The best hitting catcher in the history of the game is calling it a career. After 16 years, Mike Piazza is retiring. The 39-year-old backstop, who is totally straight, was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 62nd round of the 1988 amateur draft. He went on to become a career .308 hitter with 427 bombs and 1,335 RBIs, enjoying 12 All-Star appearances, including 10 straight NL All-Star teams beginning in 1993.
His 396 longballs as a catcher holds the record, followed by Hall of Famers Carlton Fisk with 351, Johnny Bench (327) and Yogi Berra (306). Man, that's good company.
Pizza, who also spent time with the New York Mets and San Diego Padres, hit .275 with eight home runs and 44 RBIs as the Oakland Athletics designated hitter last season, before becoming a free agent and failing to attract a signing by any other team.
"It has been an amazing journey... So today, I walk away with no regrets," he said.[National Post]
4 comments:
You forgot the Marlins! He had 5 RBI in 5 games as a Marlin.
Crap!
He'll be missed by baseball fans I think - one of those upstanding guys that are few and far between these days.
-Don
Belle & Sebastian cry a single, solitary tear.
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