Griffey left off just 3 of 440 ballots
Ken Griffey Jr. doesn't feel any ill will towards the three voters who chose not to include him on their Hall of Fame ballots.
The 13-time All-Star was officially elected into Cooperstown alongside Mike Piazza on Wednesday, setting the all-time record by receiving 99.3 percent of the 440 votes submitted by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
"I can't be upset," Griffey told reporters. "It's just an honor to be elected and to have the highest percentage is definitely a shock."
Former New York Mets pitcher Tom Seaver held the previous record after earning 98.8 percent of the ballot in 1992, and the right-hander acknowledged he had a long-time feeling Griffey would one day join him in the Hall.
| Rank | Player | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ken Griffey Jr | 99.32 |
| 2 | Tom Seaver | 98.84 |
| 3 | Nolan Ryan | 98.79 |
| 4 | Cal Ripken Jr. | 98.53 |
| 5 | Ty Cobb | 98.23 |
"I am thrilled that Ken broke my record," Seaver said. "I played with his dad and when I did, Junior was always running around the clubhouse. He had Hall of Famer written all over him then."
Griffey will officially be enshrined into the Hall of Fame in July. The occasion will be the first time the 46-year-old ever steps into the building.
"In case you don't know, I'm really superstitious," Griffey said. "I've played in the Hall of Fame game three times, and I've never set foot in the building. I've never even seen the front of it. The one time I wanted to go in there, I wanted to be a member."
The three voters who did not vote for Griffey have not made their ballots public.