Editing Mike Piazza

{{short description|American Hall of Fame baseball player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Mike Piazza
|image=File:Mike Piazza HOF Press Conference.jpg
|caption= Piazza in 2016
|position=[[Catcher]]
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1968|9|4}}
|birth_place=[[Norristown, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=September 1
|debutyear=1992
|debutteam=Los Angeles Dodgers
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=September 30
|finalyear=2007
|finalteam=Oakland Athletics
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.308
|stat2label=[[Hit (baseball)|Hits]]
|stat2value=2,127
|stat3label=[[Home run]]s
|stat3value=427
|stat4label=[[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
|stat4value=1,335
|teams=
* [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] ({{mlby|1992}}–{{mlby|1998}})
* [[Miami Marlins|Florida Marlins]] ({{mlby|1998}})
* [[New York Mets]] ({{mlby|1998}}–{{mlby|2005}})
* [[San Diego Padres]] ({{mlby|2006}})
* [[Oakland Athletics]] ({{mlby|2007}})
|highlights=
* 12× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1993 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1993]]–[[2002 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2002]], [[2004 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2004]], [[2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2005]])
* [[NL Rookie of the Year]] (1993)
* 10× [[Silver Slugger Award]] (1993–2002)
* [[New York Mets#Retired numbers|New York Mets No. 31]] retired
* [[New York Mets Hall of Fame]]
|hoflink = National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
|hoftype = National
|hofdate=[[2016 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|2016]]
|hofvote=83.0% (fourth ballot)
|medaltemplates={{MedalSport|Manager for {{bb|ITA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[European Baseball Championship|European Championship]]}}
{{MedalBronze | [[2021 European Baseball Championship|2021 Turin]] | [[Italy national baseball team|National team]]}}
}}
'''Michael Joseph Piazza''' ({{IPAc-en|p|i|ˈ|ɑː|t|s|ə}} {{respell|pee|AHT|sa}};<ref name="longshot">{{cite book |last1=Piazza |first1=Mike |title=Long Shot |date=18 February 2014 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-4391-5023-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h-fUAgAAQBAJ |access-date=1 September 2023 |language=en}}</ref>{{rp|55}} born September 4, 1968) is an American former professional [[baseball]] [[catcher]] who played 16 seasons in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB), from 1992 to 2007, and is a member of the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Major League Baseball Hall of Fame]]. He intended to serve as the manager of the [[Italy national baseball team|Italian national baseball team]] in 2020 and 2021 championships,<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 13, 2019 |title=Hall of Famer Mike Piazza agrees to manage Italian baseball team |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28071286/hall-famer-mike-piazza-agrees-manage-italian-baseball-team |access-date=November 13, 2019 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> though was unable to do so because of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Europe|COVID-19 pandemic]]. Piazza played most notably for the [[New York Mets]] and [[Los Angeles Dodgers]], while also having brief stints with the [[Miami Marlins|Florida Marlins]], [[San Diego Padres]], and [[Oakland Athletics]]. A 12-time [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] and 10-time [[Silver Slugger Award]] winner at catcher, he produced strong offensive numbers at his position; in his career, he recorded 427 [[home runs]]—a record 396 of which were hit as catcher—along with a .308 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] and 1,335 [[runs batted in]] (RBI).

Piazza was drafted by the Dodgers in the [[1988 Major League Baseball draft|1988 MLB draft]] as a favor from [[Tommy Lasorda]] to Piazza's father. He was the last player selected and signed in his draft class to play in the Major Leagues. Initially a [[first baseman]], Piazza converted to catcher in the minor leagues at Lasorda's suggestion to improve his chances of being promoted. He made his major league debut in 1992 and the following year was named the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] (NL) [[Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year]] and was an All-Star for the first of 10 consecutive seasons. Piazza immediately impressed with his ability to hit for [[power hitter|power]] and average. His best year as a Dodger came in 1997 when he batted .362, hit 40 home runs, and had 124 RBI, leading to a runner-up finish in voting for the NL [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player Award]]. In 1998, he was traded to the Marlins and then a week later to the Mets, with whom he spent most of the remainder of his career. He helped the Mets reach the [[2000 World Series]], the only World Series appearance of his career. After the 2005 season, Piazza left the Mets to play one season each for the Padres and Athletics before retiring after the 2007 season.

Piazza is regarded as one of the best offensive catchers in baseball history. He had at least one RBI in 15 straight games for the Mets in 2000, the second-longest RBI streak ever. In 2013, the Mets inducted Piazza into the [[New York Mets Hall of Fame]]. In [[2016 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|2016]], Piazza was elected to the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Baseball Hall of Fame]].<ref name=HOF>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/hall-of-fame-elects-griffey-piazza-c161180408|title=Griffey sets Hall vote mark; Piazza gets call|work=MLB.com|date=January 6, 2016|access-date=January 6, 2016|archive-date=January 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107143457/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/161180408/hall-of-fame-elects-griffey-piazza|url-status=live}}</ref>

