Watch Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza’s reaction to Hall election
Thanks to over 48 percent of the 440 Hall of Fame ballots cast being made public before Wednesday’s announcement, there was no doubt that Ken Griffey Jr. (99.3 percent of the final vote) would be elected in his first year of eligibility. There was also little doubt that Mike Piazza (83) would join him, but that didn’t make the official word any less meaningful to both men.
Prior to the announcement being made public on MLB Network, both Griffey and Piazza received the phone call that every major league player dreams about getting from a young age, and both of their reactions were caught on camera.
In Griffey’s case, there was a little more to it than being informed he was going into the Hall of Fame. Griffey also learned he’d received the highest percentage of votes, with 437 of the 440 voters putting a check by his name. Griffey’s reaction to that news was joyful, which fits the way he played he game for 22 years, and also humble, which fits the personality and level of maturity we watched him grow into before our eyes.
Even his basic ringtone was humble under the circumstances. We could not blame Griffey if the theme from “The Natural” played out loud every time someone dialed his number, and especially so on this momentous day. A Star Wars ringtone wouldn’t have surprised us of either. Not after seeing this awesome photo of Griffey embracing his daughter on Wednesday.
The force wasn’t with Griffey. He WAS force everywhere he went. That’s why he was so beloved and so well respected, especially so in Seattle, where his No. 24 now waves atop the Space Needle.
Those videos and photos captured great moments on a great day for the Griffey family. The following video captured what was a highly emotional phone call for Mike Piazza.
You can hear and feel the emotion and gratitude in Piazza’s voice. After falling short of election for three years, there is obviously a different perspective and perhaps a different appreciation for the honor he’s now received.
As we’ve learned in recent years, there are few guarantees when it comes to Hall of Fame voting. With so many factors involved, including PED suspicion and the logjam of talent that has helped create, there are many worthy players still on the outside looking in. Mike Piazza is no longer among that group, and his happiness is shining through.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
