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The BBWAA have elected Ken Griffey Jr into the Baseball Hall of Fame with 437 out of 440 votes for a 99.32% vote. That is the highest percentage ever for any player elected into the Hall of Fame. Everyone knew that this was a formality, but it’s finally here. He’s a first ballot Hall of Famer and has now been elected today along with Mike Piazza, who in his fourth year of eligibility earned 83% of the vote. Tomorrow they both will announce which hat they will wear into the the Hall.
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If you grew up a fan of baseball, today is a day of celebration. It’s not just about Seattle Mariners fans or Cincinnati Reds fans being excited about their own player being elected into the Hall. This is for all fans of the game. This is about the joy and love of the game. Ken Griffey Jr loved the game so much that when you watched him play you went home and tried to emulate him. It didn’t matter how old you were or how young. There was just something special and amazing about it.
Even if you didn’t watch much baseball you knew who Ken Griffey Jr was. That’s how incredibly popular he became. He was a walking advertisement of what the game should be. He wasn’t flashy or brash or at any time look for attention for himself.
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Ken Griffey Jr burst on the scene in April of 1989 with his youthful smile and the sweetest left handed swing you will ever see. He was a kid at 19 years old playing a game. For 22 years he tormented opposing pitchers with his mesmerizing and powerful swing. He stunned hitters by climbing fences, crashing into walls, diving, and even making Willie Mays type of catches over the shoulder. And he did it all with a youthful exuberance that will forever be remembered. Every time you were at a game he was playing in, you were in for a treat. He was something special.
He was a 13-time All-Star, 10-time Gold Glover, 7-time Silver Slugger, American League MVP, 4-time American League Home Run leader. He had a career slash line of .284/.370/.538. He hit a career 630 home runs and 1,836 RBIs. He had a total of 2,781 hits.
As I saw the votes tallied online with the voters that made their votes be known or public on Ryan Thibodaux‘s BBHOF Tracker all I could do was smile. I’ve seen a lot of baseball over the years. But I’m reminded of so much joy every time I think of him. I loved baseball before Ken Griffey Jr came along. But he’s been the best embodiment of a Hall of Famer that I’ve ever seen. If you love this game, you loved Ken Griffey Jr. I don’t know how three writers didn’t vote for him. Someone might want to check their pulse. The Kid was greatness personified and he belongs in the Hall. The Hall of Fame has gained a cornerstone.