Ends induction speech with backward hat

COOPERSTOWN — Ken Griffey, Jr. figured out the perfect finishing touch to his Hall of Fame induction speech Sunday: He pulled out a baseball cap and put it on backward. Junior, a buoyant player, was known for wearing it that way during batting practice and before games.

The move, which garnered raves, came after he thanked family, friends, fans and the Reds, White Sox and Mariners for “making this kid’s dream come true.”

When Griffey was elected earlier this year, there was some speculation that his plaque would have a backwards cap, though that did not happen. Ending his speech this way was not even his idea, he said. Instead, Hall of Famer Frank Thomas urged him to do it and it was all impromptu.

“When we showed up at the site (for the ceremonies), he said, ‘You gotta do it, you gotta do it,’ ” Griffey said. Griffey called his wife and asked her to find a hat for him and a friend dropped it off before Junior’s speech. He ended up putting on a Baseball Hall of Fame cap.

Griffey, a 13-time All-Star who slugged 630 homers, was emotional during his speech and joked that he really lost it when he looked at his kids. “They say, ‘Don’t look at your kids until you have to,’ ” Griffey said. and Whitey Ford were introduced together when the Hall of Famers were brought out, with Torre helping the aging Ford get to his seat.