Daytona Beach, FL – One of the newest additions to Major League Baseball’s Hall Of Fame will wave the green flag to start this year’s Daytona 500.
Ken Griffey Jr. was named the Honorary Starter for the 58th annual edition of the Great American Race on Saturday by Daytona International Speedway.
“We’re looking forward to having such a legendary athlete wave the green flag on the first [Daytona 500] in the world’s first motorsports stadium,” said DIS President Joie Chitwood III.
The legendary outfielder and son of World Series champion Ken Griffey Sr. made the HOF on the first ballot earlier this year, snagging a record 99.32% of the vote from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Only 3 of the 440 voters didn’t have him on their ballot. He’ll be officially inducted on July 24th as the Hall’s first Seattle Mariner.
Griffey was a 13-time All-Star in his 22 seasons in the Big Show, mainly with the Mariners of the American League and the Cincinnati Reds of the National League. He also played briefly for the Chicago White Sox of the AL.
The 46-year-old Griffey retired mid-way through the 2010 season in his 2nd stint with Seattle. He won 10 Gold Gloves, was named the 1997 AL Most Valuable Player and ranks 6th all-time in career home runs with 630.
The Daytona 500 will start at 1 PM next Sunday (February 21st).
Ken Griffey Jr. (photo courtesy Shutterstock)
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