Empire Writes Back
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New York Sports: Best player from each team to never win a championship

By John Carroll Jr.

EXCHANGE PLACE, NJ - JANUARY 06: Ice floats along the Hudson River as the skyline of New York City and One world Trade Center are seen during freeze temperatures on January 06, 2018 in Exchange Place, New Jersey. The extreme conditions suffered across the United States are as a result of the 'bomb cyclone' brought along by Storm Grayson. (Photo by Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)
EXCHANGE PLACE, NJ - JANUARY 06: Ice floats along the Hudson River as the skyline of New York City and One world Trade Center are seen during freeze temperatures on January 06, 2018 in Exchange Place, New Jersey. The extreme conditions suffered across the United States are as a result of the 'bomb cyclone' brought along by Storm Grayson. (Photo by Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 30: Former New York Mets Mike Piazza waves before throwing out the first pitch prior to Game Three of the 2015 World Series between the New York Mets and the Kansas City Royals at Citi Field on October 30, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Pool/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 30: Former New York Mets Mike Piazza waves before throwing out the first pitch prior to Game Three of the 2015 World Series between the New York Mets and the Kansas City Royals at Citi Field on October 30, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Pool/Getty Images) /

Mike Piazza is one of the best catchers in the history of baseball. His ability to hit and play a tough defense punched his ticket to the Baseball Hall of Fame. However, a World Series title eludes him.

Mike Piazza does not even owe New York a championship. What he did for the entire city, nay, the country on that night against the Braves in 2001 is bigger than baseball.

That moment alone showed all of New York City that sports can cure-all and distract everyone from the bigger burdens in life. That is something championships sometimes cannot do.

But, this is still the most obvious choice for the New York Mets. They are a team whose players are famous in New York because they won a title. Piazza is famous in New York because he was just that good.

Most of his better years were with the Dodgers. Even Mets fans can accept that and understand it. But it was destiny that landed him in Queens.

As a Met, Piazza maintained the prime of his career. A prime that lasted longer way longer than most catchers.

His season in 1999 was unreal. That is one of the best Mets teams ever. In 2000, he led the Mets to the World Series, something they had not at that time since 1986.

His wars with Roger Clemens during those days created a war amongst both New York fan bases.

There is with great reason, even if it to his chagrin, that he wears a Mets cap on his plaque in the Hall of Fame. There is a reason his #31 will never be worn by a Mets again.

He is in the discussion for best Mets players of all time. He revived a franchise that was lost for almost a decade before his arrival.

A current group of Mets fans grew up on Piazza. Every Mets fan will have at least heard of him. He just never won a championship for the city. It’s not that he needed to, it just didn’t happen.

Honorable mention: David Wright.

We finish off the list with the Yankees.

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