Mariners honor Griffey Hall of Fame induction all weekend
Aug 5, 2016, 9:23 AM | Updated: 11:23 am
Ken Griffey, Jr. speaks at his recent induction to the baseball Hall of Fame (AP)
(AP)
Cooperstown comes to Safeco Field this weekend as the Mariners honor Ken Griffey Junior’s induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. It’s a celebration so big, they need three days to fit it all in.
“He’s truly our city’s biggest sports star,” said Kevin Martinez, Mariners Vice President of Marketing.
“There’s so much pride…and Saturday will be remarkable,” Martinez said. “It’ll be a rock concert when he comes out. I get goose bumps just thinking about it.”
The Mariners have been planning for the celebration for more than a year, according to Randy Adamack, senior vice president of communications.
Although Griffey had plenty of say during his storied career in Seattle, Adamack says he was mostly hands-off this time.
“He always shares this ideas and he’s got some good ideas,” Adamack said. “But I think this one was left to us. He gave us a year ago almost carte blanche, ‘Just let me know what you want me to do, what you need me to do.’ He trusted us and I think he’ll be pleased.”
Saturday Night is the denouement of the weekend, when the Mariners retire Griffey’s number in a pregame ceremony featuring the newest All-Star, along with a number of teammates enshrined in the team’s hall of fame – guys like Edgar Martinez, Dan Wilson, Jay Buhner, and Jamie Moyer.
“Those guys are so tightly knit,” Martinez said. “Sometimes it sounds cliche but it’s true. They’re family … they’re all so proud of Ken.”
It’ll be the first time the Mariners have retired a player’s number. Adamack says it was somewhat of a foregone conclusion, since no other player has worn number 24 since Griffey’s retirement.
“There are fewer numbers retired in baseball than there are Hall-of-Fame players, so it’s a big deal,” Adamack said.
Adamack and Martinez were among the hundreds of friends, family, and fans who made the pilgrimage to Cooperstown last month for Griffey’s induction ceremony.
“It was three days of baseball heaven,” Martinez said. “Mariners fans lining the streets of Cooperstown. To see all of the fans from the Northwest in Cooperstown with 24 everywhere you looked, it was incredible.”
They’re thrilled to bring some of that excitement back to Seattle this weekend.
The celebration kicks off Friday afternoon with fans getting a chance to see the actual bronze Hall of Fame plaque near the team store entrance across from section 142 on the main level of Safeco Field.
Even those who don’t have game tickets can see it Saturday from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Admission is free, but you have to get tickets, available online.
The players will be wearing replica 1989 Mariners jerseys on Friday night as well and they’ll have commemorative patches on their uniforms Saturday and Sunday. The balls will be emblazoned with a special logo as well.
There’s plenty of special goodies for fans throughout the weekend.
“We think we came up with three fun items the fans are really going to enjoy with the Hall of Fame bobblehead (Friday for the first 20,000 fans,) the replica Hall of Fame plaque (Saturday) and then culminating with the replica jersey from his rookie year (Sunday),” Martinez said.
Along with Saturday’s special ceremony, Junior will be back at Safeco Field on Sunday for a pregame ceremony honoring African American Heritage Day.
All in all, it should be an amazing weekend unlike anything ever seen at Safeco Field.
“I think everybody who watched Ken play feels a part of him,” Martinez said. “There’s a part of all of us that he represents. You have to celebrate that.”
Tickets are still available for Friday night and Sunday, while Saturday is a sellout, although there might be a few standing room-only tickets if you check the Mariners website.
