Happy Birthday To No. 31, Mike Piazza

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MIKE PIAZZA!

Over the years, we’ve had many posts on MMO about Mike Piazza. So many unforgettable stories, inspiring quotes and wonderful memories about a player who touched so many lives.

In an MMO interview with Mike Piazza by Jim Mancari, we learned that Piazza’s faith played a significant role in his life both on and off the field. “Once we get to certain point in our lives, we need to internalize our success and really give thanks for why we are successful,” said Piazza. “A lot of those things are a spiritual gift.”

I recall these words written by a former MMO writer who you may remember as Annie Savoy. She wrote, “Never has a catcher been such a gentlemen, both at the plate and behind it, much like Johnny Bench. Mike was given a bit of a hard time when he originally arrived on the Mets, but once we got to know him, we never wanted to let him go. Pitchers loved him and the rest of the team did, too. He was a private man, and a religious man, and it made him a bit different.”

He had so many of the same qualities that we loved about Gary Carter and Jerry Grote. We’ve really been blessed as an organization to not only have one unbelievably gifted catcher with so much character and talent, but three of them. And they were all winners.

In an article written by Taryn “Coop” Cooper for our 2012 MMO Mets Annual, she actually capped it off really nicely when she said.

“In the Mets championship years and World Series runs, the catchers provided some sort of “it factor” for success.  Whether it was helping groom a young pitching staff, provide much needed offensive support in the lineup and back up on the field, or simply carrying the offense on their backs, Jerry Grote, Gary Carter and Mike Piazza could very well have been the change agents on those teams. ”

Perfectly stated…

Today, we at MMO wish one of them a very Happy Birthday.

Happy Birthday, Mike…

Wherever you are, enjoy the day and thanks for all you’ve done for us as Mets fans and also what you did for this team as a franchise.

You left your unforgettable and indelible mark in many of the Mets record books, but more importantly – also in our hearts.