Mike Piazza American baseball player Date of Birth: 04.09.1968 Country: USA

Biography of Mike Piazza

Early Life
Mike Piazza was born on September 4, 1968, in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA. His father was a childhood friend of the manager of the Dodgers baseball team, Tommy Lasorda. When the Dodgers moved to Philadelphia, Piazza's father spoke to Lasorda and allowed young Mike to watch the games from the dugout. Piazza began playing baseball himself, gradually focusing on the catcher position.

Career
In 1988, Mike Piazza was selected by the Dodgers as the last pick in the draft. Given that Lasorda was already the godfather to Piazza's brother, it is not surprising that Piazza ended up in this team. Piazza spent four long years playing in the minor leagues until the club's management decided that he was ready for Major League Baseball (MLB) games in 1992. He played 21 games as a catcher and hitter.

The following season, Piazza received his first title as the "Rookie of the Year" in MLB. He played for the Dodgers for six seasons, finishing second in the "MVP" category in 1997. In 1998, Piazza transferred to the New York Mets. Although he performed brilliantly that year, the Mets did not make it to the playoffs. Piazza played for the Mets until 2005, and with his participation, the Mets reached the National League final in 1999 for the first time in 11 years, where they lost to the Atlanta Braves.

In 2005, the club refused to sign a new contract, and Piazza became a free agent, joining the San Diego Padres. On July 21, 2006, while playing for this team, Piazza recorded his 2,000th MLB hit. After the season, Piazza left the Padres and joined the Oakland Athletics. On July 25, 2007, during an away game against the Los Angeles Angels, a local fan threw a water bottle at Piazza in the ninth inning. The hooligan was arrested, and thanks to Piazza's lawsuit, he received 30 days of imprisonment and three years of probation.

Retirement
In 2008, none of the MLB clubs expressed interest in signing a contract with Piazza. On May 20, 2008, Mike Piazza announced the end of his sports career. "We sat down together - me, my wife, and my agent - and discussed all possible options, and I decided it was time to start a new chapter in my life. I thank all my fans, and wherever I played - in Los Angeles, San Diego, Miami, or Oakland - I always felt your support. And now I want to embark on a new journey in life, without baseball. I'm sure it will be a very exciting trip," said Piazza as a farewell.

Currently, Piazza owns a network of "Honda" car dealerships in Philadelphia.