, like Griffey used to famously do. He was just back from a three-month stint on the disabled list, having broken his wrist in May making another spectacular play against the center field wall.
Mays wasn’t there and didn’t make it to the Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cooperstown, New York, two week ago, either.
Griffey has not watched the television replay of his emotional Hall of Fame speech and doesn’t intend to soon.
Mather also announced that the team will construct a statue of Griffey outside of Safeco Field to be unveiled in 2017. “It’s been unforgettable”, Griffey said during the ceremony. He said he left a voicemail.
Bryant, wearing a “Ringsssss” shirt, then joked that the Kid could help him on the golf course.
The plaque will be on display at Safeco Field during the Mariners vs. Los Angeles Angels games on Friday and Saturday, which will provide an opportunity for fans with tickets to the games to see it. Payton, nicknamed “The Glove”, presented Griffey with a bronzed glove created by the same group that made Griffey’s Hall of Fame plaque. If not for Griffey’s heroics, no one would ever have had the chance to enjoy a lovely summer evening at Safeco Field.
“To the fans, keep supporting these guys”, Griffey said. “They’re all, ‘No, you were a little different in your speech'”.
“I said, ‘You all did”.
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“I’ve had so many great memories in this city”.
