The Mets acquired Mike Piazza from the Florida Marlins for Preston Wilson and minor leaguers Ed Yarnall and Geoff Goetz on May 22, 1998, 17 years ago this afternoon.
Wow. I can’t believe it’s been that long.
I remember when the news broke. I was on a bus heading to our varsity baseball game against Hastings High School, I believe. The bus driver had WFAN on the radio when I believe it was either Mike Francesa or Chris Russo who made the announcement over the air. I remember how pumped up I was, and the whole bus just went nuts.
Even the Yankee fans.
It was a trade that transformed the Mets and made them relevant and interesting not just in the industry, but throughout professional sports. They had acquired an iconic figure in the game, a true superstar with celebrity status, and he defined the late 1990s as one of the most successful eras in team history, although they fell just short of winning a World Series with him in 2000.
He is, by far, the best hitter the team has ever had. And, he’s still really, really cool, just like he was when they got him 17 years ago, and for the years he played for the club.
He was elected to the Mets Hall of Fame on the final day of the 2013 season. Perhaps soon he will be elected to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, a place there is little debate he belongs in…
Just Mets 