The Kid

What is your lasting memory of Ken Griffey, Jr.?

The sweet swing? His swag? He was the face of a generation. Now, he is one step away from the Hall of Fame.

It doesn't seem that long ago that he was tearing up Fenway Park during the 1999 All-Star Game. Or when he hit the warehouse in Baltimore.



I will admit that as a Giants fan, the amount of attention that Griffey got compared to Barry Bonds seemed unjust. Bonds did everything Griffey did and some things even better and this was before the steroid allegations.

But that does not mean that his greatness could be ignored.

He is sixth all-time with 630 home runs, only the third lefty with at least 600. Ten consecutive Gold Gloves from 1990-99. Thirteen trips to the Mid-summer Classic. Griffey was right there in 1997 and 1998 along with Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire in the hunt for Roger Maris' home run record.

[FULL 2016 HALL OF FAME BALLOT]

He also had a shot at it in 1994 when he had 40 prior to the player's strike.

The disappointing part is that we may have been deprived from seeing how many home runs he could have hit. Turf has crippled player's careers and Griffey played his first 11 seasons in the Kingdome.

He was able to play one healthy season in Cincinnati before the injuries started. Between the ages of 31 and 34, he did not see the field more than 120 times and missed 280 games over a three-year span.

If we take his career number for home runs per game (.234), that could have been an additional 65 home runs and had Griffey sniffing the 700 mark.

His career was a highlight video but it was that night in Boston that resonates with me.

The 1999 Home Run Derby. Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa highlight the event in the midst of their steroid-fueled rivalry. And there was Griffey. The defending Derby champ against these Herculian figures.

With every smooth swing, with every ball that left the park, you were reminded of how good "The Kid" was and how he didn't need any additional "help."

Griffey may get the closest we've ever seen to a 100 percent vote but only time will tell.