Fansided

MLB Hall of Fame: 5 best moments of Mike Piazza’s career

By Brad Weiss

FLUSHING, NY - OCTOBER 24: Mike Piazza of the New York Mets bats during Game Three of the World Series against the New York Yankees on October 24, 2000 at Shea Stadium in Flushing, New York. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images)
FLUSHING, NY - OCTOBER 24: Mike Piazza of the New York Mets bats during Game Three of the World Series against the New York Yankees on October 24, 2000 at Shea Stadium in Flushing, New York. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JULY 9: Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mike Piazza accepts the Most Valuable Player trophy he won in leading the National League to a 6-0 victory over the American League in the 67th All-Star Game 09 July in Philadelphia. Piazza had a home run and double, along with two runs batted in, in three at-bats. AFP PHOTO Brian BAHR/hra (Photo credit should read BRIAN BAHR/AFP/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JULY 9: Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mike Piazza accepts the Most Valuable Player trophy he won in leading the National League to a 6-0 victory over the American League in the 67th All-Star Game 09 July in Philadelphia. Piazza had a home run and double, along with two runs batted in, in three at-bats. AFP PHOTO Brian BAHR/hra (Photo credit should read BRIAN BAHR/AFP/Getty Images) /

5. 1996 All-Star Game MVP

By the time the 1996 All-Star Game rolled around, Mike Piazza was already established as the best catcher in Major League Baseball. A truly rare power hitter from that position, Piazza was making his fourth consecutive appearance at the Midsummer Classic in 1996, and he put on a show.

Playing in from of his hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Piazza soaked up the moment. He had visited Veterans Stadium all the time as a young kid, and now he was playing against the best in the big leagues there. Before the game, Piazza got to catch the ceremonial first pitch from Phillies Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt, who was an idol of Piazza’s growing up.

Once the game started, Piazza stole the show, blasting a 445-foot home run off of Cleveland Indians’ starting pitcher Charles Nagy to lead off the second inning.

Piazza followed up the blast with a RBI double, leading the National League to a 6-0 victory over the American League.

No moment proved too big for Piazza, and on this night, in front of his hometown fans, playing in the stadium he grew up going to, he was the main attraction. He would go on to be selected to 12 All-Star Games, but none was bigger than the one in Philly.

Next: 4. 2000 season: Piazza vs. Clemens

Home/Los Angeles Dodgers