Ranking the Catchers With a commanding presence behind the plate and a rocket arm, Johnny Bench was the best defensive catcher in history. But that wasn’t all. The powerful right-handed slugger won a pair of Most Valuable Player awards and led the Reds to six division titles, four pennants, and two championships. He hit…
Ken Griffey, Jr. is elected to the Hall of Fame by the BBWAA with the highest percentage of votes ever – 99.3%. Joining him in this year’s class is Mike Piazza, who makes it on his fourth attempt. Griffey is the first #1 overall draft pick to make the Hall, while Piazza is the lowest pick (62nd round).
Buster Posey becomes the sixth catcher, joining Johnny Bench (1968), Earl Williams (1971), Benito Santiago (1987), Mike Piazza (1993), and Geovany Soto (2008) to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award. The 23 year-old Giants backstop, who started the season in Triple-A, batted .305 along with 18 home runs and 67 RBIs, playing in 108 games with the eventual World Champions.
On May 20, 2008, Mike Piazza announces his retirement. A 12-time All-Star, Piazza hit .308/.377/.545 in 16 seasons after having been picked in the 62nd round of the amateur draft. He socked 427 home runs, with a record 396 home runs as a catches scored 1,048 runs and drove in 1,335 and set the all-time major…
2005 – The New York Mets establish a club record for most home runs hit in a game with seven. At Citizens Bank Park, the Mets go deep with Jose Reyes (2), Victor Diaz (2) David Wright (grand slam), Mike Piazza and Doug Mientkiewicz connecting as they rout the Phillies, 16 – 4.
On June 18, 2004 At Shea Stadium, Hall of Fame catchers Carlton Fisk, Johnny Bench, Gary Carter, and Yogi Berra take part in a pregame ceremony to honor Mike Piazza for hitting the most home runs as a catcher in baseball history. The Mets’ backstop established the new mark, breaking Carlton Fisk’s record, with his…
Mets backstop Mike Piazza passes Carlton Fisk for most home runs hit by a catcher when he hits his 352nd round-tripper as a catcher. The Norristown, PA native’s 405-foot opposite-field historic homer comes off a Jerome Williams’ 3-1 fastball during the first inning of the Mets’ 8-2 victory at Shea Stadium.
At Dodger Stadium, Mike Piazza ties Carlton Fisk for the most career homers by a catcher as he hits Hideo Nomo’s sixth-inning pitch into the stands for his 351st round-tripper as a backstop. The homer, which was his 362nd overall, moves the Mets’ star past Yankees’ Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio on the all-time list.
The Silver Slugger Award winners are announced. Barry Bonds and Mike Piazza win their 10th awards.
2002 – All-Star outfielder Gary Sheffield is traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for outfielder Brian Jordan, pitcher Odalis Perez and a minor league player. The deal ends Sheffield’s stormy tenure with the Dodgers.