The extensive debates surrounding New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza’s candidacy for the MLB Hall of Fame will all culminate on Wednesday night at 6:00 p.m., when MLB Network will reveal the Class of 2016.
By Justin Weiss
Piazza currently appears on roughly 86% of public ballots, well above the neccesary 75% needed for induction. History suggests that public ballots aren’t the greatest indicator of who’s in and who’s out, but one can hope that “tis’ the year” for the star catcher.
Let’s remember the five best moments of Piazza’s Mets career.
5. Record-breaking blast (05/06/2004)
Piazza broke Carlton Fisk’s record for career home runs by a catcher on a cool night at Shea Stadium in front of a crowd of roughly 20,000 people — most of whom were there to watch Barry Bonds.
Number 352 — which came just ten days after he tied the record — came off of San Fransisco Giants pitcher Jerome Williams. As Piazza rounded the bases, “Chariots of Fire” was blasted from the loudspeakers. Piazza would return from the dugout for a raucous curtain call.
”I’m really excited and really proud…I’m blessed. I’ve lived a dream. Everything from here on in is icing.” —Mike Piazza
The icing came the next night to the tune of a walk-off home run in the eleventh inning. When youngsters ponder how incredible Yoenis Cespedes’ home run tear was in 2015, I have two words: Mike Piazza.
4. 1999 NLCS Games Five and Six (10/17/1999 – 10/19)
If you think that the trio of Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard is good, just think about the sheer dominance of Atlanta Braves pitchers John Smoltz, Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux — all of whom have been inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame.
That didn’t seem to stop the Mets in 1999, when they looked tremendous adversity in the face and took the series to six games. Immense contributions from the team’s backstop was a large reason why the Mets could contend despite facing seemingly insurmountable opponents.
In Game 5, Piazza, who wasn’t known as a great fielder, made a terrific block of home plate that set up John Olerud’s “Walk-off single” in the fifteenth inning. Then, in the seventh inning of Game 6, he helped the Mets overcome a rough outing from Al Leiter to tie a game that was Atlanta previously led 7-2. While New York would eventually fall in the eleventh on a Kenny Rogers walk, Piazza’s contributions will be forever remembered.
Bob Costas said as Piazza capped the Mets incredible comeback, “Tied at seven, hoping for Game 7!”
3. Piazza completes the comeback (06/30/2000)
53,000 Mets fans packed into Shea Stadium for the second game of a June 2000 series with the Atlanta Braves, waiting to explode like the post game fireworks would that night.
Atlanta had the Mets’ number the previous two years, winning the season series’ with a combined 18-6 record, and eliminating New York in the 1999 NLCS. John Rocker, who was hated as much as Chase Utley was in 2015, had pitched in relief the day before, helping the Braves defeat the Mets 6-4.
The Braves jumped out to an 8-1 lead in the top of the seventh inning, shocking the crowd. But just when all in attendance thought the game was over when Robin Ventura measly grounded out with runners on second and third and one out (giving the Mets their second run of the game), Todd Zeile lined an RBI single to left, Jay Payton moved runners over with a hit and Benny Agbayani, Mark Johnson and Melvin Mora all walked, securing the Mets 3 runs.
With New York down 8-5, Braves manager Bobby Cox brought in Terry Mulholland to face Derek Bell. He walked him. The next batter, Edgardo Alfonzo, tied the game with a sharp single to left.
But what comeback could be complete without Michael Joseph Piazza?
A screaming line drive down the line cleared the fences, giving the Mets a victory.
2. Roger Clemens feud
Mike Piazza owned Roger Clemens.
Before Clemens ever beaned Piazza in the head or threw the barrel of a bat at Piazza in the World Series, Mike Piazza was 7-for-12 with 3 career homers against Roger Clemens.
The ill-tempered Clemens would lose his cool because of one trademark Piazza swing in the third inning of a Subway Series game in 2000.
With the bases loaded, Piazza hit a flat slider and followed through for a 425-foot grand slam.
1. Post 9-11 homer (09/21/2001)
What would normally be considered just another homer ended up being one of the most iconic moments in MLB history.
The 2-run blast off of Steve Karsay was more than a home run. It was more than a lead. It was more than a game.
Simply put, Piazza’s post-9/11 home run not only gave the Mets a lead over their biggest nemesis (the Braves, again), but it rekindled the American spirit and continued the national pastime.
“At that crack of the bat,” former Mets manager Bobby Valentine said, “spontaneously people stopped mourning, and started cheering.”