Piazza owned the Italian soccer team [[A.C. Reggiana 1919]], which played for two seasons (2017–2018) in Serie C under his leadership before its non-registration due to continued financial troubles.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nypost.com/2018/07/17/mike-piazzas-soccer-team-goes-bust/ |title=Mike Piazzas soccer team goes bust |first=Jake |last=Nisse |date=July 17, 2018 |access-date=July 18, 2018 |newspaper=New York Post |archive-date=July 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718110733/https://nypost.com/2018/07/17/mike-piazzas-soccer-team-goes-bust/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Early life==
Piazza was born in [[Norristown, Pennsylvania]], grew up in [[Phoenixville, Pennsylvania]], and attended [[Phoenixville Area High School]]. He is the second-oldest son of an Italian father named Vince (1932–2021) and a Slovak mother named Veronica, with brothers Vince Jr., Dan, Tony, and Tom. His father was the son of Italian immigrants from [[Sciacca, Sicily]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usworldherald.com/sciacca-american-dream-lives-on/  |title=Sciacca: The Sicilian town where the American dream lives on |date=June 5, 2019 |work=The US World Herald |first=Joe |last=Battaglia |access-date=September 4, 2023 }}</ref> Tom's godfather was former MLB manager [[Tommy Lasorda]]. Mike grew up a [[Philadelphia Phillies]] fan and fan of Philadelphia sports, and admiring Hall of Fame third baseman [[Mike Schmidt]]. Piazza watched the [[Philadelphia 76ers]] court side in their January 1983 game when [[Julius Erving]] performed a defensive play by swiping the ball and completing his famous Rock-a-Baby dunk, which Piazza cited as one of his indelible childhood memories as a sports fan.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Young Mike Piazza Courtside|url=https://www.bloggingmets.com/16209/video-young-mike-piazza-courtside/|date=2013-02-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mike-piazzas-proud-dad-watches-sons-hof-call/c-191447044 |title=Piazza's proud pop watches son's call to Hall |website=Major League Baseball |date=July 24, 2016 |first=Barry M. |last=Bloom |quote=Mike was the second of five sons .... |access-date=March 18, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/c035234d |last=Osowiecki|first=Stan|title=Mike Piazza|access-date=February 22, 2017|work=Society For American Baseball Research}}</ref> Vince Piazza earned a fortune of more than $100 million in used cars and real estate, and attempted several times to purchase an MLB franchise.<ref name="berlind19991017">{{cite news|last=Berlind|first=William|title=Mike Piazza's 'Loudmouth' Dad Nervously Watches Mets Advance|url=http://observer.com/1999/10/mike-piazzas-loudmouth-dad-nervously-watches-mets-advance/|access-date=April 13, 2013|newspaper=New York Observer|date=October 17, 1999}}</ref> When the Dodgers—managed by Vince's childhood friend Tommy Lasorda, the godfather of Mike Piazza's youngest brother, Tommy<ref name="longshot" />{{rp|40}}—visited Philadelphia, Piazza visited the Dodger clubhouse and served as a bat boy in the dugout.<ref name="coffey19980607">{{cite news|last=Coffey|first=Wayne|title=HOMETOWN HERO METS'S PIZZA HAS BECOME FAVORITE SON OF PHOENIXVILLE, PA.|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/sports/hometown-hero-mets-piazza-favorite-son-phoenixville-pa-article-1.799709?print|access-date=April 13, 2013|newspaper=New York Daily News|date=June 7, 1998}}</ref>

Vince's own hopes of playing baseball had ended at the age of 16 when he left school to support his family. He saw that Piazza had potential in the sport, and began encouraging his son to build his arm strength at the age of five.{{r|berlind19991017}} When he was 16, Piazza received personal instruction in his backyard batting cage from [[Ted Williams]]. The Hall of Famer praised his talent, advised him not to let anyone change his swing, and autographed Piazza's copy of Williams' ''The Science of Hitting''.{{r|coffey19980607}} Vince threw hundreds of pitches nightly to his son,{{r|berlind19991017}} who shared his father's focus on baseball, clearing snow if necessary to practice his hitting and, after reaching the major leagues, practicing on Christmas Eve.{{r|coffey19980607}} Piazza graduated from Phoenixville Area High School in 1986, after which he went to South Florida and joined the [[Miami Hurricanes baseball|Miami Hurricanes]] his freshman year; receiving no playing time that season, Piazza transferred to [[Miami Dade College|Miami-Dade Community College]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mlb/miami-marlins/article159730794.html |title=Babe Ruth, Satchel Paige and A-Rod part of Miami's long and storied baseball history |newspaper=Miami Herald |date=July 5, 2017 |first=George |last=Richards |access-date=September 13, 2018 }}</ref> Piazza played first base at Miami-Dade in 1988. In 29 games, he [[batting average (baseball)|hit]] .364 with three [[home run]]s and [[runs batted in|drove in]] 23 runs.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=WV |title=Piazza Voted Into Baseball Hall of Fame |journal=College Forum |date=February 2016 |volume=20 |issue=1 |url=https://www.mdc.edu/main/collegeforum/archive/vol20-01/makingtheirmark/l0200_piazza.aspx |access-date=7 May 2023|publisher=[[Miami Dade College]]}}</ref>

