Ken Griffey Jr. enters the Hall.

[Strenuus]

He and Mike Piazza made amazing speeches. If you can find a video of it, watch it. That guy was THE man of the 90's... It was he and Micheal Jordan, really. Definitely my favorite player growing up, so it was beautiful to see.

 

[Dougnsalem]

He and Mike Piazza made amazing speeches. If you can find a video of it, watch it. That guy was THE man of the 90's... It was he and Micheal Jordan, really. Definitely my favorite player growing up, so it was beautiful to see.

FOR SURE. I lived around there at the time, and when he played for Bellingham, he was the ONLY topic of conversation....

 

[Minstrel]

Shame he fell off so quickly, due to injuries, after 30. His career numbers could have been off-the-charts ridiculous, instead of just the gleaming prime.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I'd love to know the 3 idiots who left him off their ballots. Their votes should be stripped. Going forward I'd like it to be transparent. That being said, they probably kept him off cause they thought he took steroids. His body broke down quickly, a la Tiger

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Shame he fell off so quickly, due to injuries, after 30. His career numbers could have been off-the-charts ridiculous, instead of just the gleaming prime.

Non steroid user, body deteriorated like a normal person.

He did put up off the charts numbers though...

2781 Hits, 630 Home Runs, 1836 RBI... INSANE

 

[Dougnsalem]

I'd love to know the 3 idiots who left him off their ballots. Their votes should be stripped. Going forward I'd like it to be transparent. That being said, they probably kept him off cause they thought he took steroids. His body broke down quickly, a la Tiger

It wasn't Mike Rice. He had a chance, and didn't do it to Curry. That would have been some funny shit-Dame gets a vote, from Rice.....

Edit: Just ignore this post. I kinda rambled way off topic there.....

 

[Minstrel]

Non steroid user, body deteriorated like a normal person.

Most elite athletes don't fall off that quickly after 30. It wasn't just lack of steroids. But he did continue to hit reasonably well, it was just that his fielding dropped off a cliff, so I guess his numbers wouldn't have been tremendously different.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Most elite athletes don't fall off that quickly after 30. It wasn't just lack of steroids. But he did continue to hit reasonably well, it was just that his fielding dropped off a cliff, so I guess his numbers wouldn't have been tremendously different.

To be fair he started playing Major League ball when he was 19. He was 30 after 11 seasons of pro baseball, it makes sense his production took a dip.

 

[Minstrel]

To be fair he started playing Major League ball when he was 19. He was 30 after 11 seasons of pro baseball, it makes sense his production took a dip.

Most players are playing baseball from 18 on, just in college or the minor leagues. I'm not sure that major league ball is more damaging to the body, since it's not a contact sport, like football or even basketball, where you could say slamming into much bigger, stronger guys would wear you out.

I think he just had some unfortunate injuries that sapped his mobility.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Most players are playing baseball from 18 on, just in college or the minor leagues. I'm not sure that major league ball is more damaging to the body, since it's not a contact sport, like football or even basketball, where you could say slamming into much bigger, stronger guys would wear you out.

I think he just had some unfortunate injuries that sapped his mobility.

There's a pretty big difference between college/minor leagues. Mainly games played. Also, KGJr played in the 90s, sports medicine/training/surgery has greatly improved since he entered the league 26 years ago. Injuries are so unfortunate :/

 

[Minstrel]

There's a pretty big difference between college/minor leagues. Mainly games played.

Yeah, that's true.

 

[Strenuus]

Shame he fell off so quickly, due to injuries, after 30. His career numbers could have been off-the-charts ridiculous, instead of just the gleaming prime.

Get this: He still put up those ridiculous numbers, while missing 482 games. He was still the greatest player of our generation DESPITE his injuries.... that's insane.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Get this: He still put up those ridiculous numbers, while missing 482 games. He was still the greatest player of our generation DESPITE his injuries.... that's insane.

Think if he came in to the league now, he'd make Trout and Harper look like high school kids statistically.

