ESPN - Piazza, one of greatest hitting catchers in MLB history, retires - MLB

A sad farewell

almost 4 years ago ams258 9 comments 3 recs |

Comments

glad you posted this

This would be a nice time to share some Piazza memories. I’d just like to congratulate the guy on concluding a career that should make him an automatic first-ballot Hall of Famer (and about even odds on a Mets hat on his plaque, too, I’d think). Mike was one of the best players, and the most fun to watch, of all the players I’ve watched in a Mets uniform.

by anonymous on May 20, 2008 4:55 PM EDT reply actions

I loved the way he hustled

If there’s one thing that surprised me about Piazza after he became a Met, it’s that he always ran out every ground ball as hard as he could. Of course, he couldn’t do that as he became old and increasingly injured, but for a long time Mike Piazza was one of the few superstars who really hustled and gave his all on every play. I tend to be more of a stats guy than a grit/guts person. Still, I couldn’t help but love how much Piazza cared about every at bat despite the millions he made. He was everything I wanted a superstar to be.

Regardless of his political views, Mike Piazza will always be one my favorite Mets of all time – someone I’ll be proud to tell my kids one day that I got to see. Thanks for the memories, Mike.

by ams258 on May 20, 2008 5:08 PM EDT reply actions

And, of course, on top of the grit the stats were outstanding

by JoshNY on May 20, 2008 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

Stats were really the only thing that separated Piazza from David Eckstein though.

by ams258 on May 22, 2008 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions

WFAN

is doing a great Piazza highlight reel right now. Makes me miss Gary Cohen on the radio.

by anonymous on May 20, 2008 6:40 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks Mike!

by DoctorK16 on May 20, 2008 9:52 PM EDT reply actions

Rec'd

Mikey P. was the man. His last few years with the Mets were unspectacular, but he was a perennial MVP candidate through the first four or so. He helped transform the Mets from also-rans to pennant-contenders, and even after the team fell apart in the wake of their WS appearance in 2000, Piazza remained one of the few reasons to come out and see this team. A classy guy, always answered the tough questions and, IMO, was underrated defensively because his throwing was so bad.

by Eric Simon on May 21, 2008 7:47 PM EDT reply actions