1. C Mike Piazza, 2000
2000 Season stats – 482 at-bats, .324/.398/.614, 90 runs, 26 doubles, 38 home runs, 113 RBIs, 58 walks/69 strikeouts
Mike Piazza, a recent Hall Of Fame inductee, is one of the greatest catchers of all-time, having garnered 12 All-Star appearances, 10 Silver Slugger Awards, a Rookie of the Year Award and finished nine seasons in the top-15 of the MVP vote during his illustrious 16-year career in the MLB.He had many great years in Queens, but his season in 2000 proved to be his best, hitting .324 with 38 homers and just 69 strikeouts. Strikeout numbers that low are almost non-existent in today’s major leagues, as many players easily exceed 100 a season. Piazza’s work that year also propelled the Mets to the famous Subway Series, where they ultimately lost to the Yankees 4-1.
Piazza’s pure power and overall hitting prowess easily makes him, not only the greatest hitting catcher in Mets’ franchise history, but the best catcher in general. His iconic and meaningful home run in the first post-9/11 game back in Queens on September 21, 2001 will also forever live in the minds of New Yorkers as a moment of triumph in times of trouble.
