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Ken Griffey Jr. puts cap on backward to close Hall of Fame speech

Ken Griffey Jr. gives the fans what they wanted during his Hall of Fame speech: the backward cap. (AP)
Ken Griffey Jr. gives the fans what they wanted during his Hall of Fame speech: the backward cap. (AP)

If we could only hold on to one image from Ken Griffey Jr.’s emotional Hall of Fame speech on Sunday, it would definitely be the final one.

“The Kid” was back, if only for a brief moment, as Griffey turned back the clock to relive his greatest fashion statement: the backward cap.

For those who hoped Griffey’s likeness would be sporting a backwards cap on his Hall of Fame plaque, this is a pretty strong consolation. It’s the Hall of Fame equivalent of a mic drop, of which Griffey’s impact on baseball and pop culture is most certainly worthy.

The backward cap — the origin of which might surprise you — was Griffey’s signature look. It defined his persona and the spirit he brought to the ballpark every day. Now, it serves as the exclamation point on a career that was second to none.

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If ever there was a more fitting way to close a Hall of Fame speech we couldn’t think of it. In that one moment, Griffey captured the essence of his legacy, while bringing back memories that are dear to his legions of fans.

Job well done, Kid. And thank you.

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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!