Mike Piazza Retires

[Rpollard86]

Just heard he announced his retirement. What a great career and a class act. A shoe in first ballot HOF.

[zahavasdad]

Does he go in as a Dodger or a Met?

[lovethegame]

Thanks Mike for a heck of a career
best of luck

[bailiff]

From where he was drafted, he had an outstanding (HOF?) career. Many years ago in San Antonio, he was very friendly to a young autograph collector (me). I will never forget his kindness and generousity. You were a great player Mike.

[RubeWaddell19]

Best Hitting catchers of all time. I think he should go into the HOF an a Marlin!

[Mattingly]

Does he go in as a Dodger or a Met?
That's interesting. I would say as a Met, but I'm very biased, since that's where I kept seeing his numbers daily from the sports pages and radio. Tommy Lasorda may disagree.

Let's hear your favorite moments of such a great catcher, the best offensively in MLB history! :D

Here's the espn link:

Piazza, one of greatest hitting catchers in MLB history, retires (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3405188)

[sharrock]

Does he go in as a Dodger or a Met?

As a Marlin.

Remember those couple of days?

I always thought Piazza got a bad rap. Yes, he was pretty bad defensively... but he always seemed to focus and do the best he possibly could. I can't say I saw much of his career but I always respected the effort. And, of course, the guy could really hit.

[Old Sweater]

“But I have to say that my time with the Mets wouldn’t have been the same without the greatest fans in the world. One of the hardest moments of my career, was walking off the field at Shea Stadium and saying goodbye. My relationship with you made my time in New York the happiest of my career and for that, I will always be grateful.”

After reading that I'd have to say he'd pick the Mets. Even with the way it is now with MLB saying it should be the players primary team, it would be the Mets if they chose.

IMO>>>It should be the players choice like it use to be.

[John Shoemaker]

I can't belive some team couldn't have used him this year.

[NJMetfan4life]

RETIRE #31 AT SHEA, because Piazza's a Met!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DodgerBlue8188]

I'd say the Mets for sure. He spent 8 seasons there compared to only 5 full seasons in LA. He also went to the WS as a Met even though he didn't win.

[Mattingly]

I'd say the Mets for sure. He spent 8 seasons there compared to only 5 full seasons in LA. He also went to the WS as a Met even though he didn't win.
For yourself and others wondering whether he'll go in as a Dodger or a Met, I've created this thread (http://baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=77795) under the Hall of Fame forum asking just that. Though I think that the replies will be overwhelmingly of the orange and blue, rather than the blue and grey, I wouldn't mind seeing what people will say in the end.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

It's was Mike's time to go. But I will miss him. I was born in 1968 just like Piazza. A lot of '68ers have been retiring recently (Alomar, Bagwell, Piazza, Sosa?). That still leaves Kent, Sheffield, Thomas, Mussina, and few others. When the last '68er retires I'll officially feel old.

[kearns643]

A great hitter but it ends right there....will make the Hall because of his bat but even that tempers because of his playing era...I mean, who didn't hit!!!!
And, as always, the NY factor will play a role.

[KHenry14]

Take a seat on the rocker on the front porch Mike, your retirement was well earned. BTW, keep the phone handy in Jan 2012, Cooperstown will be calling!

[freshprince85]

Thank you Mike for everything!!! You'll always be one of my favourite baseball players of all time, and you'll always be my favourite Met!
I wish you and your family the best, enjoy the retirement.
And I wish from the bottom of my heart that you'll join the HoF as a Met!

:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

[BlueBlood]

I won't dwell on the unfortunate and what could have been. He showed Dodger pride throughout his 16 seasons and that's all that matters. Best hitting catcher of all time, no question.

[metfan13]

Take a seat on the rocker on the front porch Mike, your retirement was well earned. BTW, keep the phone handy in Jan 2012, Cooperstown will be calling!

It would be 2013. 5 years retired 2008 - 2012

[AutographCollector]

Don't forget that he was a Padre too. ;)

Seriously though, I think that he will go in the HOF as a Met. If he didn't then it would be a crime.

[KCGHOST]

One of those "no-doubt-about-it" guys. They can start shining his plaque today.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

It would be 2013. 5 years retired 2008 - 2012

So far the 2013 class will have Piazza and Biggio.

