The greatest hitting catcher in baseball history — selected in the 62nd round as a favour to Tommy Lasorda.
Michael Joseph Piazza was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania in 1968. The Dodgers selected him in the 62nd round of the 1988 draft — at Tommy Lasorda's personal request, as a favour to Piazza's father. He won the NL Rookie of the Year in 1993 and developed into the finest offensive catcher in baseball history. He hit 427 home runs — the record for catchers. His home run on September 21 2001 — the first professional sporting event in New York after 9/11 — is the most emotionally significant home run in recent baseball history. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.
Greatest offensive catcher in baseball history
How They Played
Power-hitting catcher with exceptional bat speed and plate discipline
Lasting Impact
Revolutionized the catcher position with unprecedented offensive production
All-Star 12x
Career Honours
- All-Star 12x
- NL Rookie of Year 1993
- Hall of Fame 2016