Mike Piazza Wrongly Not Elected Into Baseball Hall Of Fame
By Nick Ziegler
Sep 29, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets former catcher Mike Piazza acknowledges the fans during his induction into the Mets Hall of Fame prior to the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
New York Mets News: Mike Piazza Hall of Fame Election Will Have to Wait One More Year
The Baseball Hall of Fame will be having some new members this summer, as the Baseball Writers’ Association of America have voted in the newest Hall of Famers. New York Mets’ catcher Mike Piazza however was not elected as one of those players for 2015.
Piazza will not be part of an extremely strong HOF class, as Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz, and Craig Biggio were all were elected.
There were many other big names who didn’t make it, as Barry Bonds, Curt Schilling, Roger Clemens, Jeff Bagwell, Jeff Kent, and Edgar Martinez all came up short of the necessary 75% of the vote.
Piazza is arguably one of the best catchers of all-time, and is certainly well-deserved of being elected into the HOF, but his chance to be in the HOF will have to wait one more year likely.
In his career, Piazza played for 16 seasons for five different teams, with his best years coming with the Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers. In his 16 seasons, Piazza made the All-Star team 12 times with the Mets and Dodgers.
Piazza got his career started in the National League with the Dodgers in 1992, as he played 21 games, but didn’t play particularly well in his first cup of tea in the MLB. In 1993 however, Piazza put together one of the best rookie seasons in the history of baseball. In 149 games, Piazza hit .318 with 35 homeruns and 112 RBI, which led to him winning the Rookie of the Year award.
In seven seasons with the Dodgers, Piazza would gain the reputation as being one of the best hitters in baseball. In his time with the Dodgers, Piazza hit .331 with 170 HR, 563 RBI, and two second place finishes for the NL MVP award.
1998 would be an interesting season for Piazza, as he played on three different teams which is unheard of for a player of his caliber. Piazza would be traded from the Dodgers to the then Florida Marlins. Piazza would play in just five games for the Marlins before being traded to the New York Mets.
The Mets acquired Piazza for Geoff Goetz, Preston Wilson, and Ed Yarnall in what is one of the best moves in the history of the Mets’ franchise.
Piazza would become the face of the Mets in his time with them, and it is the hat he will likely be wearing when he is inducted into the HOF in the summer. In eight seasons with New York, Piazza hit .296 with 220 HR, and 655 RBI. He had four seasons in New York with 30+ HR, which is amazing for a catcher.
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In 2000, Piazza would lead the Mets to the World Series against the New York Yankees, and although they came up short, it was one of the more memorable World Series’ of all-time between the two New York teams.
Like all catchers, Piazza would eventually have injuries begin to hurt his production, as after his eight seasons in New York, Piazza would head back to the West Coast to play his final two seasons with the San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics before retiring in 2007.
This is the third time Piazza has been on the ballot, as in 2013 he had 57.8% of the vote, and in 2014 he had 62.2% of the vote, and this year Piazza was at 69.9%.
Piazza not getting into the Hall of Fame is a tough thing for Mets fans and Piazza, but in all likelihood with as close as he got this year, 2016 will be the one for Piazza to make it to Cooperstown.