[Mattingly]

A great hitter but it ends right there....will make the Hall because of his bat but even that tempers because of his playing era...I mean, who didn't hit!!!!
And, as always, the NY factor will play a role.
In that case, how come everyone else on the Mets didn't have his stats? I've kept hearing many games in which he'd gotten tying or winning runs, sometimes hitting 2 longballs to help out his team. He was Captain Clutch over there, and his offense definitely livened up the team.

So you're saying his playing in NYC will factor into his being in the Hall? Aren't there many greats who've never played for a NYC team?

[metfan13]

In that case, how come everyone else on the Mets didn't have his stats? I've kept hearing many games in which he'd gotten tying or winning runs, sometimes hitting 2 longballs to help out his team. He was Captain Clutch over there, and his offense definitely livened up the team.

So you're saying his playing in NYC will factor into his being in the Hall? Aren't there many greats who've never played for a NYC team?


Just some nonsense anti-NY stuff. Piazza was a great hitter and other then throwing a pretty good catcher.

[Captain Cold Nose]

It's not nonsense. but the New York HOF factor is pretty much just a myth now. It likely held true with players such as Rizzuto, Pennock, Hoyt and Combs getting in, but succeeding in New York has not done much for borderline HOF cases in recent times, like the past couple decades. Catfish Hunter, the closest to that argument in recent times, had his best years in Oakland.

I'm sure Tommy LaSorda will chime in on this when it comes time to vote. He seems to think he has some say in what's going on in baseball in general, so he thinks his status as Piazza's godfather trumps everything.

[whoisonit]

It's not nonsense. but the New York HOF factor is pretty much just a myth now. It likely held true with players such as Rizzuto, Pennock, Hoyt and Combs getting in, but succeeding in New York has not done much for borderline HOF cases in recent times, like the past couple decades. Catfish Hunter, the closest to that argument in recent times, had his best years in Oakland.


I think Rizzuto getting in was a by product of Pee Wee Reese getting in, but that had to do with the numerous questionable inductions by the Vets Commitee. Last I checked, Farrel never played in NY. As far as a 'New York' factor - it sure didn't speed up Goose Gossage's entry and it sure as heck hasn't helped:
Gil Hodges
Thurman Munson
Kieth Hernandez
Don Mattingly
for starters ....

So I totaly agree with you, it's a myth. Time to put it to bed.
Mike Piazza was a class act. Always a gentleman, on the field and off. I hope he finally has the last laugh when he is inducted his first year and the classless creep Clemens is sitting in his basement thinking about the beaning and the dangerous bat incedent among the multitude of mistakes he has made in his shameful life.

[Captain Cold Nose]

I think Rizzuto getting in was a by product of Pee Wee Reese getting in, but that had to do with the numerous questionable inductions by the Vets Commitee. Last I checked, Farrel never played in NY. As far as a 'New York' factor - it sure didn't speed up Goose Gossage's entry and it sure as heck hasn't helped:
Gil Hodges
Thurman Munson
Kieth Hernandez
Don Mattingly
for starters ....

So I totaly agree with you, it's a myth. Time to put it to bed.
Mike Piazza was a class act. Always a gentleman, on the field and off. I hope he finally has the last laugh when he is inducted his first year and the classless creep Clemens is sitting in his basement thinking about the beaning and the dangerous bat incedent among the multitude of mistakes he has made in his shameful life.

No, Ferrell just was involved with baseball about 50+ years. A good player who was involved in so m,any aspects of the sport at the team level.

[Mattingly]

Just some nonsense anti-NY stuff. Piazza was a great hitter and other then throwing a pretty good catcher.
Must be anti-NY stuff, since both active NYC teams get flack. We (Yankee fnas) may arguably get more, since it's a cottage industry to hate the Yanks, and I've been told that if I were a real *BASEBALL* fan, I'd root for the Mets. Wow.

Piazza was a great hitter. He lit into the Yankee pitching like Jeter did for Mets pitching, and they were conveniently, the two biggest stars on the baseball scene for many years, and both of them carried themselves with the greatest of class worthy of their memorable predecessors.

I've heard Tom Glavine recently sing his praises re his game-calling, and who amongst us would really doubt Glavine's knowledge of the game or the man?

Yes, throwing out runners and popups weren't his forte, but he did block the plate in textbook fashion, which is something that people don't always mention re his overall "D". Either case, he has his critics, and I'll admit I've been one, but he was definitely an exciting player who brought lots of excitement to Shea, and this was at a time when they really needed one of their own to associate themselves with and create a "feel-good" sense for baseball in Shea.

I think he'd arrived as a NY Met either May 21st or 22nd, 1998, so the retirement date seems noteworthy in of itself.

