Other Sports Mike Piazza decides to retire after 16 seasons

Deberg_1990 · 05-20-2008, 05:35 PM

So is he a Hall of Famer?? You have to consider he played in the steriod era with power and came out clean.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080520/...piazza_retires

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - Mike Piazza is retiring from baseball following a 16-season career in which he became one of the top-hitting catchers in history.

"After discussing my options with my wife, family and agent, I felt it was time to start a new chapter in my life," he said in a statement released Tuesday by his agent, Dan Lozano. "It has been an amazing journey ... So today, I walk away with no regrets.

"I knew this day was coming and over the last two years. I started to make my peace with it. I gave it my all and left everything on the field."

The 39-year-old Piazza batted .275 with eight homers and 44 RBIs as a designated hitter for Oakland last season, became a free agent and did not re-sign. He was not available to discuss his decision, according to Josh Goldberg, a spokesman for Lozano.

Taken by the Los Angeles Dodgers on the 62nd round of the 1988 amateur draft, Piazza became a 12-time All-Star, making the NL team 10 consecutive times starting in 1993.

"He was one of those hitters who could change the game with one swing. He was certainly the greatest-hitting catcher of our time, and arguably of all time," said Atlanta pitcher Tom Glavine, Piazza's former teammate on the New York Mets.

Piazza finished with a .308 career average, 427 home runs and 1,335 RBIs for the Dodgers (1992-98), Florida (1998), Mets (1998-05), San Diego (2006) and Oakland (2007).

"It's the end of a Hall of Fame career," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "It was a privilege to manage him for the short time that I did."

Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia was a teammate of Piazza's on the 1992 Los Angeles Dodgers and remembered back to Piazza's first season in the majors and what he accomplished.

"To put yourself in the same ballpark with what a guy like Roy Campanella did is saying something and Mike is definitely up there with what Roy did," Scioscia said.

Piazza's 396 homers are easily the most as a catcher, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Carlton Fisk is second with 351, followed by Johnny Bench (327) and Yogi Berra (306).

"If I'm half the hitter he was, I'll have a pretty successful career," said Atlanta's Brian McCann, one of the top-hitting catchers currently in the majors. "He did a lot of great things for the catching position."

Piazza never had a great throwing arm but was praised by pitchers for his game-calling.

"You'd have to really go back and see Mike from the early days of trying to catch to where he ended up, the hard work he put in, the dedication he had to get good enough on the defensive end to where he could get his at-bats," Scioscia said. "He made himself into a guy who could go out there and catch and do the job he needed behind the plate."

Piazza thanked his family, teams and managers, some of his teammates — and even owners, general managers, minor league staffs and reporters.

"Within the eight years I spent in New York, I was able to take a different look at the game of baseball," Piazza said. "I wasn't just a young kid that was wet behind the ears anymore — I was learning from other veteran guys like Johnny Franco, who taught me how to deal with the pressures of playing in New York, and Al Leiter, who knew what it took to win a world championship."

He did not bring up two of the more memorable moments in his career: When the Yankees' Roger Clemens beaned him on July 8, 2000, and when Clemens threw the broken barrel of Piazza's bat in his direction in Game 2 of the World Series that October. Clemens denied intent both times.

"Last but certainly not least, I can't say goodbye without thanking the fans," Piazza said. "I can't recall a time in my career where I didn't feel embraced by all of you. Los Angeles, San Diego, Oakland and Miami — whether it was at home or on the road, you were all so supportive over the years.

"But I have to say that my time with the Mets wouldn't have been the same without the greatest fans in the world. One of the hardest moments of my career, was walking off the field at Shea Stadium and saying goodbye. My relationship with you made my time in New York the happiest of my career and for that, I will always be grateful."

BigVE · 05-20-2008, 05:36 PM

H O F

Marco Polo · 05-20-2008, 05:40 PM

Definitely. He'll be ranked with the likes of Bench as one of the greatest hitting catchers of all time.

**The Franchise** · 05-20-2008, 05:41 PM

He was my favorite player when I was a kid.

Miles · 05-20-2008, 05:58 PM

He put up epic numbers for a catcher. Easily first ballot HOF.

Marco Polo · 05-20-2008, 05:58 PM

Though it's interesting because he was so poor defensively.

Miles · 05-20-2008, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marco Polo

Though it's interesting because he was so poor defensively.

I always though he was at least serviceable even though he threw out runners at such a poor rate. However later in his career he was so terrible that guys could run on him pretty freely.

blueballs · 05-20-2008, 06:01 PM

Last time I hear Piazza discussed
it was if he was a pitcher or catcher

Ultra Peanut · 05-20-2008, 06:05 PM

God, I remember when he was the Rookie of the Year.

This makes me feel old. I'm sure it makes him feel even older, since I was only like eight at the time, but still.

CoMoChief · 05-20-2008, 06:56 PM

One of the best hitting catchers of all time. Of course he's in.

Having that said he was absolutely AWFUL defensively.

Frazod · 05-20-2008, 06:57 PM

I guess if Clemens wants to throw shit at him now, he'll have to go to his house.

CoMoChief · 05-20-2008, 07:09 PM

I remember Mike Piazza endorsed a Nintendo 64 game "Mike Piazza's Baseball", and it was the most unrealistic game ever. This game wasn't like Blitz or the Sluggfest, this game was supposed to be like Triple Play or All Star Baseball it was supposed to be realistic.

Then i hit my first homerun in the 2nd game I played.

950ft shot.

I then returned the game after that.

