Baseball Hall of Fame: Ken Griffey Jr., 4 Other potential 2016 electees
By Aaron Somers
Aug 10, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners former outfielder Ken Griffey Jr addresses the Seattle Mariners team in the dugout during an induction ceremony into the Seattle Mariners hall of fame before the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Milwaukee Brewers at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
Ken Griffey, Jr.
There’s never been much doubt that Ken Griffey, Jr. would make his way into the Hall of Fame, so we may as well lead off with the lone obvious choice for the 2016 election. Griffey was electric to watch in the field, responsible for countless highlight-reel plays in center field and memorable moments at the plate. He always looked like he was having fun, too, which was perhaps what was best of all.
Griffey was still viewed as one of the best players of his generation, even when then career numbers of Barry Bonds continued to grow. Griffey would have kept up – cleanly – had it not been for a string of career-shortening injuries in the early 2000s once he moved from the Mariners to the Reds. He’d eventually return to the Mariners for two more seasons, retiring after 22 years in 2010.
Griffey was a .284/.370/.538 hitter for his career who totaled 630 home runs (6th all time), won 10 straight Gold Glove Awards, and the AL MVP in 1997.
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