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07-23-2016, 10:21 PM
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Congratulations to Ken Griffey Jr.
Tomorrow he will be inducted to the MLB Hall of Fame. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy and arguably the best center fielder ever.
He did it with style, grace, and flair. Having the pleasure of seeing him play many times, he made it look easy. Even when they lost.
Some say he had the prettiest swing in baseball. Bat speed combined with incredible power and a good eye, he hit 630 home runs. He missed 260 games due to injury and 50 or so during the strike shortened seasons of 1994 and 95. Who knows how many more he would have it? Barry who?
Winning ten Gold Gloves, he was even better playing the field.
13 All Star Games. AL MVP. 7 Silver Slugger Awards. And more. The guy could truly do it all.
Some of his numbers aren't as gaudy. But very few were complete players like Griffey.
I miss him. But there's always youtube!
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Last edited by Kanewpadle; 07-27-2016 at 09:45 PM.
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07-23-2016, 11:35 PM
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Congratulations to him!
I have a soft spot in my heart for the Say Hey Kid - number 24 - Willie Mays.
Last edited by Snapping Twig; 07-23-2016 at 11:37 PM.
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07-23-2016, 11:47 PM
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Griffey Jr. was an amazing player. He played during a time when many players used PEDs, but he played clean and with class. You are right about him having the prettiest swing in baseball. He made it look so easy.
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07-23-2016, 11:51 PM
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I was in Cincinnati when he went to the Reds. I thought we was a classy player. He had a lot of bad luck with injuries there.
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07-23-2016, 11:55 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by boykinlp
Griffey Jr. was an amazing player. He played during a time when many players used PEDs, but he played clean and with class. You are right about him having the prettiest swing in baseball. He made it look so easy.
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This +. A class act.
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07-24-2016, 12:14 AM
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Much deserved.
Both Jr. and Sr. have achieved icon status in this small market city.
I have been fortunate to have seen them play many times. I've never met them but wish I could.
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07-24-2016, 01:11 AM
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Fred Lynn was awesome too!
Jim
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07-24-2016, 01:41 AM
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I agree with you almost completely, Kanew. Without Junior, there's no baseball team in Seattle today. People forget the funding for the new stadium was voted down - then when they came from so far back in 1995 to win the division the legislature changed a few things in the package and it barely squeaked through.
Griffey is one of the very few power hitters of his era to which there wasn't even a whiff of taint for steroid use.
I tell people who ask that Griffey is the second greatest player I ever saw play in person. When I was a boy we lived in San Jose - the best time I ever spent with my Dad was going to Giants games at Candlestick Park and watching the Say Hey Kid. it didn't happen often, and was always a thrill to go to a big league game. Beating the Dodgers was just icing on the cake... 
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07-24-2016, 01:43 AM
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Congratulations Ken Griffey Jr. You was a special kind of baseball player.Great!!!!
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07-24-2016, 07:31 AM
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My Son still has all his Griffey memorabilia. Griffey was hitting his stride at the same point that my son was at his most impressional. I'm not much of a baseball fan, but remember that time in history as being pretty magical here in Seattle.
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07-24-2016, 09:19 AM
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Well deserved, to be sure! 
I'm still dismayed that Alan Trammel and Lou Whitaker never made it. Two great Tiger players who deserved it, but were never voted in. 
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07-24-2016, 09:46 AM
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Great player and class act no doubt but there's some fellows named DiMaggio, Mantle, Cobb and Mays that you might throw into the argument as to being the best center fielder of all time.
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07-24-2016, 05:36 PM
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Congrats to Jr, and also to Mike Piazza, inducted in the same class..
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07-25-2016, 12:32 AM
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By next week, this suit will be worth more than my house.
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07-25-2016, 02:10 AM
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Ken Griffey Jr......? The name sounds vaguely familiar. 
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07-25-2016, 08:05 AM
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Watched him play several times in Seattle. I still have a program that the cover shows SR., JR., and JR.s little brother. Nobody remembers but all three played for Seattle for a short time.
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07-25-2016, 01:44 PM
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I watched and like his Dad in the Big Red Machine days. Junior is even better and has surpassed him and deservedly so. He deserves to be in the Hall.
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07-25-2016, 11:25 PM
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I live in San Jose, CA and we have an A class baseball team, the San Jose Giants. I happened to go to one of their games way back when and they were playing the team from Salinas, CA who happened to have a rookie by the name of Ken Griffey, Jr. ;-)
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07-25-2016, 11:31 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rustyt1953
Much deserved.
Both Jr. and Sr. have achieved icon status in this small market city.
I have been fortunate to have seen them play many times. I've never met them but wish I could.
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I met him once at the Seattle Auto Show right after he came to the Mariners.
I walked up to him and said, "are you who I think you are?
He gave me a sideways glance and a little grin and said "who do you think I am?"
"Ken Griffy Jr!"
and he said "sometimes" and kind of side stepped and skittered away into the crowd...
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07-25-2016, 11:33 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RudyN
I live in San Jose, CA and we have an A class baseball team, the San Jose Giants. I happened to go to one of their games way back when and they were playing the team from Salinas, CA who happened to have a rookie by the name of Ken Griffey, Jr. ;-)
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He wasn't there long was he? 
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07-26-2016, 07:28 AM
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Unfortunately Randy Johnson went in as a Diamondback.
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07-26-2016, 10:28 PM
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Congrats to Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza on their inductions.
Griffey Jr. was one of the Best and will be remembered as such.
He is one of only three Major League players......
OF ALL TIME to hit 500 home runs and collect 10 Golden Gloves.
So to the hater above, your point is moot !!
The other two with 500 HR and 10 Golden Gloves
Willie Mays and Mike Schmidt.
Chuck
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