Michael Joseph Piazza is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. He most notably played in his career with the New York Mets and also spent time with the Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics, and Los Angeles Dodgers, with whom he was named the Natio...
Phoenixville Area High School, Miami-Dade Community College
Nationality
United States of America
Spouse
Alicia Rickter (m. 2005)
Children
Nicoletta Veronica Piazza, Paulina Sophia Piazza
Parents
Veronica Piazza, Vince Piazza
Siblings
Tommy Piazza, Danny Piazza, Tony Piazza, Vince Piazza, Jr.
Nicknames
Michael Joseph Piazza
Awards
Ted Williams Award (1997), ESPY Award for Breakthrough Athlete (1994), All-Star Game's MVP, All-Star (1993–2002, 2004, 2005), Silver Slugger Award (1993–2002), NL Rookie of the Year (1993), New York Mets Hall of Fame
Movies
"Two Weeks Notice", "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" (2013), "Champions of Faith"
TV Shows
That Metal Show, Eddie Trunk's "Friday Night Rocks show" on WAXQ ("Q-104.3 FM")
Star Sign
Virgo
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Quote
1
I have gone from a player who thought he would spend his whole career with one organization to a player who's been with three organizations in a week. It's like rotisserie baseball.
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Fact
1
Elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, despite suspicion that he took performance-enhancing drugs during his career. Piazza is the lowest-drafted player ever (62nd round) to be elected. [January 6, 2016].
2
Inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016.
3
(January 29) Agreed to a $2 million, one-year contract with the San Diego Padres. [2006]
4
Catcher with New York Mets.
5
Signed a one year contract worth 8.5 million dollars to be the new designated hitter for the Oakland Athletics Baseball Club. [December 2006]
6
Catcher/1st Baseman with the New York Mets. [March 2004]
7
Second daughter, Paulina Sophia Piazza, was born on August 3, 2009 in Miami, Florida, weighing in at 6 lbs. 3 oz and measuring 24 1/2 inches long.
8
Co-owner, with Michael Andretti, of "Andretti and Piazzi Sports Cafes".
9
Daughter, Nicoletta Veronica Piazza, was born on February 3, 2007 in New York City.
10
Announced his retirement from baseball [May 20, 2008].
11
His first at bat with the Padres was a home run.
12
Named to Baseball Digest magazine's 1993 Rookie All-Star Team.
13
Made major league debut on 1 September 1992.
14
Grew up and attended high school in Pennsylvania.
15
New York Mets All-Time Slugging Percentage Leader (.573).
16
Catcher for Los Angeles Dodgers (1992-1998), Florida Marlins (1998) and New York Mets (1998-present).
17
Charged the mound after being hit by a pitch from Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Guillermo Mota, igniting a bench-clearing brawl. Both Mota and Piazza were ejected. Piazza left the ballpark while the game was still going without speaking to reporters. Piazza and Mota had a shoving match last year in spring training after the pitcher hit Piazza in the hip with a pitch. [12 March 2003]
18
As a kid, he had his own personal batting cage and pitching machine.
19
Does commercials for collect calling service 10-10-220.
20
Holds single-season record for highest batting average by a catcher (100 or more games) .362 (1997).
21
Attended Miami-Dade (North) Community College (FL).
22
22 May 1998: Traded by the Marlins to the New York Mets for OF Preston Wilson, P Ed Yarnall and P Geoff Goetz.
23
15 May 1998: Traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers with 3B Todd Zeile to the Florida Marlins for OF Gary Sheffield, 3B Bobby Bonilla, C Charles Johnson, OF Jim Eisenreich and P Manuel Barrios.
24
When Mike was 12, he received personal hitting instruction from Hall of Famer Ted Williams.
25
1993 National League Rookie of the Year.
26
In 1999, he signed a recordbreaking 7-year, $91 million contract with the New York Mets.
27
Then-Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda selected Mike the in the 62nd round (1390th overall pick) of the June 1988 amateur draft as a favor to Mike's father.
28
Former Dodger manager, Tommy Lasorda, is a friend of Mike's family and the godfather of his younger brother. He is not Mike's godfather which has been stated in other sources.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Married with Children
1994
TV Series
Mike Piazza
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Mike & Mike
2015-2016
TV Series
Himself - Baseball Hall of Famer / Himself - Former New York Mets Player
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2004-2016
TV Series
Himself
Late Night with Seth Meyers
2015
TV Series
Himself
Welcome to Dodgertown
2015
Documentary
The Daily Show
2013
TV Series
Himself
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1995-2010
TV Series
Himself - Beer Pong at the ESPYs / Himself
The Last Play at Shea
2010
Documentary
Himself
Prime 9
2009
TV Series
Himself
That Metal Show
2008
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Rome Is Burning
2006-2007
TV Series
Himself
Champions of Faith: Baseball Edition
2007
Video documentary
Himself
Howard Stern on Demand
2006
TV Series
Himself
Sunday Night Baseball
1992-2006
TV Series
Himself - Los Angeles Dodgers Catcher / Himself - New York Mets Catcher / Himself - New York Mets Designated Hitter / ...
Baseball's Secret Formula
2006
TV Movie
Himself
The Best Damn Sports Show Period
2005
TV Series
Himself
2005 MLB All-Star Game
2005
TV Special
Himself - NL Starting Catcher: New York Mets
The Apprentice
2004
TV Series
Himself
2004 MLB All-Star Game
2004
TV Special
Himself - NL Starting Catcher: New York Mets
High Hopes: The Anatomy of a Winner
2003
Video documentary
Himself - Los Angeles Dodgers Catcher
What's New, Scooby-Doo?
2003
TV Series
Himself
Two Weeks Notice
2002
Himself
2002 MLB All-Star Game
2002
TV Special
Himself - NL Starting Catcher: New York Mets
2001 MLB All-Star Game
2001
TV Special
Himself
Jeopardy!
1997-2001
TV Series
Himself - Celebrity Contestant
2000 Official World Series
2000
Video documentary
Himself (New York Mets catcher)
2000 National League Championship Series
2000
TV Series
Himself - New York Mets Catcher
2000 MLB All-Star Game
2000
TV Special
Himself - NL Catcher: New York Mets
Howard Stern
2000
TV Series
Himself
The Howard Stern Radio Show
2000
TV Series
Himself
1999 National League Championship Series
1999
TV Mini-Series
Himself - New York Mets Catcher
1999 MLB All-Star Game
1999
TV Special
Himself
1998 MLB All-Star Game
1998
TV Special
Himself
Late Show with David Letterman
1998
TV Series
Himself
1997 MLB All-Star Game
1997
TV Special
Himself - NL Starting Catcher: Los Angeles Dodgers
1996 MLB All-Star Game
1996
TV Special
Himself
1995 MLB All-Star Game
1995
TV Special
Himself - NL Catcher
Baywatch
1995
TV Series
Himself
1994 MLB All-Star Game
1994
TV Special
Himself - NL Catcher
Comic Relief: Baseball Relief '93
1993
TV Movie
Himself
1993 MLB All-Star Game
1993
TV Special
Himself - NL Catcher
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Prime 9
2009-2011
TV Series
Himself
Ted Williams
2009
TV Movie documentary
Himself (uncredited)
Rome Is Burning
2007-2008
TV Series
Himself
DHL Presents Major League Baseball Hometown Heroes