Quantcast
Skip to content
Communities
  • North Fork
    • Jamesport
    • Mattituck
    • Orient
    • Riverhead
    • Shelter Island
    • Southold
  • The Hamptons
    • Montauk
    • Quogue
    • Sag Harbor
    • Sagaponack
    • Southampton
    • Water Mill
    • Westhampton Beach
  • NYC
  • Palm Beach
  • Home Pros
  • Digital Editions
  • Dan’s Best of the Best
  • Contact Us
  • RegisterLogin
Dan’s Papers
  • Things to Do

    Events Calendar

    View and Post Events

    • Books & Authors
    • Concerts
    • Comedy
    • Fairs & Festivals
    • Film
    • Fitness & Outdoors
    • Galleries & Museums
    • Kids & Families
    • LGBTQ+
    • Nonprofits & Philanthropy
    • Pets & Animals
    • Seasonal & Holiday
    • Shopping
    • Theater

    Dan’s Events

    Visit Dan’s Taste

  • Arts & Culture
    • Artist Profiles
    • Books & Authors
    • Galleries & Museums
    • Performing Arts
    • Music, Film & TV
  • Food & Drink
    • Recipes
    • Restaurants
    • Bars, Breweries & Distilleries
    • Wine & Wineries
  • Celebrity News
  • Local News
    • Crime & Police
    • Politics
    • Health
    • Business
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Obituaries
  • Real Estate
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion & Style
    • Hotels & Inns
    • Kids & Family
    • Nonprofits & Philanthropy
    • Party & Event Photos
    • Wellness
    • Dan Rattiner’s Stories

→ Dan’s Taste Summer Series Presented by Wilmington Trust

Columns & Opinions

Hamptons Mike Piazza Fan Sees Hope for 2015

By Kelly Laffey
4 minute 01/09/2014 Share
Mike Piazza Hall of Fame
Mike Piazza is in the NY Mets Hall of Fame. Cooperstown is next. Photo: SLGCKGC

Is is not only because I am a long-suffering N.Y. Mets fan that I ask and answer this question: Was Mike Piazza shunned in the most recent Baseball Hall of Fame voting?

Absolutely. But there is hope. He did go up in the number of votes this year, his second on the ballot. Conventional wisdom (if that sort of thing applies to Hall of Fame voting now that the taint of the “steroid era” seems to have spread to include those who have never been linked to giving that part of baseball history its nefarious nickname) argues that it’s only a matter of time before he rightfully takes his place in Cooperstown.

Here’s why:

Close

Get the Full Story

News, events, culture and more — delivered to you.
Thank you for subscribing!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Piazza is the best-hitting catcher to play the game.

Piazza was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 62nd round of the 1988 draft. Nowadays, there are only 40 rounds in the draft. How’s that for an improbably rise?

The September 21, 2001 home run against the Braves. Back in the day, the Mets and the Braves were rivals, because both teams were—spoiler alert—good. The Mets played the Braves on September 21, 2001 in the first major sporting event since the attacks of September 11. Down 2–1 in the bottom of the 8th, Piazza hit a two-run homer against Braves’ reliever Stave Karsay to lift the team over their National League East rivals—and a nation above the emotional toll of the attacks, at least for a few moments.

The importance of that hit had little to do with the Mets-Braves rivalry. But in other circumstances where the Amazins’—and Piazza in particular—were threatened by rivals, Piazza held his own. During the 2000 season, Yankee pitcher Roger Clemens staged many an attack on the Mets most popular player, beaming him in the head during one of the Subway Series games and throwing a broken wooden bat at him during Game 2 of the World Series. Piazza had every right to charge the mound, but he kept his cool. Likely because…

He was not on steroids. No roid rage in Queens. Period.

Can’t the Mets just be rewarded for the fact that catcher seems to be the only position the team can get right? He ranks up there with Gary Carter. And, hopefully, the team can get it right this year with prospect Travis d’Arnaud.

Until then, perhaps he can join former teammate—and another former Mets superstar—John Franco in Sag Harbor. Franco’s son J.J. has played for the Sag Harbor Whalers of the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League, and the elder Franco has been known to grace the mound in Mashashimuet Park on occasion. Or, Piazza could hide out with Keith Hernandez in his secret Hamptons lair. Maybe Piazza can join the Artists-Writers Game.

Perhaps he already has family out here? I went to elementary school with a girl named Jenn Piazza, and I could never get a straight answer as to whether or not she’s related to the Michael Joseph Piazza, 2015 Cooperstown inductee.

  • Vetted Hamptons Resources

    Hamptons Classified 

    Access our trusted network of local professionals and browse employment opportunities in the Hamptons.
    Find a Home Pro Search Jobs
  • Most Recent Articles

    Andrew Vahab

    Former Dreyfoos Student Named Chair of School’s Executive Board

    Artist Hodaya Louis discusses her work during her emerging artist residency at the Norton Museum of Art.

    Norton Museum Hosts Emerging Artist Studio Residencies

    DJ Chef Experience is coming to Dan's Red, White & Brews

    DJ Chef Brings Eats & Tunes to Red, White & Brews

    A perfectly shucked oyster from the oyster shucker

    East Hampton Shucker Company CEO John Nicholas Talks Dan’s Red, White & Brews

  • Things to do on the East End

    More local events

    Independence Day Commemoration in Jamesport

    Today, 10 am

    CELEBRATE 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND AT THE HUB: PAWS FOR A CAUSE BENEFITING ARF HAMPTONS

    The HUB
    Today, 10 am

    “The Ark”: An Exhibition curated by Eric Fischl

    The Church
    Today, 11 am

    4th of July at Canoe Place Featuring DJ Renata do Valle

    Canoe Place Inn & Cottages
    Today, 11 am

    INDEPENDENCY: THE AMERICAN FLAG AT 250 YEARS

    Southampton Arts Center
    Today, noon

    The Jackie Mason Musical

    southampton cultural center
    Jul 26, 7 pm
    Dan’s Papers

    The iconic mainstay of Long Island’s East End for over 60 years.

    Read Our Papers

    Digital Editions of Dan’s Papers are available online.
    Get our best stories right into your inbox. Subscribe
    Follow us
    © Dan’s Papers 2025 Schneps Media |
    Designed by Digital Silk
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

    Post an Event