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
4 of 6
Next
UNDATED: Mike Piazza of the Los Angeles Dodgers poses for a portrait. Mike Piazza played for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1992-1998. (Photo by MLB Photos via Getty Images)
UNDATED: Mike Piazza of the Los Angeles Dodgers poses for a portrait. Mike Piazza played for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1992-1998. (Photo by MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

3. Piazza shines in MLB debut

Back in 1988, there were a lot more rounds to the Major League Baseball Draft then there is today. Instead of the 40 rounds we have today, there were 75 rounds, and in the 62nd round, the Los Angeles Dodgers selected Mike Piazza. The manager of the Dodgers at the time was Tommy Lasorda, who was a close personal friend of Piazza’s father. In fact, Piazza would serve as the team’s batboy when the Dodgers came to Philadelphia to play the Phillies when he was a little kid.

Piazza’s career in the minor leagues was going nowhere, and at the suggestion of Lasorda, he made a move from first base to catcher. The move was pure genius, as Piazza would be called up to the big-league club in 1992, and would stay there for the next 16 years.

The young backstop would make his Major League debut on September 1, 1992, facing the Chicago Cubs. After walking in his first at-bat, Piazza notched his first Major League hit, an opposite-field double to right off of Mike Harkey.

He would go on to single in his next two at-bats, finishing the day 3-3.

The Dodgers would win the game 5-4, but it would be Piazza, the Godson of Lasorda, who owned the moment.

The following season, Piazza won the National League Rookie of the Year, batting .315 with 35 home runs, and 112 runs batted in. He would be named to his first All-Star Game, and would forever change the position of catcher in Major League Baseball.

Next: 2. Piazza passes Fisk

Home/Los Angeles Dodgers