A tearful Mike Piazza choked up when he thanked Mets fans for “taking him into their family” on Sunday during his Hall of Fame acceptance speech at Cooperstown, NY.
“How can I put into words my love, thanks and appreciation for New York Mets’ fans?” Piazza said. “You have given me the greatest gift and graciously taken me into your family. This brings me back to the best time of my life.”
A record crowd was on hand to usher in the induction of Piazza and fellow Hall of Fame inductee Ken Griffey Jr..
“You guys are serious,” Piazza said to the thousands of Mets fans who showed up to honor him. “The eight years we spent together went by way too fast. Looking back into this crowd of blue and orange brings me back to the greatest time of my life. The thing I miss most is making you cheer.”
“No fans rock the house like Mets fans. To be only the second Met to enter the Hall of Fame brings me great pride.”
Piazza also gave an emotional nod to the brave first responders who touched his heart during the terrorist attacks of September 11.
“To witness the darkest evil of the human heart … will be forever burned in my soul,” Piazza said. “But from tragedy and sorrow came bravery, love, compassion, character and eventual healing.
“Many of you give me praise for the two-run home run in the first game back on Sept. 21st, but the true praise belongs to police, firefighters, first responders that knew that they were going to die, but went forward anyway. I pray that we never forget their sacrifice.”
It was a memorable day for both Piazza and Griffey Jr. who both delivered such raw emotional speeches that tugged on your heart strings. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
