HOF ICT 07/24 - Mike Piazza, Hall of Famer

[Zvon]

Looks sweet.

[Zvon]

[Edgy MD]

Hey, he quoted Pope Benedict.

[Frayed Knot]

With all the talk about him going in as a Met or as a Dodger, I was wondering whether he'd go in as a blond - but apparently not.
Remember that look kids?

Edited July 24, 2016 by Guest

[Edgy MD]

Vince Piazza, bawling like a baby.

[Frayed Knot]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: bmfc1 wrote: I understand the tradition but shouldn't the HoF speeches be made when games are not ongoing? Perhaps 7 to 8 PM? Make it the final event of Baseball Week. Monday MLB Draft Tuesday HR Contest Wednesday All Star Game Thursday Futures Game Friday AAA All Star Game Saturday Sunday HOF Weekend

Which leaves the question of whether they'd be making up for these extra off days by starting the the season earlier, by extending the season and tacking them on to the end, or by shortening the schedule.

[Edgy MD]

The answer to that has already been announced. D. Sunday doubleheaders.

[G-Fafif]

The money passage:

“How can I put into words my thanks, love and appreciation for New York Mets fans? You have given me the greatest gift and have graciously taken me into your family. Looking out today at all the incredible sea of blue and orange brings back the greatest time of my life. You guys are serious. We didn’t get off on the best foot, but we both stayed with it. At first, I was pressing to make you cheer and wasn’t doing the job. You didn’t take it easy on me and I am better because of it. Sometimes a jockey whips a horse. It isn’t always pleasant to watch, but it gets results. The eight years we spent together went by way too fast. The thing I miss most is making you cheer. No fans rock the house like Mets fans. You are passionate, loyal, intelligent, and love this great game. To be only the second Met to enter the Hall of Fame, after Tom Seaver, brings me great pride and joy. And I truly enjoyed Gary Carter’s company. He was a wonderful man, a great player, and I miss him.”

[Lefty Specialist]

You guys are serious.

This got a real gut reaction. You bet we are, Mike.

[Lefty Specialist]

Disappointed that he mentioned the Wilpons but DIDN'T mention Nelson Doubleday, the real driving force behind getting and keeping him in New York in 1998.

[Edgy MD]

That's a lot of good stuff. But I've got to be honest. The horsewhipping stuff doesn't sit particularly well with me.

I was disappointed he didn't mention Nelson Doubleday either, even if I never bought that driving force stuff.

[Frayed Knot]

He was a lot nicer than I would have been.
Hey, and to all you Mets fans who booed me for OPS'ing ONLY 876 my first month after the trade and then 1000 or more* every other month that first year: Fuck Off!!

* 997 in July, 1077 August, 1177 September

Lefty Specialist wrote: ... but DIDN'T mention Nelson Doubleday, the real driving force behind getting and keeping him in New York in 1998.

That's debatable.

[Edgy MD]

[fimg=350:2pmekjiz]http://baseballhall.org/sites/default/files/Griffey.png[/fimg:2pmekjiz] [fimg=350:2pmekjiz]http://baseballhall.org/sites/default/files/Piazza.png[/fimg:2pmekjiz]

I'm disappointed they have one diminutive name Griffey and two nicknames, but Piazza doesn't get "The Burly Bachelor" and "Mopey."

[Edgy MD]

[fimg=350:103yl0ok]http://baseballhall.org/sites/default/files/Seaver%20Tom%20Plaque_NBL.png[/fimg:103yl0ok] [fimg=350:103yl0ok]http://baseballhall.org/sites/default/files/Piazza.png[/fimg:103yl0ok]

Not to be a stinker, but I have a subtle problem here. The insignia on Piazza's hat seems to have the outline that betrays this as the black hat. Black hat with a blue insignia and orange outline. I include Seaver's plaque here for comparison. He's also wearing a solid color (quite possibly black) jersey, as contrasted with Seaver's correct depiction in pinstripes.

Seeing as this is for the ages, surely this is correctable.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Overall a nice ceremony and speech. It don't take much to make me well
up and that home run apple in my throat took awhile to ease up. I too thought
the horsewhipping line could have been left out. Looking forward to Saturday
evening and the Mets being in first or much closer to it after this week!