 

[Strenuus]

I'd love to know the 3 idiots who left him off their ballots. Their votes should be stripped. Going forward I'd like it to be transparent. That being said, they probably kept him off cause they thought he took steroids. His body broke down quickly, a la Tiger

His body broke down quickly because of injuries, not steroids. So if that is INDEED the case (Although he should have been left off of no ballots period, I do agree there 100%) then they are just flat out wrong. I do believe he was never suspicious of ever taking steroids.

On that same note, if he WAS ever suspicious of taking steroids, a few more people would have left him off, like they do all the others who are suspected.

 

[Strenuus]

Think if he came in to the league now, he'd make Trout and Harper look like high school kids statistically.

They had a really good discussion on the M's pregame on the radio: How would Jr take the "media" these days? It was well known he was guarded of the media off the field, but always knew of his "celebrity" (Though he didn't really want that). With the advent of social media, you wonder how he would have handled it.

Mike Blowers said he always wanted to go to lunch with the guys, but stayed in his hotel room a lot because he knew the ramifications of him being out in the public eye.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

They had a really good discussion on the M's pregame on the radio: How would Jr take the "media" these days? It was well known he was guarded of the media off the field, but always knew of his "celebrity" (Though he didn't really want that). With the advent of social media, you wonder how he would have handled it.

Mike Blowers said he always wanted to go to lunch with the guys, but stayed in his hotel room a lot because he knew the ramifications of him being out in the public eye.

He'd basically be Tim Duncan of the baseball world.

 

[Mediocre Man]

His body broke down quickly because of injuries, not steroids. So if that is INDEED the case (Although he should have been left off of no ballots period, I do agree there 100%) then they are just flat out wrong. I do believe he was never suspicious of ever taking steroids.

On that same note, if he WAS ever suspicious of taking steroids, a few more people would have left him off, like they do all the others who are suspected.

Just my opinion.

 

[ripcityboy]

Loved when he put on his hat backward and everybody cheered. So glad he went in a Mariner. I'm sure it will be great when Ichiro goes in an M. Can you believe that franchise mad probably the two greatest talents of their generation?

I honestly hope Portland gets a team of some kind again. Those lazy days of summer aren't right without flat beer and yelling, "Swing battta!"

 

[Strenuus]

Just my opinion.

Didn't say you were wrong in having that opinion, just wanted to show a different perspective.

 

[Strenuus]

Loved when he put on his hat backward and everybody cheered. So glad he went in a Mariner. I'm sure it will be great when Ichiro goes in an M. Can you believe that franchise mad probably the two greatest talents of their generation?

I honestly hope Portland gets a team of some kind again. Those lazy days of summer aren't right without flat beer and yelling, "Swinging battta!"

Yeah dude... the best part is he NEVER alluded to the fact he was ever going to don the hat. That was freaking awesome. I was like "Uhh, griff, what you grabbin down there... OH SNAP!" haha.

Yeah, I listen to Hillsboro Hops games and cheer for them because they are the baseball team here. But, man, how awesome would it be to have MLB baseball here. May never happen though.

regardless though!

 

[riverman]

Shoutout to Ken Griffey Jr! One of the greatest of his era! Great speech!

 

[Strenuus]

Shoutout to Ken Griffey Jr! One of the greatest of his era! Great speech!

Hear hear!

God, did you see Piazza's too? His was beautiful too... and when it showed a close up of his dad... good lord, straight to the heart.

 

[riverman]

Hear hear!

God, did you see Piazza's too? His was beautiful too... and when it showed a close up of his dad... good lord, straight to the heart.

I haven't yet but will check it out later. Mariners looked good against the Blue Jays yesterday..Cruz with 7 RBIs on two homers...great hitting..about 20 hits or so in the game for the good guys

 

[SheedSoNasty]

Griffey was my reason for loving baseball as a kid and my interest quickly faded once he left Seattle. Definitely one of the greatest of all time.

 

[Shaboid]

I'd love to know the 3 idiots who left him off their ballots. Their votes should be stripped. Going forward I'd like it to be transparent. That being said, they probably kept him off cause they thought he took steroids. His body broke down quickly, a la Tiger

I imagine the 3 guys that left him off are some purists that don't think anyone should get in, their first time on the ticket. They exist.