==Major league career==

===Los Angeles Dodgers===
After his father asked Lasorda to select Piazza as a favor,<ref name="schwarz20080521">{{cite news|last=Schwarz|first=Alan|title=Piazza Calls It Quits After 16 Years and 427 Homers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/21/sports/baseball/21piazza.html|access-date=October 6, 2010|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 21, 2008}}</ref> the [[Miami-Dade Community College]] student was drafted by the Dodgers in the 62nd round of the [[1988 Major League Baseball draft|1988 MLB amateur draft]] as the 1,390th player picked out of 1,395 players.<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?query_type=year_round&year_ID=1988&draft_round=62&draft_type=junreg 62nd Round of the 1988 MLB June Amateur Draft]</ref>{{r|coffey19980607}} Lasorda asked Piazza to give up his first base position and learn how to catch to improve his chances of reaching the major leagues and helped him attend a special training camp for catchers in the Dominican Republic.{{r|coffey19980607}} Piazza became an excellent hitter, especially for a catcher.{{r|schwarz20080521}} His MLB debut came with the Dodgers on September 1, 1992, against the [[Chicago Cubs]]. He drew a walk in his first plate appearance and then doubled to deep center field in his first official at-bat, against [[Mike Harkey]] of the Cubs.<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN199209010.shtml Dodgers vs. Cubs September 1, 1992 Boxscore]</ref> He hit his first home run on September 12, 1992, against [[Steve Reed (baseball)|Steve Reed]] of the [[San Francisco Giants]].<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN199209120.shtml Dodgers vs. Giants September 12, 1992, box score]</ref> He only appeared in 21 games that season, hitting .232.

Piazza won the NL [[Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year Award]] in 1993 after appearing in 149 games, hitting .318, slugging 35 home runs, and driving in 112 RBI. He was also selected to the [[1993 Major League Baseball All-Star Game]], his first of 10 consecutive (and 12 total) All-Star appearances. Until [[Joc Pederson]] passed him in 2015, Piazza's 18 home runs before the All-Star break was a Dodgers' rookie record.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.truebluela.com/2015/6/22/8827309/dodgers-cubs-recap-home-run-derby-lights-out|title=Dodgers lose home run derby to Cubs on dark night at Wrigley|work=SB Nation|first=Eric|last=Stephen|date=June 22, 2015|access-date=June 23, 2015|archive-date=June 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623165419/http://www.truebluela.com/2015/6/22/8827309/dodgers-cubs-recap-home-run-derby-lights-out|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1996, Piazza hit .336 with 36 home runs and 105 RBI, finishing second in NL [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|MVP]] voting, behind [[Ken Caminiti]]. Piazza's best season with the Dodgers came in 1997, when he hit .362, with 40 home runs, 124 RBI, an [[on-base percentage]] of .431, and a [[slugging percentage]] of .638. He became the first catcher in MLB history to get 200 hits in a season. He finished second in NL [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|MVP]] voting for the second straight year, behind [[Larry Walker]].

===Florida Marlins===
{{multiple image
 | image1=Piazza catching-53 (cropped).jpg
 | width1 = 
 | image2=Mike Piazza with Marlins-73 (cropped).jpg
 | width2 = 150
 | footer = Piazza with the Marlins on May 18, 1998, three days after being traded by the Dodgers and four days before being traded to the Mets
}}
During the 1997-98 offseason, Piazza wanted a new contract prior to his eligibility for arbitration; Piazza wanted $105&nbsp;million for seven years while the Dodgers offered $76&nbsp;million for six years. Piazza blasted the Dodgers when his demands were criticized by fans and the media, blaming [[Vin Scully]] in particular.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-xpm-2013-feb-13-la-sp-dn-dodgers-mike-piazza-vin-scully-book-20130213-story.html |title=Dodgers: Mike Piazza calls out Vin Scully in book |date=February 13, 2013 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |first=Bil |last=Shaikin |access-date=August 4, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-apr-01-sp-34982-story.html |title=Slammed From Both Sides |date=April 1, 1998 |location=St. Louis |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |first=Jason |last=Reid |access-date=August 4, 2022}}</ref> 

On May 15, 1998, the Dodgers traded Piazza and [[Todd Zeile]] to the Marlins in return for [[Gary Sheffield]], [[Charles Johnson (catcher)|Charles Johnson]], [[Bobby Bonilla]], Manuel Barrios, and [[Jim Eisenreich]]. He appeared in five games with the Marlins, where he hit .278.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/dodgers-trade-of-piazza-revisited | title=Dodgers trekked long trail from Piazza to Ethier | website=[[MLB.com]] }}</ref>

===New York Mets===
<!-- {{MLBBioRet
|Image  = Mets31.png
|Name   = Mike Piazza
|Number = 31
|Team   = New York Mets
|Year   = 2016
|}} -->
On May 22, the Marlins traded Piazza to the New York Mets for [[Preston Wilson]], [[Ed Yarnall]], and Geoff Goetz.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/who-won-mike-piazza-trade-mets-marlins | title=24 years ago, Mets got Piazza. But did they win the trade? | website=[[MLB.com]] }}</ref> Piazza finished the 1998 season batting .328 with 32 home runs and 111 RBI, becoming the first player in MLB history to hit more than 30 home runs in a season while playing at least one game for three different franchises.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Players with 30 or more home runs in a season, minimum 1 game played for 3 or more franchises |url=https://stathead.com/baseball/player-batting-season-finder.cgi |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240724042046/https://stathead.com/tiny/7WdzM |archive-date=July 24, 2024 |access-date=July 24, 2024 |website=[[Sports Reference|Stathead]] |language=en}}</ref>

