Cooperstown 2016: Mike Piazza

MIKE PIAZZA
Fourth Year on Ballot (69.9% last year)

PLAYING CAREER:  Los Angeles Dodgers (1992–1998), Florida Marlins (1998), New York Mets (1998–2005), San Diego Padres (2006) and Oakland Athletics (2007)

ACHIEVEMENTS:   .308 career batting average (including in nine consecutive seasons, dating from 1993 to 2001) and 427 home runs. He hit more than 30 home runs in eight consecutive seasons (1995–2002) and has nine career 30-homer seasons. Only nine other players have ever had over 400 home runs with over a .300 lifetime average while never striking out more than 100 times in a season (Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Lou Gehrig, Mel Ott, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Vladimir Guerrero, Albert Pujols and Chipper Jones. His 396 home runs as a catcher is most by anyone at the position. In 2013, was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame. Named National League Rookie of the Year in 1993. Twelve-time All-Star (1993–2002, 2004 and 2005) and highest vote-getter in in 1996, 1997 and 2000. 1996 All-Star Game MVP. Ten-time Silver Slugger Award winner (1993–2002).

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ON TWITTER:

Looks like Mike Piazza is going to the Hall of Fame, but my real dream for him is that he opens a pizza place. #PiazzasPizzas

— DJelvis (@jhuntercomedy) December 23, 2015

Okay. If admitted PED user Mike Piazza gets into the Hall of Fame how in the world do you keep Bonds out?

— Kristy (@TennesseeKristy) December 23, 2015

Speculation is that suspected PED user Mike Piazza will be elected to the Hall of Fame on his fourth try. Open door Bonds/Clemens?

— Bob Matthews (@BMatthewsSports) December 22, 2015

HOVG THOUGHTS: A number of years ago, rumors started swirling that the 1993 National League Rookie of the Year was a user of PEDs. Fortunately for the 12-time All-Star, the idiom “where there’s smoke, there’s fire” has (seemingly) not been fully investigated, and, it’s probably safe to say, Piazza has suffered through the whole “but he might’ve done steroids” fate as Jeff Bagwell. As it is, the catcher finished his career with a bloated .308 career batting average, nine straight seasons with an average of .300 of higher, 427 home runs, including eight straight seasons with 30 or more and 1335 RBI. Not bad for a guy who was taken as a favor in the 62nd round of the draft.