Either way, always going to be my favorite player of all time. Not a chance I see that changing. Unless Cano leads them to rings for the rest of his career.

 

[Minstrel]

I'm not a Mariners fan, but in the past ~25 years, they've had Griffey, Alex Rodriguez, Randy Johnson, Edgar Martinez, Ichiro Suzuki and Felix Hernandez. That's quite a cavalcade of superstars over that stretch. All but Martinez are basically first-ballot locks on talent (Rodriguez won't be due to the steroid issue) and Martinez should be an easy Hall of Famer.

 

[ripcityboy]

I'm not a Mariners fan, but in the past ~25 years, they've had Griffey, Alex Rodriguez, Randy Johnson, Edgar Martinez, Ichiro Suzuki and Felix Hernandez. That's quite a cavalcade of superstars over that stretch. All but Martinez are basically first-ballot locks on talent (Rodriguez won't be due to the steroid issue) and Martinez should be an easy Hall of Famer.

I agree. If you're going to put designated hitters in the HOF, Martinez should be the first one in.

Red Sox fans have been waiting to cast Big Papi in bronze and saying he's a first ballot. That's crap. You could easily have put Martinez as being the best hitter in baseball for a good stretch of time. He won two batting titles and redefined the position. Before Edgar played designated hitters were Chili Davis or Harold Baines types.... RBI men who hit a fair number of home runs. Edgar was one of the most feared hitters and baseball and he did it after an injury ruined his career at 3b.

My guess is Edgar won't really gave a shot until Ortiz gets in. They have pretty much all but yelled, "He's going to be the first DH in!" But then it will have least opened the door. Still he will probably have to wait until the last year of eligibility then it goes to the veterans committee. Which kind of sucks. But there it is.

 

[Strenuus]

I'm not a Mariners fan, but in the past ~25 years, they've had Griffey, Alex Rodriguez, Randy Johnson, Edgar Martinez, Ichiro Suzuki and Felix Hernandez. That's quite a cavalcade of superstars over that stretch. All but Martinez are basically first-ballot locks on talent (Rodriguez won't be due to the steroid issue) and Martinez should be an easy Hall of Famer.

I think if anyone represents the DH, and the pureness of hitting from the 90's on, it's Edgar.

But, Ortiz will be the DH ambassador. And while well well deserved, I think Edgar should really be the "godfather" of the DH. No matter what, that's how I'll think of it.

 

[Strenuus]

I agree. If you're going to put designated hitters in the HOF, Martinez should be the first one in.

Red Sox fans have been waiting to cast Big Papi in bronze and saying he's a first ballot. That's crap. You could easily have put Martinez as being the best hitter in baseball for a good stretch of time. He won two batting titles and redefined the position. Before Edgar played designated hitters were Chili Davis or Harold Baines types.... RBI men who hit a fair number of home runs. Edgar was one of the most feared hitters and baseball and he did it after an injury ruined his career at 3b.

My guess is Edgar won't really gave a shot until Ortiz gets in. They have pretty much all but yelled, "He's going to be the first DH in!" But then it will have least opened the door. Still he will probably have to wait until the last year of eligibility then it goes to the veterans committee. Which kind of sucks. But there it is.

Should be, but won't be. To true baseball fans, they know who defined the position. But Ortiz did it flashier, and did win rings, and played mostly in Boston.

If Ortiz stayed in Minnesota, he'd be getting the Edgar treatment, as well, IMO.

 

[ripcityboy]

Should be, but won't be. To true baseball fans, they know who defined the position. But Ortiz did it flashier, and did win rings, and played mostly in Boston.

If Ortiz stayed in Minnesota, he'd be getting the Edgar treatment, as well, IMO.

Flashier, rings, PEDS, I keeed I keeed..... it was just talk. There was nothing behind it!!!! Papi is a great hitter though. Still don't know how he gets with showing up the pitcher on that patented 10 minute gaze towards while tossing the bat look.