Piazza helped the Mets to two consecutive playoff appearances in 1999 and 2000. In the former season, Piazza tied his career highs of 40 home runs and 124 RBI. He also set the record for most home runs in a season without ever hitting more than one in a game, passing a mark previously set by [[Rogers Hornsby]] in 1929.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stathead.com/baseball/game_finder.cgi?request=1&match=gmatchPYr&order_by=HR&class=player&type=b&ccomp%5B1%5D=gt&cval%5B1%5D=1&cstat%5B1%5D=HR&exactness=anymarked&GF=anyGF&location=pob&locationMatch=is&temperature_max=120&wind_speed_max=90|title=Player Batting Game Finder|website=Stathead.com|access-date=May 29, 2021}}</ref>

[[File:Mike Piazza (1999) (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.85|Piazza with the Mets in May 1999]]
The following year, Piazza led the Mets to an NL pennant and a [[2000 World Series|World Series]] appearance in the 2000 [[Subway Series]]. He became known as "The Monster" after coach [[John Stearns]] was caught on tape during the [[2000 National League Championship Series]] after a Piazza [[Hit (baseball)|hit]] saying "The Monster is out of the Cage".<ref name=noble>{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080927&content_id=3559400&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym |title=Piazza's post-9/11 shot became iconic Slugger's dramatic game-winning homer added to legacy |access-date=March 4, 2009|last=Noble |first=Marty|date=September 27, 2008|work=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref>

Piazza was involved in a bizarre incident during the [[2000 World Series]]. Earlier in the season during interleague play, Yankees [[pitcher]] [[Roger Clemens]] hit Piazza in the head with a fastball. Piazza suffered a [[concussion]] and was forced to miss the [[2000 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2000 MLB All-Star Game]]. Clemens was widely criticized by Mets fans for the incident, but Clemens maintained that the pitch was not intentional. Clemens and Piazza would go on to face each other again in the first inning of World Series Game 2. During the at-bat, Clemens threw a pitch that broke Piazza's bat as he fouled it off, sending the barrel and a sharp edge of the broken bat directly at Clemens on the mound just as he finished his delivery. Clemens caught the barrel and threw it across the first base line towards the Yankees' dugout and just past Piazza who was running down to first. Piazza gave a long stare at Clemens and slowly started walking towards Clemens to confront him, and Clemens asked the umpire for a new ball as if nothing had happened. [http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20053773 During replays], Clemens can be seen shouting "I thought it was the ball!" and asking the umpire for a new ball multiple times as the two benches cleared and met at the mound. Words were exchanged between the two players, but no punches were thrown from either team and nobody was ejected. Piazza later caught for Clemens when both were on the NL team in the [[2004 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2004 All-Star Game]]. Clemens gave up six runs in the first inning.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/asgbox/07132004.shtml |title=2004 All-Star Game Box Score |access-date=October 5, 2008 |archive-date=October 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007201122/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/asgbox/07132004.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Mike Piazza spring of 2004.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|Piazza in 2004]]
Piazza's game-winning 8th-inning home run in the first professional baseball game played in New York following the [[September 11 attacks|9/11 attacks]] has been called iconic, therapeutic, and symbolic.<ref name=noble /> The jersey he wore in that September 21, 2001 game was purchased in April 2016 for $365,000, the highest price ever paid for a modern-day jersey, and is displayed on a rotating basis among the [[9/11 Memorial Museum]], [[Citi Field]], and the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://nypost.com/2016/04/14/mets-fans-spend-big-to-rescue-piazza-911-jersey-as-museum-piece/ | title=Mets fans spend big to rescue Piazza 9/11 jersey as museum piece | newspaper=New York Post | date=April 14, 2016 | author=Kernan, Kevin | access-date=July 21, 2017 | archive-date=July 28, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728141940/http://nypost.com/2016/04/14/mets-fans-spend-big-to-rescue-piazza-911-jersey-as-museum-piece/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nypost.com/2016/04/05/mike-piazza-just-cant-believe-mets-sold-his-famed-911-jersey/ |title=Frustrated Mike Piazza speaks out on Mets' 9/11 jersey shocker |newspaper=New York Post |date=April 5, 2016 |last=Kernan |first=Kevin |access-date=July 21, 2017 |archive-date=July 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728145804/http://nypost.com/2016/04/05/mike-piazza-just-cant-believe-mets-sold-his-famed-911-jersey/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

To ease the stress on his deteriorating knees, Piazza began to split his time between catching and playing first base during the 2004 season, an experiment which was abandoned before the end of the season because of Piazza's defensive deficiencies. {{citation needed|date=April 2012}} Although recognized as a great hitter, Piazza has had some notable defensive accomplishments. Among them, Piazza caught two [[no-hitter]]s thrown by [[Ramón Martínez (pitcher)|Ramón Martínez]] and [[Hideo Nomo]] while playing with the Dodgers. Nomo's was particularly impressive because it happened at [[Coors Field]], notorious for being a hitter-friendly ballpark. Additionally, Piazza's .997 fielding percentage was the highest among NL catchers in 2000.<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/piazzmi01-field.shtml#advanced_fielding_c::0 Mike Piazza Fielding Stats]</ref>

On May 5, 2004, Piazza surpassed [[Carlton Fisk]] for most home runs by a catcher with his 352nd.