Sure-Oz · 05-20-2008, 07:12 PM

Wasn't he like a 67th rounder

05-20-2008, 05:35 PM	Topic Starter
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3904454	Mike Piazza decides to retire after 16 seasons So is he a Hall of Famer?? You have to consider he played in the steriod era with power and came out clean. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080520/...piazza_retires BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - Mike Piazza is retiring from baseball following a 16-season career in which he became one of the top-hitting catchers in history. "After discussing my options with my wife, family and agent, I felt it was time to start a new chapter in my life," he said in a statement released Tuesday by his agent, Dan Lozano. "It has been an amazing journey ... So today, I walk away with no regrets. "I knew this day was coming and over the last two years. I started to make my peace with it. I gave it my all and left everything on the field." The 39-year-old Piazza batted .275 with eight homers and 44 RBIs as a designated hitter for Oakland last season, became a free agent and did not re-sign. He was not available to discuss his decision, according to Josh Goldberg, a spokesman for Lozano. Taken by the Los Angeles Dodgers on the 62nd round of the 1988 amateur draft, Piazza became a 12-time All-Star, making the NL team 10 consecutive times starting in 1993. "He was one of those hitters who could change the game with one swing. He was certainly the greatest-hitting catcher of our time, and arguably of all time," said Atlanta pitcher Tom Glavine, Piazza's former teammate on the New York Mets. Piazza finished with a .308 career average, 427 home runs and 1,335 RBIs for the Dodgers (1992-98), Florida (1998), Mets (1998-05), San Diego (2006) and Oakland (2007). "It's the end of a Hall of Fame career," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "It was a privilege to manage him for the short time that I did." Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia was a teammate of Piazza's on the 1992 Los Angeles Dodgers and remembered back to Piazza's first season in the majors and what he accomplished. "To put yourself in the same ballpark with what a guy like Roy Campanella did is saying something and Mike is definitely up there with what Roy did," Scioscia said. Piazza's 396 homers are easily the most as a catcher, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Carlton Fisk is second with 351, followed by Johnny Bench (327) and Yogi Berra (306). "If I'm half the hitter he was, I'll have a pretty successful career," said Atlanta's Brian McCann, one of the top-hitting catchers currently in the majors. "He did a lot of great things for the catching position." Piazza never had a great throwing arm but was praised by pitchers for his game-calling. "You'd have to really go back and see Mike from the early days of trying to catch to where he ended up, the hard work he put in, the dedication he had to get good enough on the defensive end to where he could get his at-bats," Scioscia said. "He made himself into a guy who could go out there and catch and do the job he needed behind the plate." Piazza thanked his family, teams and managers, some of his teammates — and even owners, general managers, minor league staffs and reporters. "Within the eight years I spent in New York, I was able to take a different look at the game of baseball," Piazza said. "I wasn't just a young kid that was wet behind the ears anymore — I was learning from other veteran guys like Johnny Franco, who taught me how to deal with the pressures of playing in New York, and Al Leiter, who knew what it took to win a world championship." He did not bring up two of the more memorable moments in his career: When the Yankees' Roger Clemens beaned him on July 8, 2000, and when Clemens threw the broken barrel of Piazza's bat in his direction in Game 2 of the World Series that October. Clemens denied intent both times. "Last but certainly not least, I can't say goodbye without thanking the fans," Piazza said. "I can't recall a time in my career where I didn't feel embraced by all of you. Los Angeles, San Diego, Oakland and Miami — whether it was at home or on the road, you were all so supportive over the years. "But I have to say that my time with the Mets wouldn't have been the same without the greatest fans in the world. One of the hardest moments of my career, was walking off the field at Shea Stadium and saying goodbye. My relationship with you made my time in New York the happiest of my career and for that, I will always be grateful."
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05-20-2008, 05:36 PM	#2
BigVE Veteran Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: centralKs Casino cash: $10005250	H O F __________________ Meh.
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05-20-2008, 05:40 PM	#3
Marco Polo Veteran Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: 41°59.4′N 87°39.6'W Casino cash: $5758908	Definitely. He'll be ranked with the likes of Bench as one of the greatest hitting catchers of all time.
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05-20-2008, 05:41 PM	#4
The Franchise Most Valuable Villain Join Date: Dec 2006 Casino cash: $2995047	He was my favorite player when I was a kid.
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05-20-2008, 05:58 PM	#5
Miles MVP Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Dallas, TX Casino cash: $1552400	He put up epic numbers for a catcher. Easily first ballot HOF.
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05-20-2008, 06:01 PM	#8
blueballs Banned Join Date: Feb 2006 Casino cash: $10004900	Last time I hear Piazza discussed it was if he was a pitcher or catcher
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05-20-2008, 06:05 PM	#9
Ultra Peanut v^V^v^V^v^V^ Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Holland* Casino cash: $10005177	God, I remember when he was the Rookie of the Year. This makes me feel old. I'm sure it makes him feel even older, since I was only like eight at the time, but still. __________________
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05-20-2008, 06:56 PM	#10
CoMoChief Mahomes Dynasty Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Parts Unknown Casino cash: $8042254	One of the best hitting catchers of all time. Of course he's in. Having that said he was absolutely AWFUL defensively. __________________
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05-20-2008, 06:57 PM	#11
Frazod WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $3015085	I guess if Clemens wants to throw shit at him now, he'll have to go to his house.
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05-20-2008, 07:09 PM	#12
CoMoChief Mahomes Dynasty Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Parts Unknown Casino cash: $8042254	I remember Mike Piazza endorsed a Nintendo 64 game "Mike Piazza's Baseball", and it was the most unrealistic game ever. This game wasn't like Blitz or the Sluggfest, this game was supposed to be like Triple Play or All Star Baseball it was supposed to be realistic. Then i hit my first homerun in the 2nd game I played. 950ft shot. I then returned the game after that. __________________
Posts: 39,163