For once in his life, The Natural appeared unnatural.
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“It was the most wonderful experience any human being could have”.
Every legend has his breaking point, it turns out.
But his legacy is as much about the attractive way he performed as the numbers he produced in achieving 99.3 percent of the Hall of Fame votes cast. “I’m (dang) proud to be a Seattle Mariner”.
The former Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox center fielder wore what appeared to be an everyday, garden-variety blue suit adorned with a sharp pinstripe. They packed the lawn outside the Clark Sports Center with most having set up their canopies and folding chairs earlier this week. Griffey had played in front of crowds that big plenty of times with aplomb.
Three of those fans were his children Taryn and Tevin, in addition to Trey.
Hall of Famer Frank Thomas urged Griffey to go out in style, and with help from his family, Griffey got hold of a baseball cap and did just that, pointing out about his National Baseball Hall of Fame induction: “Thank you for making this Kid’s dream come true”. Thank you dad. We made it, dad. “If it was 50,000 people that I didn’t have anything in common with, I’d have been all right”.
And he even managed to sneak in his signature look from his playing days: the backward cap, via Cut4. Fans of the beloved baseball star say they can’t pick a favorite moment of his career. Griffey Sr. went on to become an All-Star and key member of the great Reds teams of the 1970s.
“He taught me how to play this game, but more importantly, he taught me how to be a man”, said Griffey, who failed hopelessly and delightfully his pre-speech prediction of coolness.
“I stand up here humbled and overwhelmed”, said Griffey Jr.
Piazza, 47, gave them one more thrill as he was inducted into baseball’s shrine.
Griffey said of his first impressions of Seattle: “Hey, Dad – Where’s Seattle?” We don’t know when our next one is going to come. You always sent me baseball equipment when I needed it. You convinced the Dodgers to draft me.
Griffey explained that while they were sitting on the couch, Trey took a bat and “hit the TV”.
“It was tough, but I got through it”, said Griffey, who already is looking forward to watching the 2017 ceremony with Piazza. She asked me why I was not mad.
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“The only way I ever thought I would ever be here with you is if I bought a ticket”. But that player, a modest, playful superstar, is the man who should be forever remembered in Cooperstown. So popular, he was named to MLB’s All-Century team in 1999 though he was just 11 years into his career.
