Mike Piazza is a former professional baseball catcher from the United States. Mike Piazza is a 12-time Major League Baseball All-Star and Hall of Famer who set the record for career home runs by a catcher with 396. He became well-known during his tenures with the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Quick Facts
Full Name: | Mike Piazza |
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Born Date: | September 4, 1968 |
Age: | 56 years |
Horoscope: | Virgo |
Lucky Number: | 10 |
Lucky Stone: | Sapphire |
Lucky Color: | Green |
Best Match for Marriage: | Taurus, Capricorn |
Gender: | Male |
Profession: | Baseball Player |
Country: | USA |
Height: | 6 feet 3 inches (1.91m) |
Marital Status: | married |
Married Date: | January 9, 2005 |
Wife | Alicia Rickter |
Net Worth | $70M |
Eye Color | Brown |
Hair Color | Brown |
Birth Place | Norristown, Pennsylvania |
Nationality | American |
Education | Miami-Dade Community College |
Father | Vince |
Mother | Veronica |
Siblings | Four (Vince Jr., Dan, Tony, and Tom) |
Kids | Three (Nicoletta, Paulina, and Marco) |
Mike Piazza Biography
Mike Piazza was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, on September 4, 1968. He is 56 years old and is a Virgo. Michael Joseph Piazza is an American citizen.
Vince is his father’s name, and Veronica is his mother’s. Vince Jr., Dan, Tony, and Tom are his four brothers. He also has a godfather, Tommy Lasorda, who is a former Major League Baseball manager. Similarly, Mike grew up a Philadelphia Phillies fan and admired Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt at third base. Additionally, it was his father who encouraged him to play baseball.
Mike Piazza attended Phoenixville Area High School, according to his educational background and qualifications. He graduated from Phoenixville Area High School in 1986. Piazza attended South Florida University and joined the Miami Hurricanes his freshman year; after receiving no playing time that season, he transferred to Miami-Dade Community College.
Mike Piazza Height And Weight
Mike Piazza stands at 6 feet 3 inches tall, but his weight and other body measurements have not been determined. Additionally, Piazza is a brunette with brown eyes and brown hair.
Career
Mike Piazza was selected by the Dodgers in the 62nd round of the 1988 Major League Baseball amateur draft as the 1,390th overall pick at his father’s request. He developed into an exceptional hitter, especially for a catcher. Piazza made his Major League Baseball debut on September 1, 1992, with the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Chicago Cubs. In his first plate appearance, he drew a walk. He also won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 1993 after playing in 149 games.
Additionally, Mike was able to play for the Dodgers for seven seasons before being traded to the Florida Marlins on May 15, 1998. He was only able to appear in five games for the Marlins, however. He was then traded from the Marlins to the New York Mets less than a week later. Piazza also set the record for most home runs in a season without ever hitting more than one in a game during his tenure there. He even led the Mets to an NL pennant and a trip to the World Series in the 2000 Subway Series.
Mike Piazza’s game-winning eighth-inning home run in the first professional baseball game played in New York City in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks has been described as iconic, therapeutic, and symbolic. Additionally, despite his reputation as a great hitter, he had some notable defensive accomplishments. During his time with the Dodgers, he caught two no-hitters thrown by Ramón Martnez and Hideo Nomo. In 2005, he was able to play his final game in a Mets uniform. And on January 29, 2006, he signed a one-year contract with the San Diego Padres following the 2005 season.
More On Career
Mike Piazza was able to play his first game at Shea Stadium following his departure from the Mets in 2006. He received numerous standing ovations from New York fans throughout the three-game series. Similarly, in December 2006, he signed as a free agent with the Oakland Athletics. Mike then announced his retirement on May 20, 2008, after failing to secure a contract with a Major League Baseball team for the 2008 season. He did, however, return to Shea Stadium in September 2008 for the “Shea Goodbye” closing ceremony, where he was able to receive the final pitch in the stadium’s history from Hall of Famer Tom Seaver.
Additionally, on September 29, 2013, Mike Piazza was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame, and his autobiography, Long Shot, was released in February 2013. He is regarded as one of the greatest catchers of all time.
Additionally, Mike Piazza made an appearance in the film “Two Weeks Notice.” He has also appeared in a number of television shows and commercials.
Mike Piazza’s Net Worth
In terms of net worth, Mike Piazza has a net worth of $70 million as of February 2024, according to celebrity net worth, and his primary source of income is his baseball career.
Mike Piazza Wife, Marriage
Mike Piazza married Playboy Playmate Alicia Rickter on January 9, 2005, at St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Miami, Florida. Nicoletta, Paulina, and Marco are the couple’s three children. His wife is a well-known American model and actress.