#SHaMs #LGM #YGB #CRCEMA #1441273142

[Lefty Specialist]

d'Kong76 wrote: #1441273142

Familia's good, but I don't think they're retiring his number yet.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Oopsie!

[G-Fafif]

[youtube:34g87glt]FPX4ptapgis[/youtube:34g87glt]

MLBN produced a short video showing how the Piazza and Griffey plaques were designed, and indeed the photos the plaquesmith was working with were era-specific. Mike wore the black jersey and the hybrid cap far more than he did the pinstripes.

Edited July 25, 2016 by Guest

[Frayed Knot]

Lefty Specialist wrote: d'Kong76 wrote: #1441273142 Familia's good, but I don't think they're retiring his number yet.

Actually, after that bases-loaded escape act during the Cubs series, the club voted to retire it even while it's still being worn.

[Edgy MD]

G-Fafif wrote: Mike wore the black jersey and the hybrid cap far more than he did the pinstripes.

Sure, but he also struck out far more than he homered, but let's frame him at his most triumphant!

Posterity!

[Vic Sage]

i find that plaque text to be disappointing.

Its focus on his "durability" is besides the point (100+ games for 11 seasons? Nice, but so what? i can imagine a lot of good but non-HOF catchers accomplished that or something close over the course of their careers), and mentioning an irrelevant stat like "putouts" (which is another of those "just show up" counting stats) with only 1 brief mention of 2000 WS run, yet leaving out the fact that he helped 2 other franchises to post-season play, as well as his .308 lifetime batting avg and 10 silver sluggers, doesn't really express the scope of his overall accomplishments. oh well. at least he's got a Mets hat on.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Remember this gatefold cover?

[fimg=666:2y7r73i9]http://mlb.mlb.com/assets/images/1/4/0/161218140/cuts/PiazzaGriffey_y0jw6j51_rrpj37o4.jpg[/fimg:2y7r73i9]

[Guest cooby]

Edgy MD wrote: [fimg=350]http://baseballhall.org/sites/default/files/Seaver%20Tom%20Plaque_NBL.png[/fimg] [fimg=350]http://baseballhall.org/sites/default/files/Piazza.png[/fimg] Not to be a stinker, but I have a subtle problem here. The insignia on Piazza's hat seems to have the outline that betrays this as the black hat. Black hat with a blue insignia and orange outline. I include Seaver's plaque here for comparison. He's also wearing a solid color (quite possibly black) jersey, as contrasted with Seaver's correct depiction in pinstripes. Seeing as this is for the ages, surely this is correctable.

Lol edgy you are so full of poop! How the heck can you tell that?

[Edgy MD]

While I may indeed have problems with poopy-filledness, I look at the insignia on the hat having an outline, making it double-wide, compared with Seaver's.

You may also note the prominent inclusion of pinstripes on the representation of Seaver's jersey, which are absent on the Piazza side.

But you don't have to take my word for it. G-FaFiF posted a video which confirms!

[Guest cooby]

[Guest d'Kong76]

I see SNY has a special (three hours) called Piazza's Road to the Hall of Fame.
Three hours seems a bit much and it's something you'd DVR if interested and maybe
sift through in the off-season. (not that there's a season any more)

Anyone see any of it? I don't know if it's aired before or if tonight (6pm) is the first time.

[G-Fafif]

d'Kong76 wrote: I see SNY has a special (three hours) called Piazza's Road to the Hall of Fame. Three hours seems a bit much and it's something you'd DVR if interested and maybe sift through in the off-season. (not that there's a season any more) Anyone see any of it? I don't know if it's aired before or if tonight (6pm) is the first time.

Aired a ton during the height of HOF/31 Fever. Incorporates some previous programming plus generous helpings of the September 21 game. Worthwhile for our FF'ing. Skip the Loudmouths or whoever segments.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Thanks, G... I remember ads for a show but didn't realize it was the same one.
I recorded it last evening for future enjoyment.

[Edgy MD]

Peter Parker, rocking his Mike Piazza Hall of Fame pennant in the trailer for his new film.

[G-Fafif]

New Piazza book out soon, available for preorder now. Author's most recent work was a succinct memory of one of Mike's successors as Mets catcher in the Johnny Monell thread.