Griffey Jr., Piazza took different paths to Cooperstown
Two players who began their careers at opposite ends of the spectrum nearly three decades ago ended up in the same place on Sunday — with their names etched on plaques at the Baseball Hall of Fame.
For Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza, the culmination of their long journeys was tinged with tears.
“I stand up here humbled and overwhelmed,” Griffey said, staring out at his family and tens of thousands of fans. “I can’t describe how it feels.” Griffey, the first pick of the 1987 amateur draft, became the highest pick ever inducted. Piazza, a 62nd-round pick the next year — No. 1,390 — is the lowest pick to enter the Hall of Fame.
Griffey played 22 seasons with the Mariners, Reds and White Sox and was selected on a record 99.32 per cent of ballots cast.
A 13-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner in centre field, Griffey hit 630 home runs, sixth all-time, and drove in 1,836 runs. He also was the American League MVP in 1997, drove in at least 100 runs in eight seasons, and won seven Silver Slugger Awards.
Griffey hit 417 of his 630 homers and won all 10 of his Gold Gloves with the Seattle Mariners. He played the first 11 seasons of his career with the Mariners and led them to the playoffs for the first two times in franchise history.
Selected in the draft by the Dodgers after Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda put in a good word, Piazza struggled early in his career.
He briefly quit the game while in the minor leagues, returned and persevered despite a heavy workload as he switched from first base to catcher and teammates criticized his erratic play.
Piazza played 16 years with the Dodgers, Marlins, Mets, Padres and Athletics and hit 427 home runs, including a record 396 as a catcher. A 12-time All-Star, Piazza won 10 Silver Slugger Awards and finished in the top five of his league’s MVP voting four times.
A .308 career hitter, Piazza posted six seasons with at least 30 home runs, 100 RBIs and a .300 batting average.
Piazza was traded to the Mets in May 1998.
Three years later, he became a hero to the hometown fans. His two-run shot at Shea Stadium lifted the Mets to a 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves in the first sporting event played in New York after the 9-11 terror attacks.
Piazza paid tribute to that moment.
“Many of you give me praise for the two-run home run in the first game back on Sept. 21, but the true praise belongs to police, firefighters, first responders that knew that they were going to die, but went forward anyway.”