Career Timeline of Mike Piazza: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Mike Piazza built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Mike Piazza is a retired American professional baseball catcher who played 16 seasons in MLB (1992-2007). He is a Hall of Famer known primarily for his time with the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers, though he also played for the Marlins, Padres, and Athletics. Piazza was a 12-time All-Star and 10-time Silver Slugger Award winner. Offensively, he was exceptional for a catcher, hitting 427 career home runs, with a record 396 as a catcher. He also recorded a .308 batting average and 1,335 RBIs. He was slated to manage Italy's national baseball team in 2020 and 2021 but was unable to due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1988: Piazza played at Miami-Dade

In 1988, Mike Piazza played first base at Miami-Dade, hitting .364 with three home runs and driving in 23 runs in 29 games.

1988: Drafted by the Dodgers

In 1988, Mike Piazza was drafted by the Dodgers as a favor from Tommy Lasorda to Piazza's father.

September 1, 1992: MLB debut with the Dodgers

On September 1, 1992, Mike Piazza made his MLB debut with the Dodgers against the Chicago Cubs. He drew a walk in his first plate appearance and then doubled to deep center field in his first official at-bat.

September 12, 1992: First home run

On September 12, 1992, Mike Piazza hit his first home run against Steve Reed of the San Francisco Giants.

1992: Debut in MLB

In 1992, Mike Piazza started his 16 season career in Major League Baseball.

1993: Named NL Rookie of the Year

In 1993, Mike Piazza won the NL Rookie of the Year Award after hitting .318, slugging 35 home runs, and driving in 112 RBI. He was also selected to the 1993 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

1996: Finished second in NL MVP voting

In 1996, Mike Piazza hit .336 with 36 home runs and 105 RBI, finishing second in NL MVP voting, behind Ken Caminiti.

1997: Best season with Dodgers

In 1997, Mike Piazza had his best season with the Dodgers, hitting .362, with 40 home runs, 124 RBI, an on-base percentage of .431, and a slugging percentage of .638. He also became the first catcher in MLB history to get 200 hits in a season.

1997: Piazza's best year as a Dodger

In 1997, Mike Piazza had his best year as a Dodger, batting .362, hitting 40 home runs, and had 124 RBI, leading to a runner-up finish in voting for the NL Most Valuable Player Award.

May 15, 1998: Traded to the Marlins

On May 15, 1998, Mike Piazza and Todd Zeile were traded by the Dodgers to the Marlins in return for Gary Sheffield, Charles Johnson, Bobby Bonilla, Manuel Barrios, and Jim Eisenreich. Piazza appeared in five games with the Marlins hitting .278.

1998: Traded to Marlins and then Mets

In 1998, Mike Piazza was traded to the Marlins and then a week later to the Mets, where he spent most of the remainder of his career.

1998: Traded to the Mets

In 1998, the Marlins traded Mike Piazza to the New York Mets. Piazza finished the season batting .328 with 32 home runs and 111 RBI, becoming the first player in MLB history to hit more than 30 home runs in a season while playing for three different franchises.

1999: Tied career highs

In 1999, Mike Piazza tied his career highs of 40 home runs and 124 RBI.

2000: World Series Appearance

In 2000, Mike Piazza helped the Mets reach the World Series, the only World Series appearance of his career.

2000: Led Mets to NL Pennant

In 2000, Mike Piazza led the Mets to an NL pennant and a World Series appearance in the 2000 Subway Series.

2000: Set home run record

In 2000, Mike Piazza set the record for most home runs in a season without ever hitting more than one in a game, passing a mark previously set by Rogers Hornsby in 1929.

2000: Highest fielding percentage

In 2000, Mike Piazza's .997 fielding percentage was the highest among NL catchers.

September 21, 2001: Iconic home run after 9/11

On September 21, 2001, Mike Piazza hit a game-winning home run in the first professional baseball game played in New York following the 9/11 attacks.

May 5, 2004: Most home runs by a catcher

On May 5, 2004, Mike Piazza surpassed Carlton Fisk for most home runs by a catcher with his 352nd.

2004: Played first base

During the 2004 season, Mike Piazza began to split his time between catching and playing first base to ease the stress on his knees.

2004: Caught for Clemens in All-Star Game

In the 2004 All-Star Game, Mike Piazza caught for Roger Clemens when both were on the NL team.

2005: Piazza leaves the Mets

After the 2005 season, Piazza left the Mets to play one season each for the Padres and Athletics.

January 29, 2006: Signed with Padres

On January 29, 2006, Mike Piazza signed a one-year contract with the San Diego Padres for $2 million.

July 21, 2006: 2,000th career hit

On July 21, 2006, Mike Piazza collected his 2,000th career hit.

August 8, 2006: First game back at Shea Stadium

On August 8, 2006, Mike Piazza played his first game at Shea Stadium since leaving the Mets.

December 8, 2006: Signed with Oakland Athletics

On December 8, 2006, Mike Piazza signed as a free agent with the Oakland Athletics for $8.5 million.

2006: Piazza represents Italy in World Baseball Classic

In 2006, Mike Piazza represented Italy in the World Baseball Classic.

May 20, 2008: Piazza announces retirement

On May 20, 2008, Mike Piazza announced his retirement from MLB after not being signed to a team for the 2008 season, stating it was time to start a new chapter in his life.

September 28, 2008: Piazza returns to Shea Stadium for closing ceremony

On September 28, 2008, Mike Piazza returned to Shea Stadium during the "Shea Goodbye" closing ceremony. He received the final pitch in the stadium's history from Tom Seaver and together they closed the park.

April 13, 2009: Piazza receives first pitch at Citi Field

On April 13, 2009, Mike Piazza received the very first pitch at the new Citi Field from Tom Seaver before the Mets' opening game against the Padres.

2009: Piazza is Italian National Baseball team hitting coach

In 2009, Mike Piazza was the Italian National Baseball team's hitting coach at the World Baseball Classic.

May 8, 2010: Piazza expresses desire to be inducted as a Met

On May 8, 2010, while receiving an award, Mike Piazza stated that if he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, he would like to be inducted as a Met.

2010: Piazza coaches for Italian Baseball Academy

In 2010, Mike Piazza was an instructor for the Italian Baseball Academy when it won the European Baseball Championship.

2011: Piazza manages USA team in Futures Game

In 2011, Mike Piazza managed the USA team in the Futures Game, wearing a Mets cap.

2012: Piazza coaches for Italian Baseball Academy

In 2012, Mike Piazza was an instructor for the Italian Baseball Academy when it won the European Baseball Championship.

2013: Piazza coaches for Italy in World Baseball Classic

In 2013, Mike Piazza was the Italian National Baseball team's hitting coach at the World Baseball Classic.

July 30, 2016: Mets retire Piazza's number

On July 30, 2016, the New York Mets retired Mike Piazza's uniform number, 31, in a ceremony prior to a game against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field.

November 13, 2019: Piazza to manage Italian National Baseball team

On November 13, 2019, Mike Piazza announced he would manage the Italian National Baseball team in the 2020 European Baseball Championship and the 2021 World Baseball Classic.

2020: Piazza unable to manage Italian team due to pandemic

In 2020, Mike Piazza was unable to manage the Italian National Baseball team due to the coronavirus pandemic and the cancellation of the 2020 European Baseball Club competitions.

2021: Piazza unable to manage Italian team due to pandemic

In 2021, Mike Piazza was unable to manage the Italian National Baseball team due to the coronavirus pandemic and the cancellation of the 2020 European Baseball Club competitions.