===San Diego Padres===
[[File:Piazza on 1st (future hall of famer).jpg|thumb|upright|Piazza wearing No. 33 with San Diego in 2006]]
Following the 2005 season, Piazza signed a one-year contract worth $2 million with the San Diego Padres on January 29, 2006.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2311295 |title=Piazza agrees to one-year, $2M deal with Padres |date=January 29, 2006 |website=[[ESPN]] |agency=Associated Press |access-date=April 5, 2025}}</ref>

Serving as the Padres' starting catcher and clean-up hitter, Piazza experienced somewhat of a rejuvenation in 2006, batting .283 with 22 homers and helping the Padres to a division title. On July 21, 2006, Piazza collected his 2,000th career hit.

On August 8, 2006, Piazza played his first game at Shea Stadium since leaving the Mets. Throughout the three-game series, Piazza drew frequent standing ovations from New York fans. It was on par with that of [[Tom Seaver]] on his return to pitch at Shea Stadium in 1977 and 1978. Even more telling was during that series, on August 9, he drew a rare [[curtain call]] in the opposing park following a home run off Mets pitcher (and former Dodgers and Mets teammate) [[Pedro Martínez]] in the fourth inning. Not done for the day, Piazza went deep off Martinez again in the sixth. With the Mets ahead 4–2 in the eighth, and two runners aboard, Piazza hit one to the wall in center, nearly bashing his third homer of the day and putting the Padres ahead.

===Oakland Athletics===
Piazza signed as a free agent with the [[Oakland Athletics]] for $8.5 million on December 8, 2006.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2688662} |title=Piazza joins A's, who also add Embree |date=December 6, 2006 |website=ESPN |access-date=April 5, 2025}}</ref> He exclusively played at [[designated hitter]] with the Athletics.

On July 25, 2007, in the top of the ninth inning in a game between the [[2007 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim season|Angels]] and Athletics at [[Angel Stadium of Anaheim|Angel Stadium]], a fan threw a water bottle that hit Piazza, who had homered earlier in the game. Piazza pointed his bat in the stands at the fan he believed threw the water bottle to get the attention of security. The fan, who was identified as Roland Flores from [[La Puente, California]], was arrested by the ballpark security. Piazza pressed charges against Flores,<ref>[https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2949665 ESPN – Piazza to press charges against fan who threw bottle – MLB<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and Flores was sentenced to 30 days in jail and three years of probation on March 27, 2008. On September 26, against the [[Boston Red Sox]] at [[Fenway Park]], Piazza hit his 427th and what would be his final major league home run of his career, off of rookie pitcher [[Jon Lester]].

After not being signed to any MLB team for the [[2008 MLB season|2008 season]], Piazza announced his retirement on May 20, 2008, saying, "After discussing my options with my wife, family and agent, I felt it is time to start a new chapter in my life. It has been an amazing journey."<ref name="espn3405188">{{cite news| url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3405188 | title=Piazza, one of greatest hitting catchers in MLB history, retires | agency=[[Associated Press]] | date=May 20, 2008 | access-date=May 20, 2008}}</ref>

===Retirement===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Alg MikePiazza-TomSeaver.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Mike Piazza catching the final pitch at [[Shea Stadium]] from [[New York Mets]] [[Tom Seaver]]. {{deletable image-caption}}]] -->Piazza made a return to Shea Stadium during the "Shea Goodbye" closing ceremony on September 28, 2008, where he received the final pitch in the history of the stadium from Hall of Famer Tom Seaver. Piazza and Seaver also officially "closed" Shea when they walked off together into the center field exit and closed the door on the park after waving goodbye to the capacity crowd. On April 13, 2009, Piazza received the very first pitch in the new [[Citi Field]] from Seaver before the Mets' opening game against the Padres.

==International baseball==
Before the 2006 MLB season, Piazza represented [[Italy national baseball team|Italy]] in the [[2006 World Baseball Classic]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=William Davis |first1=Bradford |title=Former Mets star Mike Piazza to manage Team Italy in World Baseball Classic |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/national-sports/ny-world-baseball-classic-mike-piazza-manager-italian-team-20191113-pxtyqww3k5gkhibrjahghtdl5m-story.html |website=baltimoresun.com |date=November 13, 2019 |publisher=Baltimore Sun |access-date=21 November 2019}}</ref>

Piazza was the Italian National Baseball team's hitting coach at the 2009 and [[2013 World Baseball Classic]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Piazza says he will manage Italian national baseball team |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/piazza-says-he-will-manage-italian-national-baseball-team/2019/11/13/fb68ac0c-0646-11ea-9118-25d6bd37dfb1_story.html |website=washingtonpost.com |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=21 November 2019}} {{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> He was an instructor for the Italian Baseball Academy when it won back-to-back European Baseball Championships in 2010 and 2012.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kelly |first1=Matt |title=Piazza to manage Italy in 2021 WBC |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mike-piazza-named-team-italy-manager |website=mlb.com |publisher=Major League Baseball |access-date=21 November 2019}}</ref>

On November 13, 2019, Piazza announced that he would manage the Italian National Baseball team in the 2020 [[European Baseball Championship]] and the 2021 [[World Baseball Classic]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bengel |first1=Chris |title=Mike Piazza agrees to manage Italian national baseball team |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mike-piazza-agrees-to-manage-italian-national-baseball-team/ |website=cbssports.com |date=November 13, 2019 |publisher=CBS |access-date=21 November 2019}}</ref> Due to the coronavirus pandemic and cancellation of the 2020 European Baseball Club competitions, Piazza was unable to do so.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cancellation of the 2020 European Baseball Club Competitions |url=http://www.baseballeurope.com/post/cancellation_of_the_2020_european_baseball_club_co#:~:text=Zagreb%2C%20April%201st%2C%202020%20%E2%80%93,spread%20of%20the%20coronavirus%20pandemic. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522120507/http://baseballeurope.com/post/cancellation_of_the_2020_european_baseball_club_co#:~:text=Zagreb%2C%20April%201st%2C%202020%20%E2%80%93,spread%20of%20the%20coronavirus%20pandemic. |url-status=usurped |archive-date=May 22, 2020 |website=baseballeurope.com |access-date=23 June 2020}}</ref>

