The results were announced 2 p.m. today, and on his third year on the ballot, Mike Piazza was denied entry into the Hall of Fame.
In 2014 with 62.2 percent of the vote, Mike Piazza needed at least 75 percent of the vote in order to get in. Piazza’s percentage went up a few points. In 2013 Piazza received 57.8 percent of the vote, and in 2014 he had 62.2 percent of the vote, and this year Piazza was at 69.9 percent.
Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz and Craig Biggio were all voted in the 2014 Hall of Fame.
About 32 percent of the public ballots collected by Baseball Think Factory and Piazza appeared on 76.1 percent of those ballots. Going off of those public ballots, it was assumed by many that Piazza would just miss the cut and as it turned out, he did.
Piazza hit .308/.377/.545 with 427 home runs and 1,335 RBI’s during his 16-year career. Piazza hit 396 homeruns as a catcher, which is the most ever for anyone at that position.
Piazza played for five teams, his best years coming with the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets. With the Dodgers, Piazza hit .331 with 170 HR’s, 563 RBI’s, and multiple top finishes for NL MVP and a ROY award.
But the cap that Piazza will wear if he gets into the hall, will be one of the New York Mets. In eight seasons with the New York Mets Piazza hit .296 with 220 HR’s & 665 RBI’s. These were offensive numbers that are unheard of for the catcher position. Piazza also helped lead the Mets to the 2000 World “Subway” Series against the cross-town rival New York Yankees, which the Mets eventually lost.
However, Piazza’s legacy has been tainted by rumors and allegations that Piazza had gained an edge from the use of PED’s – allegations that he was never found guilty of or thoroughly investigated for. Piazza’s defensive ability as a catcher has been heavily criticized as well.
Piazza received about 384 votes out of 549 possible votes – the most for any player who wasn’t inducted this year and only 28 votes short of election. There is no question in the hearts and minds of many that next year, 2016, will be the year for Piazza as he will be one of the leading candidates. And for all of us Mets fans, that is three years too long.
Congratulations to Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz and Craig Biggio on being voted into the 2014 Hall of Fame.
