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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) /
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Home plate umpire Charlie Reliford steps between New York Mets’ Mike Piazza (left) and New York Yankees’ starting pitcher Roger Clemens as they exchange heated words after Clemens threw part of Piazza’s broken bat at him in the first inning of Game 2 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium. The Yanks beat the Mets, 6-5, to take a 2-0 lead in the Subway Series.
Home plate umpire Charlie Reliford steps between New York Mets’ Mike Piazza (left) and New York Yankees’ starting pitcher Roger Clemens as they exchange heated words after Clemens threw part of Piazza’s broken bat at him in the first inning of Game 2 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium. The Yanks beat the Mets, 6-5, to take a 2-0 lead in the Subway Series. /

4. 2000 season: Piazza vs. Clemens

The 2000 Major League Baseball season was a weird one between Mike Piazza and Roger Clemens. What started with a monster home run, ended with borderline assault, and forever linked these two in history.

The biggest moment came during Game 2 of the 2000 World Series, a Subway Series that featured the New York Mets and the New York Yankees. There was already tension between the two stars, stemming from a couple of incidents during the regular season.

In the opener of the regular season Subway Series, Piazza hit a mammoth grand slam off Clemens, helping the Mets ease to a 12-2 victory over the Yankees.

The next time they faced each other was the opener of a day-night, dual stadium doubleheader, and Clemens hit Piazza in the head with a pitch.

The pitch gave Piazza a concussion and forced him to miss not only four games but also the 2000 All-Star Game.

During the World Series, Piazza broke his bat on an inside pitch by Clemens, and pieces of the bat went towards the pitcher. As Piazza trotted to first base, Clemens picked up the bat and flung it at Piazza, prompting a benches-clearing brawl.

Cooler heads eventually prevailed, but the incident made Piazza a legend in the minds of Mets fans, and forever cemented his legacy with the organization.

Next: 3. Piazza shines in MLB debut

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