Cubs recall moments from Griffey’s HOF career

CHICAGO — Kyle Schwarber grew up in Middletown, Ohio, which is about 38 miles from Cincinnati, and he used to go to Reds games to watch Ken Griffey Jr. play.

“I have a picture of myself in T-ball wearing my hat backwards like he would in the Home Run Derby,” Schwarber said. “I always used to do the Griffey stance with a wood bat when I was in T-ball. He’s one of the guys you looked up to when you were little. That’s who you wanted to go see play — you were like, ‘I want to watch Ken Griffey Jr. play.'”

On Sunday, Griffey will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame along with Mike Piazza. Schwarber, now an outfielder with the Cubs, said it’s a perfect honor for the Cincinnati kid.

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“That guy was a special hitter and special player in the outfield,” Schwarber said. “My uncle, [Tom], got to play with him in high school at Moeller [in Cincinnati]. I don’t remember if my uncle was a senior and [Griffey] was a freshman, but it was cool to be able to be around that time when he was there with Barry Larkin and all those guys.

“[Griffey] was always fun to watch. He could put one out of the ballpark at any time. Him being such a dynamic player even before he came to the Reds from Seattle, just making those plays in the outfield and everything, he was just a fun …

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