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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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UNITED STATES – SEPTEMBER 21: Mets’ Mike Piazza hits 8th inning homerun to lead Mets past Braves, 3-2, on patriotic and dramatic night at Shea as baseball returns to City. Win pulls Mets within 4 1/2 games of first-place Atlanta (Photo by Howard Earl Simmons/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)
UNITED STATES – SEPTEMBER 21: Mets’ Mike Piazza hits 8th inning homerun to lead Mets past Braves, 3-2, on patriotic and dramatic night at Shea as baseball returns to City. Win pulls Mets within 4 1/2 games of first-place Atlanta (Photo by Howard Earl Simmons/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images) /

1. Piazza’s home run heals NYC

The tragic events of September 11, 2001, were very much alive when the New York Mets took the field for the first time in New York City following the attacks. The Mets played against the Atlanta Braves in front of a packed house at Shea Stadium, as New Yorker’s tried to have a few hours of normalcy in the midst of all the tragedy.

In typical Mike Piazza fashion, the slugger took the opportunity to shine on the big stage and bring some happiness to the fans he loved so dearly. In the eighth inning, Piazza stepped to the plate and smashed a game-winning, two-run home run off of Braves’ reliever Steve Karsay. As the ball flew into the night’s sky, the fans felt normal for the first time in ten days.

The 41,235 fans at Shea Stadium gave him a standing ovation as he rounded the bases and chanted “USA! USA!’’ as many waved American flags.

The United States of America was an uneasy place in the days following the September 11 terror attacks, but for one night in Queens, the Mets became America’s team, and Piazza a hero.

In his career, Piazza hit 427 home runs, but the one he hit on September 21, 2001, is the one that will forever go down in history as the biggest one of his career.

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