Griffey Jr goes to Hall with Mariners cap; Piazza with Mets

He is also the first Mariner in the Hall of Fame.

Check out Ken Griffey Jr.’s reaction as he gets the phone call notifying him of his election to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Mike Piazza announced on Thursday that he’s going into the Hall of Fame as a New York Met. “[I’m] happy and shocked that I get to be in such a great club”, said Griffey, who noted that he’s so superstitious that he’s never been inside the Hall of Fame.

Piazza had plenty of reasons to go with the Dodgers, the team that drafted him as a favor in the 62nd round and brought him to the majors in 1992. Same with Tony La Russa, who managed both the Athletics and Cardinals to World Series championships.

While Piazza’s career average and slugging were higher with the Dodgers, he hit more home runs and had more RBIs as a Met. And it was with the Mets where he went to the playoffs twice. “I had to take a step back”. Like every other 20-year-old, it was like no big deal. Nobody’s ever done that. Both men will be inducted into the Hall of Fame th… “Now it’s paid off”. (Rickey Henderson was another, for the record.) Griffey played the game with a lot of pizzazz, but also with a lot of class and determination.

“My dad would say something”. “So she knew my swing”. 362 with 40 bombs and 124 driven in, and sadly lost the MVP award to Larry Walker (.366/49/130) who of course was aided by Coors Field, but I am not bitter. “I thought that was wrong”. He then smiled and added, “She even told (Griffey Sr.) what he did wrong. And, for me, I always enjoyed reconnecting here in NY”.

Last year’s inductions featured a contrast in heights: 6-foot-10 Randy Johnson and 5-foot-11 Pedro Martinez.

Many suspected that Griffey might have a chance to become the first player to receive unanimous approval, but three voters left the 13-time All-Star off their ballots.

“I can’t be upset”, he said.

By the end of his career, Piazza had a.308/.377/.545 line.

Piazza began at Salem, Oregon, in the Northwest League, earning $850 a month. “And baseball guys, I think that’s why the public relates to us”.

“I sat here with my mouth on the floor”, he said. He was unsigned and eligible for arbitration after making $750,000 in 2015. “As long as you get in”.

Safe to say, we’ll be waiting to hear what you decide. However, with Griffey becoming the first Mariner enshrined, the announcement becomes all the more historic. And speaking as someone who loves the game, I thank him for what he’s done and meant to the sport. However Ken Griffey Jr. was one of them.

In 1999, Piazza hit.

“I’m starting to remember”, Piazza said.

His election in his first year of eligibility was a foregone conclusion. “Fun to hit the ball to right there”. Baseball is a better game for having Ken Griffey Jr.be a part of it.