In a recent interview with the New York Times, Mike Piazza said that if he is elected to the Hall of Fame, he would prefer to have a Mets cap on his plaque in Cooperstown.
“The bulk of my career was with the Mets,” Piazza told the Times, “and after going through the trade, then the drama of 9/11. I’ll never forget my Dodger days. But my time with the Mets is what I’ll remember most about my career.”
Piazza played seven full seasons in New York, more than anyplace else. Though his years there were not as dominant as his formative years with the Dodgers, Piazza did markedly raise his profile as a Met.
Per a recent rule change, Major League Baseball no longer allows players to choose their Hall of Fame caps. In Piazza’s case, there could easily be a split decision.
First, of course, he has to make it. Though widely considered the greatest offensive catcher of his generation, Piazza will — fairly or not — fall under suspicion and scrutiny for playing during the height of the steroid era. Still, he should be close to a lock to make the Hall when he is eligible in 2013, or shortly thereafter.
