Originally published June 19, 2010 at 10:02 PM | Page modified June 21, 2010 at 7:12 AM
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Measuring Ken Griffey Jr.'s greatness: Six reasons next stop should be Cooperstown
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DAN LEVINE / AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Griffey with his ninth Gold Glove award and a Silver Slugger award in 1999.
A half-dozen reasons Ken Griffey Jr. will be elected to the Hall of Fame in 2016, his first year of eligibility:
630 home runs
1. That's fifth-best all-time. Consider the company on this list:
| 1. Barry Bonds | 762 |
| 2. Hank Aaron | 755 |
| 3. Babe Ruth | 714 |
| 4. Willie Mays | 660 |
| 5. Ken Griffey Jr. | 630 |
Eight games, eight home runs
2. Griffey hit homers in eight straight games in July 1993, tying a major-league record.
Speaking of home-run records ...
3. Griffey hit five home runs in the 1995 division series against the Yankees, tying Reggie Jackson's mark for most in a postseason series.
Defense
4. Griffey was a graceful center fielder who made spectacular catches look easy. He won Gold Gloves each season from 1990 through 1999, the most consecutive honors for an American League outfielder.
Awards and honors
5. In 1999, Griffey was the youngest player named to the All-Century team. He was also named player of the decade. He was selected for the All-Star Game 13 times, including 11 seasons in a row (1990-2000). He was the 1997 American League MVP, a unanimous choice.
1996 through 1999 seasons
6. It wasn't just that Griffey played long enough to pile up the numbers — though he did play 21-plus seasons in the majors. During the last four years of his first tour with the Mariners, he built a convincing case that he was the best all-around player in the game. During four amazing seasons, Griffey:
• Hit 209 home runs, leading the American League in 1997 (56), 1998 (56) and 1999 (48).
• Drove in 567 runs, an average of nearly 142.
• Stole 75 bases.
• Won Gold Gloves each season.
• Led the majors in All-Star voting each season.
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