July 24, 2016 An Interview with: shine and that's why you had the highest vote percentage in history. KEN GRIFFEY, JR. I'll never forget the first time I witnessed your skills. Unfortunately, it came at my expense, when you robbed MIKE PIAZZA me on a ball in the gap in instructional league early in our careers. I knew at JANE FORBES CLARK: As that time professional baseball was chairman of the National Baseball Hall of going to be very difficult. I'm so happy Fame it is my honor, Mike, to welcome for you. God bless you and your family. you into the Hall of Fame family. Thank you to all the legends and MIKE PIAZZA: Thank you, Hall of Famers on this stage behind me. commissioner. Thank you very much. You all have given us great joy and You're going to make this harder than it inspiration. The only way I ever thought is, I'm telling you right now. I would be here with you is if I bought a First and foremost, I sincerely ticket. It's a tremendous -- it is a wish to thank the Baseball Writers of testament to our great country, and America for voting me into the Hall. I game, that dreams can come true, you appreciate how high your standards are, just need to be willing to pay the price. and I consider your blessing a Two that are very special to me tremendous source of pride and joy. are Mike Schmidt and Johnny Bench. Thank you to Jane, Jeff, Walker, Schmidtty, I watched you as a child, I and everyone at the National Baseball celebrated with you, and suffered with Hall of Fame. You treat us like family, you. You were a true man of class and help us in every way, and every fan faith. The outpouring of emotion when should rest peacefully knowing you are you announced your retirement showed the caretakers of the game. Thank you. how much pressure you put on yourself Kenny, it is an incredible honor to to perform, and I always considered you be going in alongside of you. About the an inspiration. God bless you. only thing we have in common as ball And Johnny Bench. Johnny, you players are two arms and two legs. Your will always be the best of all time. You talent, athleticism, and tremendous joy revolutionized catching and the game is you brought to your teammates and fans better because of it. Your leadership was infectious. and performance in the biggest games The work ethic you showed as a will never be matched. Although, maybe first overall pick is inspiring. When no I hit the ball just a little better to right one would have blamed you to rest on field. your pedigree, you worked tirelessly to I think one of the most amazing 1 visit our archives at asapsports.com things about the Hall of Fame is that no You made me your batboy when the one goes in here alone. We all have had Dodgers were in Philadelphia. You many people helping us, inspiring us, always sent me baseball equipment coaching us and yes, sometimes kicking when I needed it. You convinced the us in the rear. And now it is my Dodgers to draft me. You gave me Big tremendous honor and privilege to thank League at-bats in Spring Training when I those who have done this for me. My was a green wide-eyed kid out of junior love affair with baseball started in a college. You went to bat for me when I small steel town, about a four-hour drive walked away from the game. You south of here named Phoenixville, Pa. It convinced the Dodgers to let a very was a tough town, blue collar, coming off popular catcher in Mike Scoscia go so the prosperity of the 50s and 60s. The that a veteran pitching staff would know steel mills had closed and what was left that I was their catcher, my rookie year, were the sons and daughters of no matter how many mistakes I made or immigrants. They loved God, their how inexperienced I was. families, and sports. And speaking of experience, I I came up through an intensely was blessed to have a demanding competitive little league, youth league, pitching staff, with such names as Orel and high school program. This town Hershiser, Kevin Gross, Ramon loved its sports. It was evident in the Martinez, and Tom Candiotti. Tommy, fact that we were not big as some of the one day consoled me, when I was neighboring towns, some twice our size, having -- when I was really struggling to but in baseball, we punched above our catch his knuckleball and throw out weight. runners by saying, “Mike, I don't give a My high school coach was John crap if you ever throw anybody out, just "Doc" Kennedy, and he loved the game, go out and hit me a three-run home run.” was a great teacher and still scouts Tommy was always there for me, today. From early in my high school like a guardian angel. After high school, career he never gave me anything. He he sent me to the University of Miami knew my dad and knew who his friend and after a less than a stellar freshman was, yet he still made me work to earn a season in which I went 2-9 with no RBIs, place on the varsity team. Tommy sent me to Miami Dade Speaking of my dad's friends, Community College, North Campus, Tommy Lasorda, from my dad's where I played for Dr. Demi Mainieri, the hometown of Norristown, Pa., the town all-time winningest coach of Junior in which I was born. But his personality College baseball. Doc played me at first and toughness were larger than life. He that season. I hit a respectable .360 and eventually went on to a professional started showing some power. Doc's son, career and to this day, is not only Paul Mainieri, was the head coach of St. famous for being a Hall of Fame big Thomas University at the time, and he league manager, but by being sent down was amazingly supportive and told me so that the Brooklyn Dodgers could no matter how frustrating baseball could make room for Sandy Koufax. be, you need to keep going and keep Tommy Lasorda was always in playing. my corner. He believed, when he Speaking of playing, Tommy, my watched me hit at a young age of 14, father, and then-coach Joe Ferguson that I could play Major League Baseball. started kicking the idea around of me Tommy, you were always there for me. 2 visit our archives at asapsports.com possible playing catcher. He convinced in the cage, refining my swing and scouting director, Ben Wade, to waste a making it shorter. He knew my swing at late-round, and I mean, late-round, draft the time was too long, and that he had to pick on me. And so began my adventure shorten it to make it quicker. He did this in professional baseball. with a series of drills and disciplines he I was fortunate enough to have learned as a player in Japan. I Johnny Roseboro and Kevin Kennedy as responded, worked, and started to get it. my first catching instructors. I could still One drill actually on a tee, I could remember the pain of blocking balls by eventually square up a line drive with my the machine and lying in bed at night, eyes closed. Reggie cared about me so but it wasn't all bad, I actually got the much, the one year I was frustrated and chance to hit batting practice off the quit my minor league team, he actually great Sandy Koufax. A little benefit of came to my house and told me I was being with the Dodgers. coming back and to do exactly what the Tommy then sent me down to the Dodgers said. Dominican camp of the Dodgers Campo Reggie, thank you for this and Las Palmas in the Dominican Republic thank you for helping me. You are a to pick up valuable experience and great hitting coach, but the biggest communicate with Spanish speaking lesson that you taught me was how to pitchers. One happens to be here get through the game of life and to never behind me, Pedro Martinez. quit. (Speaking in Spanish) Another coach I wish to thank is I returned to the states with more Dave Wallace. He also convinced me to confidence and the belief that I can come back the time I quit. He was my actually do this thing. Catching that is. pitching coach with the Mets a couple of One spring training early in my minor years, and I very much enjoyed working league career, I noticed a rather with him. The Dodgers had an amazing imposing hitting coach around the cages. major and minor league camp in He strutted around like a peacock, he Dodgertown, Vero Beach, Florida. had that drill sergeant voice, and if you Joe Ferguson worked with me to said something he disagreed with, he refine my catching skills, and being a would snarl at you and your spine would converted catcher of similar size, helped shrink. He was Reggie Smith. me catch according to my body type. There are a handful of people in Maybe a few of you remember a scout your life who change the direction of named Mel, "you bet your bottom dollar" your destiny.