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After starting his career as the 1,390th player chosen in baseball's 1988 amateur draft, Mike Piazza went on to defy expectations and become one of the top major-league catchers of all time. Piazza won the 1993 Rookie of the Year Award, was chosen for a dozen All-Star games, and holds the record for most home runs by a catcher. Piazza won the National League MLB Rookie of the Year Award in 1993. Piazza's best season was 1997, a year when he finished second in MVP voting. He hit .362, with 40 home runs and 124 runs batted in, an on base percentage of .431 and a slugging percentage of .638.
He played six full seasons for the Dodgers until he was traded to the Florida Marlins on May 15, 1998. . The trade is regarded by many as one of the worst moves in Dodgers history. One week later, on May 22, Piazza was traded from the Marlins to the New York Mets. Piazza helped the Mets to two consecutive playoff appearances for the only time in Mets history in 1999 and 2000. He became known as The Monster after coach John Stearns was caught on tape during the 2000 NLCS after a Piazza hit saying "The Monster is out of the cage!"
One of the most emotional moments of Piazza's career came when he belted a dramatic two-run home run in the eighth inning against Steve Karsay on September 21, 2001 in New York City to lift the Mets to a 3-2 triumph over the Braves. The game was the first regular season professional sporting event held in New York City after the September 11, 2001 attacks and has since been hailed as the defining moment in Piazza's career and one of the single greatest moments in New York sports history.
This natural finish lacquered beauty was manufactured by Mizuno and exhibits professional labeling first introduced in 2004.. Measuring 34 5/8 inches in length and weighing approximately 31 ounces, this bat shows evidence of moderate game use prior to the handle crack this bat eventually sustained. Ball marks, hit marks, and a few cleat marks are evidenced on the barrel. Pine tar handle preparation begins approximately 9.5 inches from the knob and extends approximately 5 inches toward the center brand. This bat has sustained a moderate crack on the handle that is approximately 9 inches long with the most severe area approximately 13.5 inches from the knob. There is minor displacement of the wood, with a very small piece missing at one end. The initials M.P. are stamped into the knob of this bat.
This is an opportunity to obtain a very nice bat from the last 4 years (Mets, Padres, A's) of certain Hall-of-Fame catcher Mike Piazza's outstanding career. View Lot Detail page