It's time for the Mets to retire Mike Piazza's number

Mike Piazza has finally been elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame after falling short in each his first three years on the ballot. He will officially be inducted alongside Ken Griffey Jr. on Sunday, July 24. With that, it's time for the Mets to retire Piazza's number 31.

Although Piazza's number is not officially retired, no Met has worn 31 since Piazza's time with the team came to an end. Retiring his number would essentially only be a formality, one that would very likely lead to a sellout crowd.

The Mets have repeatedly honored Piazza in a fashion unlike any player aside from Tom Seaver, the only other Mets player to have his number retired by the team. Piazza was inducted into the Mets' Hall of Fame in 2013, it was a Piazza-Seaver battery that closed Shea Stadium with its final pitch, and it was Piazza who threw the ceremonial first pitch prior to Citi Field's first World Series game last year.