Piazza just visiting this weekend
-
- June
- 22
Tom Seaver is regarded as the greatest Met of all time and justifiably so. However, the greatest position player in franchise history just might be Mike Piazza. Some might go with Darryl Strawberry or Keith Hernandez, but my money is on Piazza, a clear-cut Hall of Famer when his career ends.
When he’s done playing Piazza said today he wouldn’t mind considering a position in the organization. Piazza is in town this weekend with the Oakland Athletics, but injuries won’t let him play. That doesn’t mean he won’t be recognized by the crowd.
My Piazza moment is the homer in the first game back after September 11. Let’s hear some others.
PHOTO: MLB.com
This entry was posted
on Friday, June 22nd, 2007 at 6:18 pm by John Delcos.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Share and Enjoy: 
| 
| 
I miss Piazza. I would love him to come back to the Mets after he retires and work for them in some capacity. Maybe as a studio analyst for SNY? It was great how he really embraced the fans and NY city—both the good and the bad—and didn't whine about the media. He's such a classy player.
John, that pic you posted of Piazza makes him look 20-30 lbs slimmer than he was. I think there was some distortion added in by the way someone resized it.
*******
To JK
I was the one that sized it and it was a dated photo.-JD
I agree that Piazza is a clear cut HOFer…however, I still think Keith is the #1 Mets position player, and should have been put in the Hall. Piazza definitely second behind Keith as far as All Time Met Position Player Greats though.
********
To Dan
I know you will get a lot of support in Keith. Everybody I talk to says he was the heart of that championship team. A total clutch player, and nobody was better with the glove. -JD
Keith is my all time favorite Met, with Strawberry second and Mike a close third.
The Sept 11th moment is the most moving moment of his career, and his best. Another great Piazza moment I will never forget only involves Mike indirectly.
During a rain delay, Robin Ventura put on Piazza's catchers gear and drew a goatee on his face and ran the bases over the tarp and slid face first into a massive puddle at home plate.
Mike was shaking his head and laughing in the dugout. I'm sure the clip has to be on YouTube somewhere.
*********
To Anthony
I forgot about that one. I remember laughing like crazy when I saw it. It shows a lot about Piazza's character in that he has a sense of humor and can take the kidding. -JD
Mike's an east coast guy and will probably come back here after his playing days are over. He would make an excellent addition to the Mets organization then. Mike was the kind of guy anyone would want on their team – always professional, pleasant and a real team player. I'm sure he would be welcome back with the Mets.
FYI, Keith is my favorite all-time Mets player and Tom Seaver my favorite all-time Mets pitcher. However, Sandy Koufax is my favorite all time baseball player. I met him once at a Hartford golf tournament – he's a great person, but not a great golfer :)
Glad to be reminded of the Robin Ventura "Bull Durham" rainout stunt. That was funny.
I think I respect Mike more than any past Met. Not only did he resign with the Mets after he got boo'd a lot that first year, but he could carry the team in the dog days of the summer when no one else was hitting. He may not have been the king of the walkoff, but he was as clutch in the late innings as any player I ever rooted for.
These days it's rare for the great players to be humble and just good people, but Mike was till the end. I'd love to see him back with the team in some way once he retires.
All the kudos to Piazza said above, but Keith has to be number 1. He was one awesome ball player. A first basemen who dominated on defense like nobody since, and a great hitter, fouling off pitches with 2 strikes, alsways working a pitcher, hitting in the clutch etc. Keith deserves the HOF as much as Ozzie for being the best defensive player at his position. And he's very entertaining and informative in the booth also.
obviously the home run in 2001. i also remember him homering on his 30th birthday in 1998 in a 2-1 win over the Braves. That series is remembered for that Labor day game in which the game won 8-7 following a moonsoon-like rain delay.
also, didn't he do some broadcasting either in the studio or at a game for espn during the playoffs?
I agree with everyone here on Keith as #1. He was clutch with bat and glove and had at least 10hr's to boot.
Others high on the list are Piazza and I guess Straw. Strawberry was terrible in the field but had a gun for an arm. He struck out a lot but would carry the team when they slumped so I am conflicted on him.
If the young guns project out Reyes and Wright will get their due in 5 years or so.
Don't know the '69 team.
Dave
You don't have to go too far for one of my favorite Piazza moments. Last year when he came to Shea with the Padres was just amazing.
The ovation and cheers he got was defeaning. He couldn't even step into the batters box.
Then he hits 2 homeruns and came close to a 3rd, with the crowd going NUTS on the first and then booing him by the time he came up in the 8th, it was great, haha.
New York loves Mike Piazza and for all the crap he put up with while being here, its good to let him know of it, I'm glad he's aware of it
I am not gonna choose the post 9/11 HR because in my mind it is so big it trascends baseball..it was as loud of a statement by this city as it was a HR…..so i will choose one of those moments i still cant beleive i saw with my own two eyes….Piazza's 3 run HR that capped a 10 run inning against the Braves, i beleive it was June 30,2000. That was the moment i became positive that team would do whatever it took to get to the World Series
jb
Larry;
>>also, didn’t he do some broadcasting either in the studio or at a game for espn during the playoffs?
>>
Yes, he did. I believe it was the Angels-White Sox series in 2005. He was with Chris Berman though, so it was a pretty unbearable telecast overall.