Mike Trout honors Ken Griffey Jr's HOF induction by wearing special white-and-gold cleats
Ken Griffey Jr. was the first baseball player to have a signature Nike cleat, and now
The shoes were white with gold trim, with a big Nike check on the front --similar to the Nike Air Griffey Max I that Trout had as a child -- and Griffey's logo emblazoned on the inside. Most of the Nike-sponsored players wore them, including
Mike Trout wearing these today in honor of Ken Griffey Jr's induction. "Every lefty should swing like him," he said. pic.twitter.com/iDd9JawauN
— Alden Gonzalez (@Alden_Gonzalez) July 24, 2016
"It's going to be fun," Trout said pregame. "I'm looking forward to it. I knew they were going to give us a shoe, but when they came out looking like that, it looks good."
Trout first met Griffey in Oakland in September 2014, to tape a segment for FOX Sports 1. They also chatted during a prior trip to Seattle.
"He's a good kid," Griffey previously said of Trout. "He's got his head on right. He's going to be good for Major League Baseball. With everything going on in other sports, he's not going to be in that category. I think he's a good kid. I like him."
Trout was born in 1991, which was Griffey's third season in the Major Leagues. But he was old enough to enjoy the back end of his prime.
"He's one of those guys that you turn on a game, or ESPN, and you see him."
What stood out most about Griffey?
Well, that's obvious.
"The swing," Trout said. "I love his swing. Every lefty should try to make their swing that swing."
UPDATE: In Sunday night's game between the Dodgers and Cardinals at Busch Stadium,
It must be the Ken Griffey Jr spikes that @Adrian_ElTitan is wearing tonight from @nikebaseball pic.twitter.com/c6UkhBXs7A
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) July 25, 2016
... and promptly crushed a grand slam in the first inning.
Alden Gonzalez has covered the Angels for MLB.com since 2012. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook, and listen to his podcast.
