Mike Piazza

Mike Piazza was a power-hitting catcher famed for his offensive production with the Dodgers and Mets.

Michael Joseph Piazza was born on September 4, 1968, in Norristown, Pennsylvania, to Vince Piazza, a self-made businessman, and Veronica Piazza. His father's close boyhood friendship with future Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda, who grew up in the same Norristown neighborhood, proved decisive: after Piazza showed only modest promise at Miami-Dade College, Lasorda persuaded the Los Angeles Dodgers to select him in the 62nd round of the 1988 draft — the 1,390th overall pick — as a personal favor. Lasorda specifically had Piazza sign as a catcher, a position switch that transformed an unheralded prospect into one of the greatest offensive players ever to man the position. Piazza debuted with the Dodgers in 1992 and won the National League Rookie of the Year award unanimously in 1993 after hitting .318 with 35 home runs. Piazza was traded to the Florida Marlins and then the New York Mets in 1998, and spent seven seasons as the emotional and offensive centerpiece of the franchise, hitting a franchise-record 220 home runs as a Met. He finished his 16-year career with 427 home runs — the most ever by a primary catcher — and a .308 batting average, earning 12 All-Star selections and 10 consecutive Silver Slugger Awards. Piazza was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016, becoming, at the time, the lowest-drafted player ever inducted, and the Mets retired his No. 31 — a fitting conclusion to one of the most improbable rises in baseball history.

Power-hitting catcher with exceptional bat speed and plate discipline

Revolutionized the catcher position with unprecedented offensive production

• 12x All-Star
• 10x Silver Slugger
• Hall of Fame 2016