[lovethegame]

A great hitter but it ends right there....will make the Hall because of his bat but even that tempers because of his playing era...I mean, who didn't hit!!!!
And, as always, the NY factor will play a role.

Most of his contemporaries
this whole disregard of stellar performances during this period of time is tiresome
Roids ?
Try hitting a 100 plus gasser from a juiced hurler

[Gregory Pratt]

I think Piazza's career is tainted by his terrible defense, more than any possible era adjustments or steroid insinuations. Of course, I believe that essentially no matter what he belongs in the Hall, first-ballot, but I wouldn't ever chooes him to be my starting catcher.

[whoisonit]

this whole disregard of stellar performances during this period of time is tiresome


No it's not.
It's only begining. It's important. It's very relevant. Of course, thanks to the cheaters, their enablers and their apologists, it is a fact of life we're stuck with forever.

[Tyrus4189Cobb]

I thought he would go a bit longer. He"ll make the Hall without a doubt (but there's always some who don't vote for even the greatest players).

I still wish he could have cracked the 500 homer mark:baseball:

[John Shoemaker]

Most of his contemporaries
this whole disregard of stellar performances during this period of time is tiresome
Roids ?
Try hitting a 100 plus gasser from a juiced hurler

I completely agree I'm tired of it too. There were a lot more pitchers on steroids than hitters.

[metfan13]

I think Piazza's career is tainted by his terrible defense, more than any possible era adjustments or steroid insinuations. Of course, I believe that essentially no matter what he belongs in the Hall, first-ballot, but I wouldn't ever chooes him to be my starting catcher.

His defense was not terrible. Pitchers like Glavine have talked about how he called a good game. His arm stunk, there was nothing wrong with the rest of his defensive game.

[John Shoemaker]

I thought he would go a bit longer. He"ll make the Hall without a doubt (but there's always some who don't vote for even the greatest players).

I still wish he could have cracked the 500 homer mark:baseball:

I would like to have seen that too - I think that of lot of teams will have wished they had signed him as the season wears on.

[milladrive]

Does he go in as a Dodger or a Met?

As a Marlin.

Remember those couple of days?

:laugh




I think he should go into the Hall as a Major Leaguer. Enough of this "which team" stuff. This is the day'n'age of free agency, and I've been sayin' for years that more and more of these "which team" issues are gonna be poignant.

It used to be real easy to decide with which team a player spent the bulk of his career, but it is no longer. I think it's time that players be inducted with an MLB insignia on their hat, while their history can, as always, be indicated on the plaque below the facial embossment.

Didn't Boggs teach us anything?

[west coast orange and black]

john shoemaker: There were a lot more pitchers on steroids than hitters.

:disbelief: :lookitup

[west coast orange and black]

agreed that piazza is a shoe-in first ballot player, rpollard86.
and, the only time that i can recall him not being a class act was when he responded loudly to the rumors of his sexuality.
hats off to piazza and his career.

despite his public remarks i think that he'll want to go in as a dodger.
as a class act, he would have made mention of whichever team happened to have been his last.

[whoisonit]

I've been sayin' for years that more and more of these "which team" issues are gonna be poignant.


How is it poignant ?
That doesn't make sense.
Can you explain what is poignant about this?

[metfan13]

agreed that piazza is a shoe-in first ballot player, rpollard86.
and, the only time that i can recall him not being a class act was when he responded loudly to the rumors of his sexuality.
hats off to piazza and his career.

despite his public remarks i think that he'll want to go in as a dodger.
as a class act, he would have made mention of whichever team happened to have been his last.

Mets weren't his last team. He grouped the Dodgers in with Florida, SD and Oakland. Then came back to the Mets and their fans.

[milladrive]

How is it poignant ?
That doesn't make sense.
Can you explain what is poignant about this?


More and more players are playing with multiple teams during their career. More and more players are performing well with multiple teams during their career. More and more players are being inducted into the Hall after performing well with multiple teams, thus making the question of which hat they should wear into the Hall a poignant issue.

Make sense now? Try reading the whole post.

My point is that I think Cooperstown should do away with the hat/team embossed on the players' plaques and begin inducting players as MLB'ers. It is becoming less and less necessary to determine with which one team a player put up their HoF numbers when, in truth, there are now usually several. :cap:

[west coast orange and black]

metfan13: Mets weren't his last team.

whoops. my bad.
rephrase: as a class act, he would have made mention of the team with which he last had substantial history.