Remembering Mets History (2006) Mike Piazza Returns To Shea Stadium As a Visiting Player
After all his fine years & thrills in New York, Piazza returned as a player in a visiting Padres uniform.
Mike Piazza would eventually go into the Baseball Hall of Fame wearing a Mets cap on his plaque. Along with Tom Seaver, he is the most popular & successful Mets player of all time.
In 20065, with Piazza aging & the Mets organization turning in a new direction, Piazza was let go to free agency after the 2005 season. He signed a one-year deal with the San Diego Padres, where he joined former Mets teammate Mike Cameron.There was much fanfare & emotion around Shea Stadium the night before Piazza's big return to New York as he was about to play his first game as a visiting player.
Tuesday August 8th: 46,167 fans came out to see Mike Piazza's triumphant return to Shea Stadium. In this game Willie Randolph's first place Mets (66-43) sent Steve Trachsel to the mound to face Bruce Bochy's Western division's first place San Diego Padres (67-44) & pitcher Woody Williams.
In the top of the 2nd, Mike Piazza led off & was greeted with a standing ovation by the Mets fans. He would strike out against his former battery mate Steve Trachsel. With two outs, Todd Walker singled to center field. Geoff Blumm then hit a two run HR giving the friars a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the 2nd, David Wright led off with a single & stole his 12th base of the season. After Endy Chavez reached on a Woody Williams error, Lastings Milledge grounded out into a double play but David Wright scored the Mets first run.
In the bottom of the 3rd, with one out Paul LoDuca singled to left field. After Carlos Delgado was intentionally walked, David Wright collected his second hit of the game with a one out RBI base hit to center scoring LoDuca tying up the game.
In the bottom of the 5th, Carlos Beltran hit a one out double. Carlos Delgado then drew his second walk of the game putting two on for David Wright.
Wright collected his third hit driving in Beltran with his second RBI of the game giving the Mets the 3-2 lead.
In the top of the 6th inning, with two outs, Mike Piazza collected a single off Trachsel, his first hit of the night to the delight of the fans, who gave him another huge ovation.
Steve Trachsel earned his 11th win (11-5) as four Mets relievers led to Billw Wagner who collected his 25th save of the season in the 3-2 win.
Willie Randolph's Mets (68-44) would host Bruce Bochy's Padres (58-55) in the second game of this series in front of 49,979 fans at Shea Stadium. Tonight's starters were Pedro Martinez (8-4) for the Mets & San Diego's Clay Hensley (7-8).
Before the game, the Mets owner Jeff Wilpon & GM Omar Minaya presented veteran Mets player Julio Franco with a birthday cake on his 48th birthday. Franco was the oldest active player in MLB.
In 2006 the Mets & Padres would win their respective divisions & both lose to the eventual World Champion St. Louis Cardinals in the post season.
In 2006 the Mets & Padres would win their respective divisions & both lose to the eventual World Champion St. Louis Cardinals in the post season.
to right field. After Carlos Beltran struck out, Carlos Delgado singled home Jose Reyes for the Mets first run.
In the bottom of the 2nd, Lastings Millidge drew a one out walk. Pedro Martinez bunted Milledge over to second. Jose Reyes then singled, scoring Milledge with the second Met run 2-0.
In the bottom of the 3rd, with two outs, David Wright doubled. Jose Valentine then drove an RBI single to center scoring Wright. The veteran Jose Valentin surprised everyone & stole second base for his fifth steal of the year.
Endy Chavez singled to center bringing home Valentine with the Mets fourth run, making it 4-0.Endy would collect three hits on the night.
On the mound, Pedro Martinez, rolled along with a shut out until the top of the 4th inning.
With one out, Mike Piazza came up with two outs & blasted a HR over the right field wall. The Shea fans, respectfully & happily cheered Piazza with a standing ovation as he rounded the bases & crossed the plate. It was one of the few times a visiting player was cheered after hitting a HR at Shea Stadium.
The fans did not settle down until Piazza came out for a curtain call.In his next at bat in the top of the 6th inning, Mike Piazza launched his second HR of the night. A second HR off Pedro deep into the left field bleachers. Once again, he got the standing ovation but there were a few boos mixed in.
The HRs were his 17th & 18th on the year. They were also the fifth & sixth HRs Piazza had hit off Pedro Martinez in his career. The Mets went on to a 4-3 win.
Piazza would play one season in San Diego batting .283 with 22 HRs 19 doubles & 68 RBIs playing in 126 games. He would play his last season in Oakland in 2007.
