Ken Griffey Jr. topped the ballot last November, and now he has officially been elected into Baseball’s Hall of Fame, garnering 99% of the votes, according to reports.
The Major League Baseball sensation completed his career with 630 home runs, 1,836 runs batted in, 2,781 hits, and 13 All-Star selections.
“I can’t be upset. It’s just an honor to be elected
and to have the highest percentage is definitely a shock,” Griffey told ESPNÂ on a conference call. “In case you don’t know, I’m really superstitious,” he said. “I’ve played in the Hall of Fame game three times, and I’ve never set foot in the building. I’ve never even seen the front of it. The one time I wanted to go in there, I wanted to be a member.”ass="amp-ad-wrapper amp_ad_1 ampforwp-incontent-custom-banner ampforwp-incontent-ad2">He played outfield for three teams over 22 seasons between 1989-2010, but had standout career moments with the Seattle Mariners.
The Shadow League writer, Jeff Washington writes:
Not only was he one of the best centerfielders of all-time, but also one of the best all-around players the game has ever witnessed. He will be celebrated and remembered as a player that dominated the ‘steroid era’ without ever being connected to cheating.
Griffey, known as “Junior,” comes from a legacy of baseball greatness. He’s t
he son of three-time All-Star outfielder Ken Griffey, and he played alongside his father in Seattle in the early ’90s. Junior became a 13-time All-Star outfielder and hit 630 homeruns. After reaching the major leagues in 1989, he was selected for 11 consecutive All-Star games in 1990.Born in Donora, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 21, 1969, Griffey Jr. grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, where his father; Griffey, Sr., played for the Cincinnati Reds. Griffey and his wife Melissa have three children: Ken Griffey III (Trey), daughter Taryn Kennedy, and adopted son Tevin Kendall; they reside in Winter Garden, Florida.