It was Friday, May 22, 1998. A few days prior, I remember there being a buzz that Mike Piazza, recently traded in a mega deal from the Dodgers to the Florida Marlins, would be on the move again. Rumor had it that he might be traded to the Mets but a lot of writers were indicating that the Chicago Cubs had the best shot at landing him.

The Internet was going strong then. I recalled checking ESPN.com often that day on a hunch that the Mets would actually be the team to pull off the deal. Earlier in the week, Steve Phillips, then the general manager of the Mets, said he was not interested in acquiring the slugger because the Mets were committed to Todd Hundley. The Mets catcher, Hundley, was rehabbing a surgically repaired elbow at the time. A huge number of Mets fans, through various Internet forums, were pleading with the Mets to get Piazza.

The prevailing theory is that co-owner Fred Wilpon, loyal to Hundley, was not in favor of trading for Piazza. It was Nelson Doubleday who went to Philips and instructed him to land the slugger by all means if possible. Regardless of who should get the credit, the Mets were the team that ultimately pulled off the deal. I was on cloud nine. Bobby Valentine was a great motivator who during the previous season managed the Mets to an eighty-eight win campaign. So the Mets were good already but adding Piazza’s bat transformed the team. Now with the good pitching and defense, and Piazza’s bat, the Mets were a true threat in the National League. 

I saw the ESPN wire story that the Mets had made the trade while I was at work. I was so excited that I ran to my car in the parking lot to turn on WFAN. Sure enough the trade was the talk of the airways. Even the Yankee-centric Mike Francesa was waxing poetic to what it now meant for the Mets to have a player of this caliber.

All afternoon, and through the evening, especially during the Mets match up against the Brewers, the talk was nothing but Piazza who was scheduled to be in uniform the next day. The feeling was electric. One had to pinch oneself to realize that the Mets actually had a bona fide superstar on the team.

The next day, Saturday, May 23, Mike made his debut as a Met wearing his familiar number thirty-one. He batted third and of course was behind the plate where he would remain for the next eight years. In true story book fashion, with Matt Franco on first in the fifth inning, Piazza in his third at bat of the afternoon doubled into the right field gap. Franco scored all the way from first as Piazza went to third on the throw home. It was Mike’s first Mets hit, a game winner, and the first of so many more to come.

That of course was eight seasons ago, believe it or not. To me, it seems like yesterday. Now I often find myself, late at night, tuning in to Padres game on MLB.TV just to see how the old kid is doing. There are so many memorable hits, home runs, and plays involving Mike, it would take several articles to give them justice. If you watch the games this week between the Padres and Mets on SNY, I’m sure you will be seeing lots of clips to bring back those memories.

Mike Piazza is the greatest offensive player the Mets have ever had. Perhaps only Tom Seaver could be listed ahead of him as the all time greatest Mets player. Although Piazza was a Dodger’s product, he played more games with the Mets than with Los Angeles. He had more hits and home runs with the Mets too. He helped the Mets to two wild cards in 1999 and 2000 and of course led the charge to the 2000 World Series in which the Mets eventually lost. A world title was never achieved by the Mets with Piazza but that should never diminish what this first ballot Hall of Fame player has meant to the team from Flushing. Hopefully, when Mike enters the Hall, he will do so wearing a Mets cap.

Tonight, Mike Piazza returns to Shea Stadium for the first time since he was here last on October 2, 2005, a game I am proud to say I was in attendance for. The difference of course is that he no longer wears blue, black, and orange. This time he comes to bat wearing the uniform of the San Diego Padres. When he steps up to the plate, I hope the Shea faithful let out a roar that I’ll be able to hear in Jersey. He may be one of the enemy now, but he’ll always be part of the family.

Welcome home Mike.

Extra Innings: So Paul Lo Duca bets on horses and is getting divorced from a beautiful woman who once posed in Playboy. I guess that’s a story. Who cares, there are a lot of people who bet on horses. The last I heard, it was legal to do so. Divorce is legal too. Why in this country are the gorgeous girls innocent and the rich athletes guilty. Are we all so jealous that we need to tear the athlete down to make us feel better? It takes two to tango as they say. Paul has admitted he wasn’t a great husband. And as for her, do you honestly think there are not women out there who are attracted to men based on the power and money? Divorce among the famous is quite common. Please, leave Lo Duca alone and let’s move on.