SEATTLE -- One of the many families who will be making the cross-country journey to Cooperstown for Ken Griffey Jr.’s induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame will be the family of legendary Mariners broadcaster, Hall of Famer Dave Niehaus. Niehaus was the lead play-by-play announcer for the team from their first season in 1977 until he passed away after the 2010 season.
Dave’s wife Marilyn said they are looking forward to making the trip to support Griffey Jr., a man who has become a close friend of the family.
“It was on my bucket list to go back and we were told early on that he was a shoe-in to get into the Hall of Fame, so we said right away we gotta’ go,” Marilyn said. “We just have to go.”
Dave and Griffey had a close friendship. They loved to laugh and joke around with each other, and Dave had the best time with it.
“Dave loved it, he loved the opportunity to have him as a friend,” Niehaus said.
Marilyn still keeps a large poster in her basement that shows Griffey and Dave chatting at Spring Training. In the picture, Dave was wearing shorts so Jr. gave him a hard time. The poster is signed “To Dave, Ken Griffey Jr.” At the bottom it says “nice legs.”
“He did have nice legs!” Marilyn said with a smile.
Marilyn recalled Dave’s induction into the Hall of Fame in 2008 as one of the very best moments of his life.
“It meant everything to us. We were beside ourselves with excitement. It was unbelievable,” she said. “It’s such a group of old ball players; old, and Ken will be young getting in. It’s just exciting. Every moment of it was exciting.
But for a moment she spoke with emotion when she thought of what Dave will be thinking as his friend gets inducted.
“He’ll be as thrilled as we are,” Niehaus said with tears in her eyes. “Because he was so fond of him.”
KING 5's Alex Rozier will be in Cooperstown, New York, this weekend reporting on Ken Griffey Jr's Induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter @AlexRozkierK5