==Reggiana==
In 2016, Piazza purchased a majority ownership stake of the third-division Italian soccer club [[AC Reggiana 1919#A.C. Reggiana 1919 (2005–2018)|A.C. Reggiana]] in [[Reggio Emilia]], with an estimated investment of $3 million. His interest grew from his friendship with former Italian soccer player [[Maurizio Franzone]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/20/sports/soccer/mike-piazza-italy-reggiana-owner.html|title=Mike Piazza Learns How to Be an Owner. Of a Soccer Team. In Italy.|last=Keh|first=Andrew|date=February 20, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 3, 2018|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=May 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504020006/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/20/sports/soccer/mike-piazza-italy-reggiana-owner.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

After two seasons of ownership and a controversial playoff loss to Robur Siena (with a penalty called in the 96th minute) Piazza put the team up for sale. Finding no buyers, and faced with mounting costs, including rent, the club ceased operations in July 2018. In December 2018 the team declared bankruptcy for the third time in twenty years.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://theathletic.com/721275/2018/12/18/the-passion-of-mike-piazza-how-the-midlife-crisis-of-a-baseball-hall-of-famer-led-to-the-demise-of-a-100-year-old-italian-soccer-club/|title=The Passion of Mike Piazza: How the midlife crisis of a baseball Hall of Famer led to the demise of a 100-year old Italian soccer club.|last=Powell|first=Robert Andrew|date=December 18, 2018|work=The Athletic|access-date=December 24, 2018|url-access=registration|archive-date=December 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225130003/https://theathletic.com/721275/2018/12/18/the-passion-of-mike-piazza-how-the-midlife-crisis-of-a-baseball-hall-of-famer-led-to-the-demise-of-a-100-year-old-italian-soccer-club/|url-status=live}}</ref> Piazza and his wife had feuded with [[Luca Vecchi]], then mayor of Reggio Emilia, during their time as owners of the club.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mike-piazzas-tenure-as-an-italian-soccer-club-owner-couldnt-have-gone-much-worse/|title=Mike Piazza's tenure as an Italian soccer club owner couldn't have gone much worse|last=Skiver|first=Kevin|date=December 19, 2018|work=[[CBS Sports]]|access-date=December 3, 2019}}</ref>

==Legacy==
{{MLBBioRet
|Image  = Mets retired 31.svg
|Name   = Mike Piazza
|Number = 31
|Team   = New York Mets
|Year   = 2016
|}}
[[File:Piazza and Wilson greet the crowd before catching ceremonial pitches, Apr 15 2022 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Piazza greets the crowd at [[Citi Field]] prior to catching a ceremonial pitch alongside [[Mookie Wilson]].]]

In a sixteen-year major league career, Piazza played in 1,912 [[Games played|games]], accumulating 2,127 [[Hit (baseball)|hits]] in 6,911 [[at bats]] for a .308 career batting average along with 427 home runs, 1,335 runs batted in, an [[on-base plus slugging]] percentage of .922 and an [[on-base percentage]] of .377.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/piazzmi01.shtml |title=Mike Piazza statistics |publisher=Baseball-reference.com |access-date=August 7, 2022 |archive-date=April 19, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090419233037/http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/piazzmi01.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> Piazza is one of the best-hitting catchers of all time, hitting 427 career home runs, 396 of them while he was playing the catcher position, a Major League Baseball record for career home runs by a catcher.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/all-time-home-run-leaders-at-each-position |title=All Time Home Run Leaders At Each Position |work=mlb.com |accessdate=6 August 2022}}</ref> Only eight other players have ever had over 400 home runs with over a .300 lifetime average while never [[Strikeout|striking out]] more than 100 times in a season ([[Ted Williams]], [[Stan Musial]], [[Lou Gehrig]], [[Mel Ott]], [[Hank Aaron]], [[Babe Ruth]], [[Vladimir Guerrero]] and [[Chipper Jones]]). He is one of only three players in history to win ten [[Silver Slugger Award]]s, along with [[Barry Bonds]] and [[Alex Rodriguez]].

In addition to his hitting, Piazza's defense has undergone a more positive reassessment in light of new defensive metrics. His pitch framing, in particular, ranks seventh-best among all catchers going back to the first data in 1988.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.mlb.com/news/mike-piazza-better-at-defense-than-reputation-c190462110|title = Known for big bat, Piazza was underrated defensively|access-date = Jul 21, 2016|website = MLB.com|archive-date = July 22, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160722151924/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/190462110/mike-piazza-better-at-defense-than-reputation/|url-status = live}}</ref> Another report published in 2008 put him third among all catchers since 1948 in improving the performances of his pitchers.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=5274|title = Schrodinger's Bat|access-date = July 21, 2016|website = Baseball Prospectus| date=July 6, 2006 }}</ref>

