Ken Griffey, Jr. – top Hall of Fame vote-getter ever (%) – with a 630-HR swing.
Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza this week were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame – and much was made of their respective places at the far ends of the MLB draft spectrum. Griffey is the earliest draft pick – the first “first overall” pick (1987) elected to the Hall – while Piazza is the latest draft pick ever elected (62nd round of the 1988 draft, the 1,390th player picked). In this post, BBRT will look at some other Griffey and Piazza firsts and lasts, as well as a few similarities between the two. For example, both doubled to center in their first MLB at bats, both were replaced by pinch runners in their final MLB games, both made their first All Star teams in their second seasons, both had (arguably) their best seasons in 1997, and both can look back on one-run games book-ending their MLB careers (Piazza a pair of one-run victories, Griffey two one-run losses.) Note: For a look at BBRT’s comments on the All Star ballot (November post), click here.
- Griffey played his first major league game on April 3, 1989 – and it was a one-run affair, as Griffey’s Mariners lost to the A’s in Oakland by a score of 3-2. The 19-year-old started in CF (batting second) and went one-for-three with a walk. In his first at bat (and first plate appearance), Griffey doubled to center on an 0-1 pitch from Oakland’s Dave Stewart. He later scored his first major league run, after walking (off Steward) in the sixth. Griffey stayed with the Mariners for the entire season, playing in 127 games and going .264-16-61, with 16 steals. He finished third in the Rookie of the Year voting.
- Piazza played his first major league game on September 1, 1992 – and it was a one-run contest, as Piazza’s Dodgers beat the Cubs 5-4 (13 innings) in Chicago. Like Griffey, the 23-year-old Piazza doubled to center (left-center by some accounts) in his first official MLB at bat (on the first pitch from Cubs’ starter Mike Harkey in the fourth). It was not, however, Piazza’a first plate appearance. Starting at catcher and batting sixth, Piazza’s first plate appearance was a five-pitch walk off Harkey in the top of the second. For the game, Piazza went three-for-three (plus the walk), but neither scored nor drove in a run. Piazza got into only 21 games after his call-up (.232-1-7), preserving his rookie status. In 1993, he went .318-35-112 and was the NL Rookie of the Year.
- Griffey played his final MLB game on May 31, 2010 – another one-run affair, with Griffey’s Mariners losing to the Twins 5-4 in Seattle. In his last MLB at bat, Griffey (then 40) pinch hit for Mariners’ catcher Rob Johnson in the bottom of the ninth with the Mariners trailing 5-4 and Seattle shortstop Josh Wilson on first base. Griffey grounded to shortstop (on an 0-1 pitch from Twins’ reliever Jon Rauch) and reached first on a fielder’s choice (the Twins forcing Wilson at second). In his last MLB appearance, Griffey was replaced by a pinch runner (Michael Saunders).
- Piazza’s final at bat came on September 30, 2007 – and, yes, it was a one-run game, with Piazza’s Athletics topping the Angels 3-2 in Oakland. Piazza (then 39) started the game at DH batting fifth. He went 1-for-4, getting a single to right on a 1-0 pitch from Angels’ reliever Chris Bootcheck leading off the ninth inning of a 2-2 game. It was Piazza’s final major league at bat and, like Griffey, in that final appearance, he was lifted for a pinch runner (Shannon Stewart, who scored the game-winning run).
- Both Griffey and Piazza made their first All Star team in their second major league season – Griffey in 1990, Piazza in 1993.
- Both Griffey and Piazza were All Star Game MVPs – Griffey in 1992, Piazza in 1996.
- Griffey and Piazza each had six post-season home runs –Griffey in 18 games, Piazza in 32.
By the numbers:
Home runs: Griffey – 630, sixth-most all time, with four league HR titles; Piazza 427, 396 as a catcher (most for the position).
All Star Selections: Griffey – 13; Piazza – 12.
Silver Slugger Awards: Griffey – 7; Piazza – 10.
Gold Gloves: Griffey – 10.
MLB Seasons: Griffey – 22; Piazza – 16.
Career Batting Average: Griffey – .284; Piazza – .308.
RBI: Griffey – 1,836; Piazza – 1,335.
On Base and Slugging Percentage: Griffey – .370, .538; Piazza .377, .545.
Griffey’s Best Season: 1997 Mariners, 157 games, .304, 56 home runs, 147 RBI, 15 steals.
Piazza’s Best Season: 1997 Dodgers, 152 games, .362, 40 home runs, 124 RBI, 5 steals.
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Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); The Baseball Reliquary; Baseball Bloggers Alliance.
