As a baseball child of the late-80s through late-90s, my fandom was shaped by a number of things, mostly related to the Chicago Cubs. But, whatever your team, there were certain moments and players from that era that everyone loved. Peak Ken Griffey, Jr. was that guy for everyone. The sweetest lefty swing we’d seen in our lifetime. Ridiculous defense. That smile.
And the backwards hat.
At least that’s how I remember it for Junior, who yesterday became the highest-vote-percentage electee to the Hall of Fame. People joked about it immediately, but it turns out there’s a real possibility that Griffey’s Hall of Fame plaque could feature him the way many of us remember him best:
Jeff Idleson,President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame left open the possibility of Ken Griffey Jr. hat being on backwards on plaque
— Jim Bowden (@JimBowdenMLB) January 7, 2016
Yes. Please. Do it.
While we wait an official decision on that front in the coming months, enjoy watching Junior crush the ball out of Fenway Park in the 1999 Home Run Derby – yes, with the hat on backwards: