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LOS ANGELES -- Unwanted out of high school and drafted as a favor to a longtime family friend, New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza now has become the top power hitter at his position.
Piazza broke Carlton Fisk's major league record for home runs as a catcher Wednesday night, hitting No. 352 in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants.
Piazza drove a 3-1 pitch from Jerome Williams off the bottom of the scoreboard in right-center to give the Mets a 1-0 lead. The 10-time All-Star got a warm greeting in the dugout from his teammates and bounced out for a curtain call.
Fisk's record had stood since his retirement at the end of the 1993 season. At that point, Piazza was just five years removed from the 1988 baseball draft, in which he was selected with the 1,390th pick.
"Nothing's ever come easy in my career, and this is no different. So it makes you appreciate a little bit more," Piazza said last week after he tied Fisk at 351. "It's special to me, just because of the fact that I've come so far and I've worked so hard to stay healthy and productive behind the plate."
Piazza was drafted by the Dodgers, who picked him as a favor to then-manager Tommy Lasorda, who was close friends with Piazza's father and godfather to the catcher's brother.
Now, 16 years later, Piazza's prowess at the plate has the 10-time All-Star on the verge of securing a place in the Hall of Fame.
"It's not really for me to say. I mean, I think my record speaks for itself," Piazza said. "I've never really been a great self-promoter because it's a little bit of a turnoff for me. But I believe I've consistently come to the ballpark every day, played hard and put up some good numbers."
Piazza now has 363 career homers (adding his 12 at other positions), and currently ranks 58th on the all-time list, just ahead of Joe DiMaggio. He now needs six more to catch current Mets broadcaster Ralph Kiner.
Piazza was the second of five consecutive Dodgers between 1992 and 1996 to be named NL rookie of the year, hitting 35 home runs, driving in 112 runs and batting .318 in his first season.
"Obviously, coming up with Tommy as your manager is a great experience," Piazza said. "But the important thing is just to let the game be the fuel. That's the way I looked at it. I just enjoyed getting better.
"Once you start achieving goals, you just want to keep getting better. That's what still drives me today," Piazza added. "I just love competition, the battle between pitcher and hitter. I still get a rush out of that."
Piazza has started five games this season at first base. Now that he's passed Fisk, there may be fewer starts behind the plate to save his legs from the constant pounding they've taken over the years.
"I don't really know. It's all about what the team needs and what's a good mix," said Piazza. "I just wanted to do what's best for the ballclub.
"Playing at first just gives me more versatility in the next few years of my career, and I think it's going to help me stay healthier and hopefully more consistent. I'm glad I'm doing it now. I think it's a great thing to add to my game."
Piazza broke Carlton Fisk's major league record for home runs as a catcher Wednesday night, hitting No. 352 in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants.
Piazza drove a 3-1 pitch from Jerome Williams off the bottom of the scoreboard in right-center to give the Mets a 1-0 lead. The 10-time All-Star got a warm greeting in the dugout from his teammates and bounced out for a curtain call.
Fisk's record had stood since his retirement at the end of the 1993 season. At that point, Piazza was just five years removed from the 1988 baseball draft, in which he was selected with the 1,390th pick.
"Nothing's ever come easy in my career, and this is no different. So it makes you appreciate a little bit more," Piazza said last week after he tied Fisk at 351. "It's special to me, just because of the fact that I've come so far and I've worked so hard to stay healthy and productive behind the plate."
Piazza was drafted by the Dodgers, who picked him as a favor to then-manager Tommy Lasorda, who was close friends with Piazza's father and godfather to the catcher's brother.
Now, 16 years later, Piazza's prowess at the plate has the 10-time All-Star on the verge of securing a place in the Hall of Fame.
"It's not really for me to say. I mean, I think my record speaks for itself," Piazza said. "I've never really been a great self-promoter because it's a little bit of a turnoff for me. But I believe I've consistently come to the ballpark every day, played hard and put up some good numbers."
Piazza now has 363 career homers (adding his 12 at other positions), and currently ranks 58th on the all-time list, just ahead of Joe DiMaggio. He now needs six more to catch current Mets broadcaster Ralph Kiner.
Piazza was the second of five consecutive Dodgers between 1992 and 1996 to be named NL rookie of the year, hitting 35 home runs, driving in 112 runs and batting .318 in his first season.
"Obviously, coming up with Tommy as your manager is a great experience," Piazza said. "But the important thing is just to let the game be the fuel. That's the way I looked at it. I just enjoyed getting better.
"Once you start achieving goals, you just want to keep getting better. That's what still drives me today," Piazza added. "I just love competition, the battle between pitcher and hitter. I still get a rush out of that."
Piazza has started five games this season at first base. Now that he's passed Fisk, there may be fewer starts behind the plate to save his legs from the constant pounding they've taken over the years.
"I don't really know. It's all about what the team needs and what's a good mix," said Piazza. "I just wanted to do what's best for the ballclub.
"Playing at first just gives me more versatility in the next few years of my career, and I think it's going to help me stay healthier and hopefully more consistent. I'm glad I'm doing it now. I think it's a great thing to add to my game."