HALLUVA DAY FOR PIAZZA
Mets great gets emotional as he recalls 9/11 heroes in Cooperstown
COOPERSTOWN — Mike Piazza’s Hall of Fame induction speech Sunday was so charged with emotion that he broke down in multiple spots, fulfilling his prediction that he’d shed tears as he joined baseball’s immortals. But who wouldn’t need a hankie, which Piazza clutched in his right hand during much of the speech, while going through the notable moments of his journey from 62nd-round draft pick — more like a favor, really — to greatness? Piazza, after all, hit one of the most famous home runs in baseball history, the post-9/11 blast that helped buoy a wounded country, enjoyed a close relationship with his family and had a love affair with Met fans that was evident in all the blue-and-orange clad fans among the 50,000 in attendance.
Piazza, only the second Met in the Hall of Fame, went in on the same day as Ken Griffey Jr., owner of 630 home runs. It all came together beautifully on a warm, sunny day in front of what the Hall of Fame says is the second-largest crowd in induction history. Piazza’s talk included a quote from Teddy Roosevelt and he even spoke to his father in Italian.
Doing it all was “absolutely nervewracking,” Piazza said. “Nothing can prepare you for those emotions you feel and the history (sitting) behind you.” That last bit is a reference to the 47 other Hall of Famers in attendance, who were sitting behind him on the stage.
But the crowd got to ride the wave of feeling with Piazza and, as he noted, it wasn’t always about baseball. He got long applause when he talked about his healing home run. Part of his plaque reads: “Helped rally a nation . . . with his dramatic home run in the first Mets game in New York following the 9/11 attacks.”
“Sept. 11, 2001 is a day that forever changed our lives,” Piazza said in his speech. “To witness the darkest evil of the human heart and how it tore many loved ones from their families will forever be burned in my soul. But from tragedy and sorrow came bravery, love, compassion, character and, eventually, healing.
“Many of you give me praise for the two-run home run on the first game back on Sept. 21 to push us ahead of the rival Braves. But the true praise belongs to police, firefighters, first responders, who knew they were going to die, but went forward anyway.
Piazza, a Catholic, then added: “Jesus said there’s no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. I consider it a privilege to have witnessed that love. Your families and those left behind are always in my prayers. I pray we never forget their sacrifice and work to always defeat such evil.”
There were lighter moments, too, like when he recalled the good times he and L.A. Dodger pal Eric Karros had as young players or his wry reference to his single week in 1998 with the Marlins, which preceded his trade to the Mets.
But Piazza needed that handkerchief. He snuffled two minutes into a speech that lasted roughly 25 minutes when he addressed his new peers, saying, “The only way I ever thought I’d be here with you is if I bought a ticket.”
Now, some consider Piazza the best-hitting catcher ever and he holds the career record for home runs by a backstop — 396 of his 427 homers were hit while behind the plate. He was a 12-time All-Star and won 10 Silver Slugger awards and is the only catcher in history to have three different seasons with an OPS of 1.000 or higher.
Piazza took a unique route to Cooperstown — he is the lowest-drafted player ever to gain election to the Hall of Fame. He was taken in the 62nd round in the 1988 draft by the Dodgers, 1,390th overall. Some believe it was only Tommy Lasorda doing a favor for his pal, Mike’s dad, Vince. But Piazza persevered and soared as a player, eventually surpassing John Smoltz, a 22nd-round pick (574th overall), as the biggest longshot to be enshrined.
Griffey, meanwhile, became the first No. 1 overall pick to reach the Hall of Fame.
Piazza joined Tom Seaver as the only players who have gone into the Hall of Fame with a Mets cap on their plaque, though others such as Gary Carter, Casey Stengel, Willie Mays, Joe Torre and Pedro Martinez, among others, have Met ties. Seaver, who has battled lyme disease, was not at Sunday’s ceremonies. “To be only the second Met to enter the Hall of Fame after Tom Seaver brings me great pride and joy,” Piazza said. Then he acknowledged Carter, saying, “I truly enjoyed Gary Carter’s company. He was a wonderful man, a great player and I miss him.”
Piazza got more loud applause when he discussed his relationship with Met fans, which also inspired a few “Let’s Go, Mets” chants.
“How can I put into words my thanks, love and appreciation for New York Mets fans?” Piazza said.
“You have given me the greatest gift and have graciously taken me into your family. Looking out today at all the incredible sea of blue and orange brings back the greatest time of my life.
“You guys are serious. We didn’t get off on the best foot, but we both stayed with it. At first, I was pressing to make you cheer and I wasn’t doing the job. You didn’t take it easy on me and I am better because of it. Sometimes a jockey whips a horse. It isn’t always pleasant to watch, but it gets results.
“The eight years we spent together went by way too fast. The thing I miss most is making you cheer. No fans rock the house like Mets fans. You are passionate, loyal, intelligent and love this great game.”
Toward the end, Piazza got to his family, which he later said was by design.
“If I had had them first, I probably would’ve fainted and had to be resuscitated,” Piazza said.
To his father, Piazza said in Italian, “Many thanks to the country of Italy for giving me my father.”
He added that his dad’s faith in his abilities was often greater than his own.
“We made it, dad,” Piazza said, addressing him in the family section. “The race is over. Now it’s time to smell the roses.”