Mets teammate [[Tom Glavine]] called Piazza a "first-ballot [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Hall of Famer]], certainly the best hitting catcher of our era and arguably the best hitting catcher of all time".{{r|schwarz20080521}} On May 8, 2010, while receiving an award, Piazza said to reporters that if he got into the Hall of Fame, he would like to be inducted as a Met, for whom he played seven-plus seasons.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/09/sports/baseball/09piazza.html | title=If the Hall Calls, Piazza Wants to Enter as a Met | work=The New York Times | date=May 7, 2010 | first=Joe | last=Brescia | archive-date=September 9, 2017 | access-date=February 22, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909231006/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/09/sports/baseball/09piazza.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

Piazza managed the USA team in the 2011 futures game wearing a Mets cap to the event.<ref>''The Rocket That Fell to Earth: Roger Clemens and the Rage for Baseball Immortality'' by Jeff Pearlman. HarperCollins. New York: 2009 pg 240</ref>

On January 9, 2013, Piazza failed to be elected to Baseball Hall of Fame, receiving only 57.8% of the votes and falling short of the 75% qualifying votes. He stated that he would address the [[performance-enhancing drugs]] and [[steroid]] rumors in his book ''Long Shot''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Legendary Met Mike Piazza To Address Steroid, PED Rumors In New Book|date=January 11, 2013|url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/01/11/legendary-met-mike-piazza-to-address-steroid-ped-rumors-in-new-book/|publisher=CBS News New York|access-date=January 11, 2013|archive-date=January 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130114023240/http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/01/11/legendary-met-mike-piazza-to-address-steroid-ped-rumors-in-new-book/|url-status=live}}</ref> In his second appearance on the ballot, Piazza's percentage numbers did rise (62.2%), but not to the 75% needed to be inducted. Piazza again failed to make the Hall of Fame in 2015, receiving 69.9% of the votes needed (28 votes shy of the mark).<ref>{{cite web|last1=Webner|first1=Richard|title=Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz and Craig Biggio elected to Hall of Fame|url=http://jacksonville.com/breaking-news/2015-01-06/story/randy-johnson-pedro-martinez-john-smoltz-and-craig-biggio-elected|website=jacksonville.com|publisher=The Florida Times-Union|access-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref> On January 6, 2016, Piazza was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, receiving 83% of the vote.<ref name=HOF />

Piazza was inducted into the [[New York Mets Hall of Fame]] on September 29, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mike Piazza to be inducted into Mets Hall of Fame on Fan Appreciation Day|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130714&content_id=53730458&vkey=pr_mlb&c_id=mlb|work=MLB.com| date=July 14, 2013 |access-date=July 15, 2013}}</ref> The New York Mets retired his uniform number, 31, in a ceremony on July 30, 2016,<ref>{{cite web |last=Simon |first=Andrew |url=http://m.mets.mlb.com/news/article/162784182/mets-to-retire-mike-piazzas-no-31 |title=Mets to retire Mike Piazza's No. 31 |website=m.mets.mlb.com |date=January 25, 2016 |access-date=July 22, 2017 |archive-date=April 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425130505/http://m.mets.mlb.com/news/article/162784182/mets-to-retire-mike-piazzas-no-31 |url-status=dead }}</ref> prior to the Mets' game against the [[Colorado Rockies]] at Citi Field.

A [[Pennon|triangular pennant]] bearing Piazza's surname and uniform number is in the background of character [[Peter Parker (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Peter Parker]]'s bedroom in the 2019 film ''[[Spider-Man: Far From Home]]''. The song '[[Piazza, New York Catcher]]' by Scottish indie pop band [[Belle and Sebastian|Belle & Sebastian]] is about Piazza. Piazza's autobiography, entitled ''Long Shot'', was released in February 2013.<ref>{{cite book|url = http://books.simonandschuster.com/Long-Shot/Mike-Piazza/9781439150238|title = Long Shot|access-date = August 4, 2014|publisher = Simon & Schuster|date = February 18, 2014|isbn = 9781439150238|last1 = Piazza|first1 = Mike|archive-date = August 11, 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140811083547/http://books.simonandschuster.com/Long-Shot/Mike-Piazza/9781439150238|url-status = live}}</ref>

==Acting==
Piazza appeared in the movie ''[[Two Weeks Notice]]''. He has acted in various TV shows and commercials.<ref name=newsdaypiazza>{{cite news |url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mike-piazza-makes-his-ballet-debut-in-miami-a-hit-man-again-1.5193958 |title=Mike Piazza makes his ballet debut in Miami, a hit man again |newspaper=Newsday |date=May 4, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509173511/http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mike-piazza-makes-his-ballet-debut-in-miami-a-hit-man-again-1.5193958 |archive-date=May 9, 2013 |first=Joel |last=Delgado}}</ref> During the 1994–95 MLB strike, Piazza and a handful of other striking players appeared as themselves in the November 27, 1994, episode of ''[[Married...with Children]]''.

