My childhood is officially over. When the announcement was made that The Kid was to be enshrined in Cooperstown alongside Mike Piazza, it was one of the most bittersweet moments in my life as a sports fan. A part of me was ecstatic that Griffey was getting this much deserved honor, but there was also another part of me that cried like a little bitch.
Every time a player who was represented in one of the Backyard Baseball games retires or gets in the Hall, a small part of me dies inside (Griffey was the best MLB player in that game and I will fight anyone who says differently). I spent HOURS playing that game. I recently tried to fire it up again on my Macbook and when it didn't work, I screamed at my bedroom wall for 11 straight minutes. It was heartbreaking. Being able to hit dingers at Steele Stadium should be something every U.S. citizen is allowed to do whenever they desire.
Anyone who didn't imitate Griffey's swing in their neighborhood Wiffle ball games is someone that simply can't be trusted. Anyone that never got yelled at by one of their coaches for wearing their hat backwards on the field like Griffey is someone you never want to associate yourself with. Anyone who didn't know the cheat code on his N64 games is someone that you do not want to hang out with. There were definitely times when I was younger that I got angry at my Dad for not making me a lefty hitter like Ken. Instead, I was destined for life as a subpar right-handed hitter with warning track power at best. Everyone wanted to be like him, but nobody could actually do it. It's truly amazing to think about the impact he had on anyone my age that once played baseball. Perhaps even more amazing is the fact that injuries derailed the second half of his career and he still ended up with 630 career homers. 630!
A lot of people (especially in baseball) like to gloat about the "good old days," and are quick to shut down the thought of someone who is currently playing will be better than one of the all-time greats. When it comes to the MLB, there will never be another player like him. Guys like Mike Trout and Bryce Harper may and probably will put up better career numbers than Griffey, but they will never be in the same area code when it comes to making an impact on future generations like Griffey did with people my age.
This HOF announcement and the return of Pierce/KG to The Garden are the only times in recent memory where I have shed legitimate tears due to sports. It may sound ridiculous to cry over sports, but it isn't so shut up. Looking back at memories of players like Griffey makes me realize how lucky sports fans my age really are. I can only hope kids in the future are lucky enough to see someone like The Kid play in their lifetime.
Thanks for everything, Ken.