American · Norristown, Pennsylvania · Born 4 September 1968American baseball catcher and first baseman, widely regarded as the greatest offensive catcher in MLB history with 427 career home runs.
Michael Joseph Piazza was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania in 1968. The Dodgers selected him in the 62nd round of the 1988 draft — at Tommy Lasorda's personal request, as a favour to Piazza's father. He won the NL Rookie of the Year in 1993 and developed into the finest offensive catcher in baseball history. He hit 427 home runs — the record for catchers. His home run on September 21 2001 — the first professional sporting event in New York after 9/11 — is the most emotionally significant home run in recent baseball history. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.
Greatest offensive catcher in baseball history
How They Played
Power-hitting catcher with exceptional bat speed and plate discipline
Lasting Impact
Revolutionized the catcher position with unprecedented offensive production
Career Honours
- All-Star 12x
- NL Rookie of Year 1993
- Hall of Fame 2016
| Team | Period | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 1992–1998 | 782 |
| Florida Marlins | 1998–1998 | 5 |
| New York Mets | 1998–2005 | 972 |
| San Diego Padres | 2006–2007 | 160 |
| Oakland Athletics | 2007–2007 | 83 |
American Athletes