Mike Piazza

Michael Joseph Piazza (born September 4, 1968 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA) is a U.S. Major League Baseball player. He is generally recognized as the top-hitting catcher of all time. He is a ten time All-Star. On May 5, 2004, Piazza surpassed Carlton Fisk for most home runs by a catcher with the 352nd of his career.

High School

Vince Piazza sold and bought land and cars until Mike was 13. He then bought a computer company and became very wealthy as a result of the investment. The Piazza family moved a few miles away, to a huge house on a large piece of land, with a golf couse to one side. A ground level basement held a brand new batting cage for Mike. Using this brand new pitching machine, Mike could practice hitting not only fastballs, but curveballs and even knuckleballs.

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Mike became interested in Heavy Metal music, and played electric guitar and drums from time to time. The high school Mike went to, had a baseball team called the Phantoms. Their coach, John "Doc" Kennedy knew he would try out for the team, remembering from him from little league. He asked Mike if he would consider playing catcher, as the team needed one. Mike HATED playing catcher, and he told the coach that he would prefer playing first base for the time being. The coach agreed, not wanting to force a player to play a position he didn't want to play. Unfortunately for Mike, the varsity team already had a first baseman, so he ended up spending his tenth grade year playing for the junior varsity team.

Related Topics:
Heavy Metal - Electric guitar - Drums - Little league

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The varsity and junior varsity team travelled on the same bus together on road games. On one particular trip, A few seniors waved Mike back to where they were sitting. They were all chewing tobacco, and Mike wanted to do what they were doing, so he tried some, by putting it behind his lower lip. When done, the seniors were spitting the juice into small white cups. At first, Mike didn't mind the taste of the tobacco, but it did in fact get bitter. He tried to spit it out, but couldn't; it was spread all over his mouth. Mike tried swallowing it, and his throat ended up feeling like it was on fire, his face was hot, and he started shaking and gasping for air. Mike ended up getting sick enough that he couldn't play in the game later. He never tried tobacco again.

Related Topics:
Junior varsity - Tobacco - Juice

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When Mike was a junior he made the varsity team, he finished that year with twelve home runs, breaking a record, and led the whole team in every hitting catagory. He was voted most valuble player.

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As a senior, Mike batted almost .600 for the phantoms, but the season ended with a loss in the district semifinals.

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In a 14-year career, Piazza has batted .311 with 397 home runs, 1,223 RBI, and 308 doubles in 1,702 games.

Related Topics:
Home runs - RBI - Doubles

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