Mike Piazza retired from baseball today, ending a surefire hall-of-fame career.
Piazza leaves baseball with many of the offensive records among catchers.
He has most career homers among catchers, despite having the least plate appearances among the top seven catchers on that list.
He has the highest career slugging percentage among catchers with at least 3000 PA’s
He also has the best career adjusted OPS among catchers (again at least 3000 PA’s)
Mike Piazza wasn’t expected to one day be the greatest offensive catcher ever, or for that matter even make the majors.
He was taken in round number 62 of the 1988 draft. Only 7 teams even bothered to make a pick in the the 62cd round that year (and today the draft stops after only 50 rounds). He was taken as a favor to Tommy Lasorda. Piazza had to learn how to play backstop, or he would not have been signed by the Dodgers.
Mike Piazza went from being a favor to Tommy Lasorda, to the one of the all-time greats at his position.
Thanks for your career, Mike.
