It can make a grown man cry

It’s been over a week now when the inductions to baseball’s hall of fame were introduced. I’m not sure if it was planned that way but the highest and lowest drafted players were inducted. And guess what? I really liked both of these players.

They were former Dodger and New York Met Mike Piazza and Seattle Mariner Ken Griffey, Jr. There really is some irony in choosing these two guys as Piazza was always a question mark as a major leaguer and Griffey had greatness written all over him.

Griffey was so good that most people thought he woke up in the morning and magic dust brought him greatness, when in reality the Kid worked hard at being great. It wasn’t something that he would talk about but coming to the ballpark each day for early batting practice brought him focus and sheer athletic ability allowed him to track down fly balls that could have been home runs or sure doubles. He helped a lot of pitchers keep their ERAs respectable.

Piazza was a first baseman drafted by the Dodgers when their need was at catcher. Most people felt that Manager Tommy Lasorda drafted the young man as a favor to a family friend. There might have been something to that. When asked what position Piazza would play Lasorda would tell everybody catcher. So it was up to Piazza to learn the position.

He did a pretty good job even though it wasn’t an easy transition. Piazza would become the Major League’s all-time leading home run hitter for catchers. Piazza would eventually find a home in New York as a Met.

Piazza entered the Hall of Fame as a Met.

For Griffey, he becomes the first Seattle Mariner to enter the hall as a player. Dave Niehaus was the first Mariner to reach the hall as a broadcaster.

After 11 seasons with Seattle, Griffey left the Mariners for his hometown of Cincinnati to play for the Reds. He would eventually return to Seattle in the late stages of his career.

He was welcomed back as a Red and when he came back to finish off his storied career. He found out that Seattle never fell out of love with him.

For anyone that saw the ceremonies you could say it was a bit emotional. Both players talked about family and teammates and how important the game of baseball was to their lives.

For as happy go lucky that Junior is, talking about his parents, brother, wife and children it was at times a struggle because playing the game can be a lot easier than thanking those that made him who he is.

There are very few players that get drafted and work their way up to the major leagues that think they will be hall of famers. After watching Griffey play for a couple of seasons it was easy to know that he would be enshrined at Cooperstown, New York. He had it all and a smile and charisma to match.

Most of us working stiffs look down the road and can’t wait for the day we hand in the keys to the business where we work, say good-bye to our colleagues and wish them well.

For ballplayers it is much different. Very few want to leave the game they love so much. But when they realize that it is a young man’s game if they are smart they will say it’s time.

Many tears can be shed at the time because earning a living playing a kid’s game is a real dream and most of these players don’t want to give up the dream.

The emotions of being recognized as one of the game’s best players and earn an induction into the Hall of Fame can be difficult to cope with. The fans in attendance felt every moment and were moved by how truly humbled these two great baseball players really were at being on that stage in July 24.

It was enough to bring tears to a lot of fans and former teammates of Piazza and Griffey. But those tears were well earned.