GLORY BOUND...

(Newtonville, January 13, 2001) Sometimes the obvious presents itself. Such is the case of Mike Piazza. 8 years in and there's no doubt. He's a Hall of Fame ballplayer. Not the best catcher. Johnny Bench might fill those shoes. Not the best hitter. Ty Cobb might fit that bill. But perhaps the best hitting catcher. Or the best hitter of his era. A coupla years ago they said he wasn't clutch. Last year there was no doubt.

Mets Like Mike

(Boston, December 5, 1998) When the New York Mets signed C Mike Piazza to a record-breaking 7-year contract, their loyal followers smiled. For this man is one of the elite... few have broken into this great game as Piazza has. And the bad fortune of the LA Dodgers has become the good fortune of the Mets, because signing the game's best offensive catcher is a serious start when you are trying to build a championship club. The Mets have subsequently signed the 5-time Gold-Glove 3B Robin Ventura, solidifying an impressive infield. They've locked up pitchers Al Leiter and Dennis Cook as well. They are, from this viewpoint, getting serious!

'Course the Braves have added 2B Bret Boone and OF Brian Jordan to shore up one of the top attacks in the NL. They sacrificed their #4 starter (Denny Neagle) but are still a lock for the division. So the Mets must again pursue the wild-card... the prize that was just out of reach last year...

-- Johnny B --

Mike Piazza

ave g ab runs hits 2b 3b hr rbi bb k sb obp slg notes
1992 .232 21 69 5 16 3 0 1 7 4 12 0 .284 .319
1993 .318 149 547 81 174 24 2 35 112 46 86 3 .374 .561 Rookie of the Year, All-Star
1994 .319 107 405 64 129 18 0 24 92 33 65 1 .371 .541 All-Star
1995 .346 112 434 82 150 17 0 32 93 39 80 1 .401 .606 All-Star
1996 .336 148 547 87 184 16 0 36 105 81 93 0 .423 .563 MVP All-Star Game
1997 .362 152 556 104 201 32 1 40 124 69 77 5 .435 .638 All-Star, highest BA by a catcher
1998 .329 151 561 88 184 38 1 32 111 58 80 1 .390 .570 All-Star
1999 .303 141 534 100 162 25 0 40 124 51 70 2 .361 .575 All-Star
2000 .324 136 482 90 156 26 0 38 113 58 69 4 .398 .614 All-Star
career .328 1117 4135 701 1356 199 4 278 881 439 632 17 .392 .580

Batting Totals
YR
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
...
...
Season
99
00
 TM
La
La
La
La
La
La
Fla
Nyn
La
 
Nyn
Nyn
 G
21
149
107
112
148
152
5
109
37
151
141
136
 AB
69
547
405
434
547
556
18
394
149
561
534
482
 R
5
81
64
82
87
104
1
67
20
88
100
90
 H
16
174
129
150
184
201
5
137
42
184
162
156
 2B
3
24
18
17
16
32
0
33
5
38
25
26
 3B
0
2
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
 HR
1
35
24
32
36
40
0
23
9
32
40
38
 RBI
7
112
92
93
105
124
5
76
30
111
124
113
 BB
4
46
33
39
81
69
0
47
11
58
51
58
 SO
12
86
65
80
93
77
0
53
27
80
70
69
 SB
0
3
1
1
0
5
0
1
0
1
2
4
 CS
0
4
3
0
3
1
0
0
0
0
2
2
 OBP
.284
.370
.370
.400
.422
.431
.263
.417
.329
.390
.361
.398
 SLG
.319
.561
.541
.606
.563
.638
.389
.607
.497
.570
.575
.614
 AVG
.232
.318
.319
.346
.336
.362
.278
.348
.282
.328
.303
.324
 
Totals		  
 		 G
1117		 AB
4135		 R
701		 H
1356		 2B
199		 3B
4		 HR
278		 RBI
881		 BB
439		 SO
632		 SB
17		 CS
15		 OBP
.392		 SLG
.580		 AVG
.328

Three Year Averages (1997, 1998, 1999)
G
148
 AB
550
 R
97
 H
182
 2B
32
 3B
1
 HR
37
 RBI
120
 BB
59
 SO
76
 SB
3
 CS
1
 OBP
.395
 SLG
.595
 AVG
.331

Seasonal Averages (per 162 games played)
YEARS
6.90		 G
162
 AB
600
 R
102
 H
197
 2B
29
 3B
1
 HR
40
 RBI
128
 BB
64
 SO
92
 SB
2
 CS
2
 OBP
.392
 SLG
.580
 AVG
.328