Mike Piazza Inducted into New York Mets’ Hall Of Fame

Former New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame Sunday at Citi Field.

Becoming the 27th member to be inducted into the Mets HOF, Piazza was honored during a 30-minute ceremony before New York’s final game of the season, a 3-2 win over the visiting Milwaukee Brewers.

“This is the first time that I’m speechless,” Piazza said. “What an amazing reception. What an amazing run we had and are still having. Thank you.”

The Mets acquired Piazza in 1998 in a trade from the Florida Marlins in 1998, a mere week after he was traded from the L.A. Dodgers. When his journey came to a close, Piazza went on to make seven All-Star appearances for New York; 220 of his 447 career home runs came in a Mets Jersey. He is third all-time in homers and holds the the highest slugging percentage in franchise history (.542). Piazza still holds the MLB record for most home runs by a catcher. He joins the likes of fellow Mets Tom Seaver, Dwight Gooden, and Casey Stengel in the team’s HOF.

“I can’t really express how grateful I am,” Piazza said before the ceremony. “Just an amazing journey, really.

Piazza’s journey began in the 62nd round of the 1988 MLB Amateur draft. As a favor to Piazza’s father, Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda — also Mike Piazza’s godfather — made him the 1,390th selection overall; in turn, Lasorda asked him to give up playing first base and learn how to catch. Piazza made his major league debut on September 1, 1992 against the Chicago Cubs.

After the induction ceremony, Mike Piazza threw out the game’s ceremonial first pitch to Mets Captain David Wright. On a day declared by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg as “Mike Piazza Day,” the man himself summed it up thusly.

“I love this team,” Piazza said. “I think the future looks good. And we’re all going to root for them to get this team to the next level, right?”