SEATTLE — The Countdown to Cooperstown continues for Ken Griffey Jr., who appears this on one of Sports Illustrated’s regional covers.
Some gems from the story by Ben Reiter:
■ On his legacy: “A couple things I’m gonna be remembered for: the hat backwards and the swing… And the smile.”
■ On retiring quietly: “There’s certain people who like the fanfare and the waving goodbye, getting the rocking chair and the cowboy boots. … Not me.”
■ On why he avoided performance-enhancing drugs: “I was already the highest-paid player in baseball when all this started. … I’m already established. I’ve already been on covers of magazines. I’ve got my own video game, my own candy bar. Where am I gonna go from there?”
■ On setting a record for the highest vote percentage in the history of Hall of Fame voting but falling four votes shy of being unanimous: “How I explain it is, other people need votes.. He’s gonna get in, so let me use my vote for this guy who’s on the cusp. Being the highest vote getter of all time? That’s a wow in itself.”
Griffey and catcher Mike Piazza will be inducted July 24 into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
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