On May 3, 2013, Piazza debuted with the [[Miami City Ballet]], saying a few lines in the role of a hit man in the troupe's production of ''[[Slaughter on Tenth Avenue]]''. Piazza sought to increase the reputation of ballet among sports fans after his daughter attended a ballet school.<ref name=newsdaypiazza/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Mike-Piazza-Makes-His-Debut-With-Miami-City-Ballet-206110261.html |title=Mike Piazza Makes His Debut With Miami City Ballet |date=May 4, 2013 |website=NBC Miami |access-date=December 21, 2024}}</ref>

In 2023, Piazza appeared on the Fox reality challenge series ''[[Special Forces: World's Toughest Test]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fox.com/special-forces-worlds-toughest-test/ |title=Special Forces: World's Toughest Test |website=fox.com |accessdate=2023-03-03}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Piazza described Dodgers teammate [[Eric Karros]] as his "best friend in baseball."<ref name="longshot" />{{rp|55}}

On January 29, 2005, Piazza married actress and ''[[Playboy]]'' [[Playboy Playmate|Playmate]] [[Alicia Rickter]] at St. Jude [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] Church in [[Miami]], Florida.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.upi.com/News_Photos/view/upi/eecf68feceb473f98d5e14e221470b1f/WEDDING-OF-MIKE-PIAZZA-AND-ALICIA-RICKTER/ |title=Wedding of Mike Piazza and Alicia Rickter |work=[[UPI]] |access-date=October 28, 2024 |quote=Piazza and his bride Alicia leave St Jude Catholic Church after their wedding in Miami}}</ref> [[Angelica Bridges]] was the maid of honor.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://people.com/celebrity/mets-mike-piazza-marries-baywatch-star/ |title=Mets' Mike Piazza Marries 'Baywatch' Star |date=January 31, 2005 |magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]] |first=Stephen M. |last=Silverman |access-date=October 28, 2024 |quote=including maid of honor Angelica Bridges |archive-date=December 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241216213231/https://people.com/celebrity/mets-mike-piazza-marries-baywatch-star/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Piazza and Rickter have three children.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cny.org/stories/piazza-speaks-about-faiths-importance-for-life-at-sheen-center,24175 |title=Piazza Speaks About Faith's Importance for Life at Sheen Center |date=July 27, 2022 |newspaper=[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York|Catholic New York]] |first=Dan |last=Pietrafesa |access-date=October 28, 2024 |quote=they are the parents of three children}}</ref>

Piazza is known to be a fan of [[heavy metal music]] and is featured on the album ''[[Stronger than Death]]'' by [[Black Label Society]]. He is also godfather to [[Zakk Wylde]]'s son, Hendrix. He often cohosts Eddie Trunk's ''Friday Night Rocks'' show on [[WAXQ]] ("Q-104.3 FM") in New York City and was featured as the primary guest on an episode of ''[[That Metal Show]]''. He is also an accomplished drummer and has performed on stage with various bands.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

Piazza is a devout Roman Catholic. His faith was instilled in him by his Catholic mother<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/mike-piazza-celebrates-his-mom-catholic-faith-hall-of-fame-induction-167057/ |title=Mike Piazza Celebrates His Mom and Gift of Catholic Faith During Hall of Fame Induction |first=Christine |last=Thomasos |newspaper=The Christian Post |date=July 26, 2016 |access-date=October 20, 2017 }}</ref> and was featured in ''[[Champions of Faith]]'', a DVD documentary exploring the intersection of Catholic religious faith and sports. He also appeared in the follow-up video ''Champions of Faith: Bases of Life''.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

Piazza is also avidly involved in the [[National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame]] in Chicago.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

While playing with the Mets, Piazza was a resident of [[Cresskill, New Jersey]].<ref>Heyman, Jon. [https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/39890440.html?dids=39890440:39890440&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+21%2C+1999&author=Jon+Heyman&pub=Newsday+(Combined+editions)&desc=NY+SPRING+TRAINING+%2F+East+Is+Eden+%2F+Piazza's+found+contentment+after+leaving+the+West+Coast&pqatl=google "NY SPRING TRAINING / East Is Eden / Piazza's found contentment after leaving the West Coast"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123123437/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/39890440.html?dids=39890440%3A39890440&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT&type=current&date=Mar%2021%2C%201999&author=Jon%20Heyman&pub=Newsday%20%28Combined%20editions%29&desc=NY%20SPRING%20TRAINING%20%2F%20East%20Is%20Eden%20%2F%20Piazza%27s%20found%20contentment%20after%20leaving%20the%20West%20Coast&pqatl=google |date=January 23, 2013 }}, ''[[Newsday]]'', March 21, 1999. Accessed February 21, 2011. "Piazza looked long and hard in Brooklyn but eventually settled on a house in secluded Cresskill, in Bergen County, N.J., away from the action but closer to his mom and pop in Valley Forge, Pa." </ref> He also maintained a penthouse apartment on 18th Street in New York City.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Philadelphia|Baseball}}
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[List of Major League Baseball home run records]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career intentional bases on balls leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career OPS leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career putouts as a catcher leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career slugging percentage leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball individual streaks]]
* [[List of members of the Baseball Hall of Fame]]
* [[Los Angeles Dodgers award winners and league leaders]]
* [[Mike Piazza's Strike Zone]]
* [[New York Mets award winners and league leaders]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Baseballstats |mlb=120536 |espn=2770 |br=p/piazzmi01 |fangraphs=893|brm=piazza001mic}}
*{{bbhof|piazza-mike}}
* {{IMDb name|681337|Mike Piazza}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20021101035401/http://www.newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/news/sports/features/3850/index.html Article from New York magazine, October 2000, about Piazza and the Mets]
* [http://www.hardradio.com/shockwaves/piazza.html HardRadio.com interview with Piazza about his passion for Heavy Metal music]

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