13
2012
Is Mike Piazza A First-Ballot Hall Of Famer?
An article by 
With the dust settled from this year’s Hall of Fame voting, the attention turns to a loaded 2013 ballot.
Prominent names such as Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Roger Clemens and Craig Biggio will be on the ballot for the first time, but so will one close to all of our hearts here at MMO: Mike Piazza.
Naturally, Mets fans have an enduring love for Piazza. He revolutionized this franchise in the late 1990s-early 2000s, and his legacy will forever live on in Mets lore.
Mike Piazza
However, how do the writers who hold a Hall of Fame vote view Piazza in terms of a first-ballot selection?
I recently saw an article on MLB.com in which writers who hold a vote shared their initial thoughts on whom they would vote for next year. Surprisingly, Piazza’s name only appeared on a handful of ballots.
We as Mets fans have seen Piazza up close. His clutch hits, record-setting home runs and inspirational moments will always be in our memories. But there seems to be a consensus out there that Piazza is not a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
He is sure to earn a spot in Cooperstown at some point, but he is deserving of the honor of being a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
I bring this up because a player with similar statistics and accomplishments to Piazza—Jeff Bagwell—has not been voted in on his first two attempts. Both were major offensive forces during parts of the past two decades.
However, there’s a major difference between Bagwell and Piazza: Piazza was a catcher. Catchers take a beating on a daily basis. Piazza missed his share of time throughout his career with stints on the disabled list and even scheduled off days. Just imagine the stats he could have accumulated had he been a first baseman like Bagwell.
What’s more though about Piazza was that he carried the Mets on his back for two deep playoff runs. Of course, the Mets had a good supporting cast featuring Edgardo Alfonzo, Robin Ventura, Al Leiter, etc. But it was Piazza’s team through and through.
So to answer the title question: Yes, Mike Piazza—arguably the greatest offensive catcher in the history of baseball—is a first-ballot Hall of Famer in my opinion. But frankly, my opinion doesn’t count. It will come down to whether the writers think he’s worthy.
Because he’s a catcher, Piazza holds an advantage over Bagwell. But don’t be too upset next year if Piazza is forced to wait for the Cooperstown call.
Tom Seaver needs some Mets company in the Hall of Fame, so hopefully Piazza gets the call next year.
Then again, there’s even a chance Piazza will be wearing a Dodgers cap on his plaque, which is the subject of a completely different post.
About the Author: Jim Mancari
Jim Mancari hails from Massapequa, N.Y. He recently earned a Master's degree in Journalism at Hofstra University. He is a devout Mets fan and takes pride in his team, despite their lack of success over the last few years. Like all Mets fans, Jim has plenty of hope. He also writes as the sports reporter for the Brooklyn Tablet newspaper and the senior editor of metroBASEBALL Magazine. Click my name to view my personal website.
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“I bring this up because a player with similar statistics and accomplishments to Piazza—Jeff Bagwell—has not been voted in on his first two attempts. Both were major offensive forces during parts of the past two decades.”
You’re not taking their position into account though. If Bagwell was as productive as a guy who has to squat for 27 outs a game, then that is a strike against Bagwell, not against Piazza.
You can’t compare a power hitting C to a power hitting 1B.
You’re comparing Bagwell offensively first to players at his position during his era like Delgado, Thomas, Crime Dog, Helton, Vaughn, Thome, plus Palmeiro, McGwire, Giambi.
I’m not saying Bags is better or not better than people on that list… I’m saying that is a pretty powerful list proving the strength at the position. Then compare HOf 1B and where does Bagwell stand against them?
For Piazza you’re comparing him offensively to Pudge, Daulton, Javy Lopez, Sandy Alomar, and Jason Kendall I guess? Maybe a young Posada?
They are night and day comparisons if you ask me.
I don’t think he meant it as a strike against Piazza, I think he was saying that squatting for a whole game 125+ times a season and hitting as much as an elite first baseman hitter helps Piazza’s chances.
