Griffey and Piazza are in! National Baseball Hall of Fame

By Francisco Romero

The National Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2016 was revealed yesterday and Ken Griffey Jr. alongside Mike Piazza will be inducted this coming summer.

Griffey made history as he was named on 437-of-440 ballots (99.3 percent), voted by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Tom Saver had the percentage record (98.84) set back in 1992.

Piazza, who was on his fourth year on the ballot finished with 83 percent; last year he missed being elected by 14 votes, 330 were needed to be elected.

Jeff Bagwell fell short by 15 votes as he received 315.

“It’s certainly an honor to be elected. To have the highest percentage is a shock. I don’t think about it that way. The big thing is to get into the Hall of Fame. As long as you get in, that’s what it is. I was really surprised it was so high,” Griffey Jr. told MLB.com.

Knick named “The Kid,” Griffey Jr. played 22 seasons in the majors; he played for the Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago White Sox. The Kid was a 13-time All-Star, the American League Most Valuable Player in 1997, won 10-stright gold gloves. Griffey Jr. finished his career with 630 home runs.

Griffey Jr.’s father, Ken Griffey also played Major League Baseball.

Former catcher Mike Piazza was no surprise to enter the Hall of Fame. Piazza played for 16 seasons in

Mike Piazza, Picture Courtesy MLB.com

Major League Baseball. He was a 12-time All-Star player who won 10 Silver Slugger Awards.

Piazza played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres and the Oakland A’s.

Piazza is considered one of the best all-time offensive catchers in the game; he finished his career with 427 home runs.

Piazza has already been inducted in the New York Mets Hall of Fame.