Mike Piazza is a retired American professional baseball catcher. Michael Piazza, a 12-time All-Star and Hall of Famer, established the record for career home runs by a catcher with 396. During his time with the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers, he rose to prominence.
Biography, Age, Nationality, Parents
Mike Piazza was born on September 4, 1968, in Norristown, Pennsylvania. He is a Virgo who is 53 years old. Michael Joseph Piazza was born in the United States.
His father’s name is Vince, and his mother’s name is Veronica. His four brothers are Vince Jr., Dan, Tony, and Tom. Tommy Lasorda, a former Major League Baseball manager, is also one of his godparents. Similarly, Mike grew up a Phillies fan and looked up to Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt at third base. Furthermore, his father urged him to play baseball.
Mike Piazza, according to his educational background and qualifications, attended Phoenixville Area High School. In 1986, he graduated from Phoenixville Area High School. Piazza attended South Florida University and played for the Miami Hurricanes his first year before transferring to Miami-Dade Community College after obtaining no playing time that season.
Height and Weight of Mike Piazza
Mike Piazza is 6 feet 3 inches tall, but his weight and other bodily characteristics are unknown. Piazza is also a brunette with brown eyes and brown hair.
Career
At his father’s request, Michael Piazza was taken by the Dodgers in the 62nd round of the 1988 Major League Baseball amateur draft as the 1,390th overall pick. He became into a fantastic batter, especially for a catcher. On September 1, 1992, Piazza made his Major League Baseball debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Chicago Cubs. He drew a walk in his first plate appearance. After appearing in 149 games, he was named National League Rookie of the Year in 1993.
Mike also spent seven seasons with the Dodgers until being dealt to the Florida Marlins on May 15, 1998. However, he was only able to play in five games for the Marlins. Less than a week later, he was traded from the Marlins to the New York Mets. Piazza also established a record for most home runs in a season despite never hitting more than one in a game throughout his time at the club. In the 2000 Subway Series, he even guided the Mets to an NL pennant and a trip to the World Series.
The game-winning eighth-inning home run by Mike Piazza in the first professional baseball game played in New York City following the 9/11 attacks has been regarded as iconic, therapeutic, and meaningful. In addition, despite his reputation as a terrific hitter, he had several noteworthy defensive achievements. He caught two no-hitters thrown by Ramón Martnez and Hideo Nomo during his stint with the Dodgers. He was able to play his final game in a Mets uniform in 2005. Following the 2005 season, he signed a one-year contract with the San Diego Padres on January 29, 2006.
More About Career
Mike Piazza was able to play his first game at Shea Stadium after leaving the Mets in 2006. Throughout the three-game series, he received multiple standing ovations from New York fans. Similarly, he signed as a free agent with the Oakland Athletics in December 2006. After failing to secure a contract with a Major League Baseball organization for the 2008 season, Mike declared his retirement on May 20, 2008. He did, however, return to Shea Stadium in September 2008 for the “Shea Farewell” closing ceremony, when he received the stadium’s final pitch from Hall of Famer Tom Seaver.
In addition, Mike Piazza was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame on September 29, 2013, and his autobiography, Long Shot, was released in February 2013. He is recognized as one of the all-time best catchers.
In addition, Mike Piazza appeared in the film “Two Weeks Notice.” In addition, he has appeared in a number of television shows and advertisements.
Mike Piazza’s Salary
According to celebrity net worth, Mike Piazza has a net worth of $70 million as of February 2023, and his principal source of income is his baseball career.
Mike Piazza Wife, Relationship
On January 9, 2005, Mike Piazza married Playboy Playmate Alicia Rickter in St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Miami, Florida. The couple’s three children are Nicoletta, Paulina, and Marco. His wife is a well-known model and actress in the United States.
Checkout Terri Harper, Sabrina Haskett , Yasmin Vossoughian , Terry Dubrow