Bagwell was a hell of a hitter. Its unfortunate he hasn’t gotten in.
Piazza was one of the best hitting catchers of all time. He definitely deserves to be up there with the other great catchers he mentioned in theta Wall St. Journal article from a few days ago: Bench, Berra, Campanella. He’s got more home runs and a higher OPS than all of those guys. I think he’s certainly a first ballot HOFer.
I think the voters will see his name next to unfavorables like Bonds, Sosa, and Clemens and see Piazza in a good light. I think they definitely put him in.
Anthony, unfortunately I think some voters will put Piazza’s name next to those of Bonds, McGwire and Sosa and immediately view him as a steroid user. They’re argument may be How can a catcher, suffering all the injuries and maladies of the position put up a .308/.377/.545 slash line with 427 HR without using PED’s? I absolutely DO NOT think Piazza EVER juiced, but there will probably be enough small minded voters who DO to keep him from getting in on the 1st ballot. What would be great though in 2013 is to see Piazza, Bagwell, and Biggio get elected together.
You might be right. I hope not. He really lifted this city up when it needed it the most. Actually, after everything he’s been through with the Mets, I’m sure he’ll go in with a Mets cap.
If Piazza doesn’t get in as a first ballot Hall of Famer something is rotten in Denmark.
Agreed. And they should check Liechtenstein for mold as well!
Was he not considered the BEST HITTING catcher of all time? Come on man, Piazza should already have his tickets ready to go to Cooperstown next year.
Hopefully he will enter as a Met
Uh….yes. Hopefully with a Mets cap.
Reknowned Mets hater and overall bag of wind, Murray Chass, has insisted for years to anyone that will listen that Mike Piazza was a steroid doper.
Personally, I don’t believe it. I know a person who was pretty close to Mike who said that he would never do it. What will give the anti-Piazza pundants some argument is the injury in May of 2003 where he literally ripped his groin muscle off the bone while getting out of the way of a pitch. They will say that that is proof that he ‘roided. People will believe what they want – but my major concern is Chass, who I believe has a vote and a soapbox along with his vendetta against the Mets Bobby Valentine and Mike Piazza.
Chass would rarely write anything good about the Mets when he was with the Times. He did like Art Howe and Willie Randolph which should say a lot to hardcore Mets fans. He was a Yankee stooge and I was happy whne he left the Times.
Piazza was my favorite Met when he played for the team.
I think he deserves to be a first round Hall Of Famer.
I was fortnuate enough to sit down and talk to Mike Piazza when he was with the Oakland A’s and I asked him directly which cap he wanted to go in with — Mets or Dodgers. He was ADAMANT that he was going in with a Mets cap. Here was his exact response: “F*&#*&#* Dodgers, I HATE the Dodgers.” He still carries a grudge that the Dodgers didn’t sign him to a long term contract and traded him instead.
Now for those who think his opinion doesn’t matter to the Hall of Fame, here’s a short article on the subject:
The choice of which team logo appears on a player’s plaque is the Museum’s decision, though the wishes of an inductee are always considered. As a history museum, it is important that the logo be emblematic of the historical accomplishments of that player’s career. A player’s election to the Hall of Fame is a career achievement, and as such, every team for whom he played is listed on the plaque; however, the logo selection is based on where that player makes his most indelible mark. For example, it would not be appropriate from an historical standpoint if Babe Ruth’s cap had a Red Sox logo, if Ty Cobb’s cap had a Philly A’s logo, or if Hank Greenberg’s had a Pirates logo. However, when instances come up where a player’s career achievements were fairly evenly divided, as was the case with both Dave Winfield and Carlton Fisk, the player is given more ownership in the decision, though the Museum retains the final one.
