CP Newsalert: Griffey elected to baseball Hall of Fame; Piazza also chosen

“This was a game he knew and he loved and he enjoyed playing”. FILE – In this September 27, 1998 file photo, St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire hits his 69th home run in the third inning off Montreal Expos pitcher Mike Thurman, at Busch Stadium, in St. Louis, Jeff Bagwell, Tim Rain…

One was the first overall pick who fulfilled every bit of his potential.

Mike Piazza, on the other hand, was an afterthought during the 1988 draft, going to Los Angeles in the 62nd round.

In some ways they will enter the shrine in Cooperstown, N.Y., together as polar opposites.

Griffey’s talent and effervescence carried him clear of all the din and debate on Wednesday.

Ken Griffey’s successful career gets recognized and immortalized.

It’s really hard to say, but, I mean, Griffey was obviously deserving and certainly should’ve had 100 percent. “It’s a tremendous honor to be elected”.

All but three voters named Ken Griffey Jr. on their ballots, which comes to a percentage of 99.3.

InteractiveMLB Hall of Fame 2017: Who is worthy?

While there was some doubt that Piazza may not be elected into the Hall of Fame as his name was often times connected to steroid use, despite no proof ever surfacing, there was never such doubt for Griffey.

“I didn’t want to go in unless I was a Hall of Famer”, he said. Former Cardinals closer Lee Smith will have a 15th and final year on the ballot next winter after receiving 34.1 percent this year, and Larry Walker leapfrogged McGwire to remain on with 15.5 percent.

In his fourth year on the ballot, Mike Piazza, one of the most productive and beloved sluggers to play for the Mets, was elected to the Hall of Fame on Wednesday.

Out of high school in 1987, Griffey was selected by the Seattle Mariners with the first overall draft pick of that year’s amateur draft.

Both have 6 more years on the ballot before their eligibility expires. Bonds jumped to 44%, up from 35% to 37%. Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens specifically on merit absolutely should be in the Hall of Fame, but there a lot of voters that draw a line in the sand and won’t vote for guys that are widely believed to have used performance-enhancing drugs. “They had never seen a ball hit that far”. “I was already popular”. “I think this game is in great hands with so many writers and analysts and people that are able to put that in perspective”.

With his backward baseball cap and million-watt smile, Griffey’s popularity transcended baseball in the 1990s to include video games and even a chocolate bar.

“He’s an easy player to root for”, Royals general manager Dayton Moore said.

Griffey was known simply as “Junior” by many as a contrast to his father, three-time All-Star outfielder Ken Griffey, who played alongside him in Seattle during 1990 and ’91. “Alex is one of the greatest players and stories I’ve been around in the game, how he persevered and the changes he made and how he did it and how he led, and he didn’t complain”. You can say these things.

But he made the most of his opportunity and retired as the best hitting catcher of all time, with more than 400 home runs and a dozen All-Star Game appearances.

“The issue is a dark cloud over the game”, Piazza said. It’s just something I can’t describe. I knew coming to NY, it was not a comfortable place to play.

What should baseball fans be watching for when the voting results are announced on MLB Network? “The fans understand there’s no flawless institution”. “It’s the human condition that we all make mistakes”. The Mariners and Reds great is the first centre fielder to be elected since Kirby Puckett in 2001. Bagwell soared from 55.7% last year to over 71% this year and will likely get in next year. Only 10 players in history had come from more than 20 per cent away to gain election the next year.

Others seeing significant leaps in their totals: Curt Schilling rose from 39.2 percent to 52.3, Edgar Martinez from 27 percent to 43.4 and Mike Mussina from 24.6 percent to 43.

Trammell in his 15th and final year on the ballot (he was grandfathered in when the ballot time limit was reduced to 10 years) mustered 40.9 percent support and thus dropped off the ballot.