New York Mets: Five best catchers in franchise history
2. Mike Piazza
Everyone remembers the acquisition of our number two choice with a smile on their face. Mike and the Mad Dog were pulling for it to happen. Callers were begging for it. On May 22, 1998 it finally happened. Mike Piazza was acquired by the Mets in a blockbuster trade. After debuting with the team in May he hit .348 the rest of the season with 23 home runs. He helped them to back to back playoff appearances in 1999 and 2000, including the Subway Series of 2000.
He hit over .300 in each of those next two seasons and hit 78 home runs over that time span. He hit 147 from 1999-2002 and went on to set the record for most career home runs by a catcher. In short, Mike Piazza became the heart and soul of the Mets immediately on arrival. And after his early jitters in New York, he became a fan favorite too.
And nobody will forget this one from the first game after 9/11 in 2001:
What a special night that was. You didn’t have to be a first responder or have lost someone on that horrible day for this one to be a night to remember. Mike Piazza brought a lot of nights to remember during his storied career. It took one too many votes to get him there, but right now he is where he belongs, in Cooperstown in the Hall of Fame.