Mike Piazza played a third more games with the Mets than the Dodgers. He had more at bats, hits, runs, RBI, hit 43 more HRs, went to the World Series and broke the All Time HR record for catchers — all with the Mets. He won the Rookie of the Year and hit 35 points higher with the Dodgers.
All things considered (including Mike’s preference) — there is NO DOUBT in my mind he goes in with a NY METS CAP.
I that would come as little surprise to me if Piazza doesn’t make it to the HOF. The voting process is majorly flawed and unlike a lot of overrated players that made the hall (like goose Gossage) Piazza didn’t play for the Yankees. There just needs to be set guidelines for stats needed to reach the hall of fame. Set guidelines for each position instead of having writers vote. That and MLB needs to ban al steroid from the hall for life. Those cheaters almost ruined basell and should be punished
Agree with you regarding the voting being flawed but to be honest no matter how they do it there would be something flawed about how players are elected.I disagree however that Goose was overrated.From 75-85 he dominated the closers role,often pitching 2 plus innings.
First i will say that I am a Yankee fan. In my mind I have no doubt that Mike Piazza should be in the Hall of Fame.
No doubt that Piazza will not get elected. There are a lot of writers that suspect he was a juicer. He will suffer the same fate as the rest of the players from that era. The writers didn’t suspect or have evidence while they were using but now they want to punish.
I think “Big Mike”. Is a first ballot hall of famer purely because of his “go get it” attitude!!!! If he dosen’t get in on his first try in the ever loaded class of 2013? Then it is evident that the baseball writers didn’t see him play?..just my view?
Yes he is..
He should be but it’s possible with the rumors surrounding him, writers are a little cautious and might fail to let him at the end of this year. But I have no doubt he’ll get in before Clemens and Bonds who may never get in. It may just take a year or two.
To me, as a met fan, Piazza became a hall of famer after his home run on 9/21/01.
I don’t know if he’ll get voted in or not. Him and Bench and Berra hit like no other catchers in the last 60 years. If wirters think he roided he won’t get the votes. But, one thing is clear. If Sandy Alderson had been GM in the 90′s Mike Piazza would never become a Met. He was a big risk. The nay sayers blasted Phillips for giving up kids for this glamour guy who’d never sign a deal with the lowly Mets. Sandy doesn’t take risks. Thank you Steve Phillips for not being Sandy Alderson.
Jim – not a single mention of “PED” or “steroid” in your article.
Fair or not, Piazza is likely going to be painted with that brush, since there’s been a lot of anectdotal evidence that suggests he was using “something” during his playing days. Murray Chass is not alone in that belief.
I think he’ll get in eventually, but not right away.
Piazza is a no doubt first ballot hall of famer and I hope it’s with a Met cap.
The only thing that could possibly keep him out on the first ballot was his defense. With that said. He’s still a first ballot hall of famer.
His defense gets a bad rap, I think. No, he was never going to ring up a lot of CS, but it didn’t help that he caught some really slow pitchers. Also, he did a good job protecting the plate and calling games.
I don’t think he’ll get “Bagwelled”. Bagwell wasn’t nearly as prolific as Piazza.
Piazza should be a 1st ballot and go in as a Met. I hear the roids rumor but I have yet to see it proven that steroids makes you hit a ball better or field a ball. Granted it may help you recover quicker or even stronger. But you still have to hit that ball and that takes skill. Example: the Canseco twins Jose and Ozzie both are admitted steroid users, but Jose hit 400+ homers in the major leagues how many did Ozzie hit 40? The Giambi brothers are another example. I use them both for reasons that they have similar genetic makeups and one sibling far out performed the other. Yes they may have had help with PEDs but it takes skill to play the game period! Besides baseball was not complain during those year that these guys helped put fans back in the parks and merchandising was through the roof. Remember the slogan “Chicks dig the longball” ? I say if you have the numbers you should be in, just like I think Pete Rose should be in also (but that’s another debate). Yes purist will curse me and say protect the integrity of the game, when has the game been so full of integrity? Save that!