7 things to know about Baseball Hall of Fame weekend

Credit: Jim McIsaac

Credit: Jim McIsaac

This weekend a pair of all-time greats will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, including former Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr.

“The Kid” from Cincinnati will be accompanied by Mike Piazza, a former catcher primarily for the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets.

Here are a handful of fun facts and figures to get you ready for another historic weekend in Cooperstown, N.Y.

1. Griffey is the first No. 1 overall pick in the MLB draft to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and the 51st player to be elected in his first year on the ballot.

2. No player has been elected unanimously, but no one has come as close as Griffey. He received 99.3 percent of the votes (437 of 440), surpassing pitcher Tom Seaver’s 98.8 percent in 1992.

Related: Griffey reflects on his beginnings with baseball

3. According to the Hall of Fame, 52 of the 69 living members are scheduled to attend this weekend. That includes former Reds Johnny Bench, Barry Larkin, Tony Perez and Frank Robinson.

4. The Hall estimates about 27,000 fans have attended the induction ceremony per year over the past decade. That includes a record crowd of 82,000 when Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken, Jr., were inducted in 2007.

5. Among those expected to be in attendance are former Reds manager Lou Piniella and current Reds president of baseball operations Walt Jocketty. Piniella also managed Griffey in Seattle.

Related: Our favorite details from Junior's amatuer scouting report

6. Griffey is the 24th center fielder to be elected to the Hall of Fame. Piazza is the 17th catcher.

7. Griffey is set to be the first player in the Hall of Fame wearing a Mariners hat while Piazza is the second player going into the Hall of Fame with a Mets cap. Seaver, a pitcher who like Griffey also played for the Reds, was the first to be inducted as a Met.

Read more: What you need to know about Griffey's induction

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