Mike Piazza
Mike Piazza
Michael Joseph Piazza /piːˈɑːtsə/is an American former professional baseball catcher who played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball, from 1992–2007. He played most notably for the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers, while also having brief stints with the Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres, and Oakland Athletics. A 12-time All-Star and 10-time Silver Slugger Award winner at catcher, Piazza produced strong offensive numbers at his position; in his career, he recorded 427 home runs—a record 396 of which were...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth4 September 1968
CityNorristown, PA
CountryUnited States of America
I think it's important for the teams that aren't expected to be competitive to be competitive for the good of the sport. For players of Italian descent, it's a small sort of way of thanking Italy for our forefathers and mothers.
If it's something I do, I want to take it seriously and work at it, ... But I can't see liking it enough to stop playing at this point.
I look at what Edgar Martinez did at the end of his career, ... I can see myself in a role like that.
I hope so, unless you know something I don't. Whatever I have left, I plan to give it all. I've got the rest of the season.
I like Willie. I mean, I felt bad telling him my hand was broken, ... I said, 'Believe me, this is the last thing I want to have happen to me, it couldn't come at a worse time. But the hand is broken.' It's like a flat tire, you can't drive on it.
Hopefully it would come in a win, but what are you going to do? Personally it is a nice milestone, but it would have been a little sweeter if we were playing a little better baseball.
He's unbelievable. Just great stuff. Competitive. He goes out for the seventh inning and strikes out the side. That shows you he's definitely a throwback guy. He didn't look to go out of the game there. ... There's no telling what he can do.
I feel all right. I've been getting some headaches and stuff, it's probably to be expected, but I don't think it's anything more serious than that.
It's easy for me not to go to Mass on the road. But I've made a fundamental decision. I'm going to be dedicated. I'm going to make the time. I'm going to get up, if that means getting up at seven on a Sunday morning before a day game and do it, I'm going to do it.
Nobody wanted me. Scouts told me to go to school, to forget baseball. Coaches said, 'You're never going to make it.' I appreciated their honesty, because I think when someone tells you something you may not like, you have to use that as fuel for motivation.
I'm excited to at least finish the season, at least on he field, ... As far as speculation, obviously that's not my job. I'm really just interested in enjoying and finishing these last couple weeks here.
I'm feeling pretty good, ... I told them it's their call. I'm not trying to win a Purple Heart. But I probably can play.
I'm definitely being spoiled, ... I hope we get a lot more ovations. I'm really honored. It's one of those fortunate things for me.
I know we don't have a lot of season left, but I'm still optimistic that I'll be able to try to come back and help as much as I can,