Hinch recalls feats by Griffey

Astros manager A.J. Hinch has the distinction of playing and managing against Ken Griffey Jr., who along with Mike Piazza will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sunday in Cooperstown, N.Y. Hinch has a story from both roles that embodies the playful personality of a superstar Hinch describes as having a “larger than life” persona. Griffey was in in his prime when Hinch broke into the majors as a catcher with Oakland in the late 1990s. Once, Hinch said, Griffey essentially called his shot, homered and then winked at him as he crossed home plate.

Fast-forward a decade. Griffey was 39, back with the Seattle Mariners and nearing retirement. Hinch was the 35-year-old manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Diamondbacks led 3-1 in the eighth inning of a game at Safeco Field when Griffey pinch-hit. He launched a game-tying home run to deep rightcenter field.

“The very next day in batting practice,” Hinch said, “he let me know, ‘Ten years ago, I tried to teach you not to pitch me inside, and you didn’t learn. You’re not as smart as Stanford says you are.’ ”

Hinch said playing against Griffey for the first time in June 1998 was a big deal even though they are only about 4½ years apart in age. He remembers taking note of Griffey’s famed backwards-hat look during batting practice before his first game against him.

“You learn not to talk trash to Ken Griffey Jr. because he could probably do whatever he wants to on the baseball field as an aging 39-, 40-year-old and certainly as a superstar breaking into the game,” Hinch said. “A fun guy to watch play from a distance. Tough guy to compete against.”