This Date In Mets History: May 22 — Mets Trade For Mike Piazza

On May 22, 1998, the Mets traded three minor leaguers — outfielder Preston Wilson, the 70th best prospect in baseball; pitcher Geoff Geotz, the 96th best prospect in baseball; and pitcher Ed Yarnall — to the Florida Marlins for 29-year-old journeyman catcher Mike Piazza. New York was Piazza's third stop in a two-week span, having arrived in Florida from Los Angeles just eight days earlier. While Piazza was a colossal disappointment with the Mets, I'll never forget his first game back in New York, playing for the Padres, when he hit two home runs at Shea Stadium.

Never forget.

On May 22, 1988, Dodgers third baseman Pedro Guerrero hurled his bat moundward after being hit by a David Cone offering. Guerrero began walking toward the mound but was stopped by Mets catcher Barry Lyons. The benches emptied and Guerrero was ejected, and was eventually handed a four-game suspension by NL President Bart Giamatti. The previous day, the teams exchanged bean balls as Dwight Gooden hit Alfredo Griffin in the right hand, fracturing it, and Dodgers pitcher Brian Holton hit Howard Johnson in the right leg.

Birthdays

No player born on May 22 has ever appeared in a game with the Mets. However, Tommy John was born on this day in 1943, and his surgical namesake has been performed on John Franco, Billy Wagner, Jason Isringhausen, Phil Humber, and many others.

Game Of Note

On May 22, 1962, Mets starter Jay Hook allowed two runs in the bottom of the eighth and the Mets lost 3-2 to their fellow expansion Houston Colt .45's. It was their second loss in a row; they'd drop their next fifteen games, too, before finally picking up a victory.