Remembering Mets History (2006) Mike Piazza Returns To Shea Stadium As a Visiting Player

August 2006: In an emotional series at Shea Stadium, the San Diego Padres came to town making it the the first time Mike Piazza returned to Shea Stadium as a visiting player after being let go to free agency. 

After all his fine years & the thrills he gave to the fans in New York, Piazza returned to town in a visiting Padres uniform. 

In 2005, Mike Piazza was 36 years old with his best years behind him. The Mets organization was turning a new direction, which led to Piazza being let go to free agency after the season. He signed a one-year deal with the San Diego Padres, where he joined his 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. 

Quotes- David Wright: "He was the face of the franchise for such a long time. He wore the uniform with dignity, with class, with a lot of professionalism."

The fans began cheering Piazza as soon as he got into the dugout. In a moment of fun, Piazza grabbed his teammate Mike Cameron who had also played for the Mets the two previous years & pushed him toward the fans.

Tuesday August 8th: 46,167 fans came out to see Mike Piazza's triumphant return to Shea Stadium. Before the game a video tribute to Piazza's Mets years was shown on the scoreboard. Piazza watched from the side line as he warmed up pitcher Woody Williams.

In tonight's 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  the inning getting greeted by the Mets fans with a standing ovation. He tipped his hat back & mouthed "thank you" to the crowd in appreciation. 

Quotes- Mike Piazza: "You don't spend eight years in a place & not become a little sentimental, especially with the reaction of the fans. It's so tough to go out there & play under those circumstances because of that wave of emotions".

Quotes- Manager Willie Randolph: "I was hoping it would be a great ovation & I think it was. Fans really showed their love for Mike & rightfully so, staring from the time he went out to the bullpen."

Piazza would strike out against his former battery mate Steve Trachsel. Then with two outs, the Padres 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 top of the 3rd inning, Piazza grounded out to Jose Reyes in his second at bat. 

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. 

Multi- Three Hit Game: Wright collected his third hit driving in Beltran with his second RBI of the game giving the Mets the 3-2 lead. It was also David's sixth multi-hit game over his last 19 games where he had ten RBIs. That season Wright had 17 games with three or more hits.

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 Billy Wagner who collected his 25th save of the season in the 3-2 win.

Wednesday August 9th 2006: As the Mets (68-44) were riding high in the NL East, with a 13.5 game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies they hosted Bruce Bochy's Padres (58-55) in the second game of the three game series.

A big crowd of 49,979 fans came out to Shea Stadium for another look at Mike Piazza. Tonight's starters were Pedro Martinez (8-4) for the Mets & San Diego's Clay Hensley (7-8).

Franco's 48th B-Day: Before the game, the Mets owner Jeff Wilpon & GM Omar Minaya presented veteran Mets player Julio Franco with a birthday cake for his 48th birthday. At the time, Franco was the oldest active player in the major leagues.

Trivia: In 2006 the Mets & Padres would both win their respective divisions & both lose to the eventual World Champion St. Louis Cardinals in the post season.

In the home 1st, Jose Reyes led off with a double, Paul Loduca then hit a liner that fell for a single 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 for a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the 3rd, with two outs, David Wright doubled. Wright would collect two more doubles the next game giving him four doubles over his last four games.

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. 

HR Trivia: The HRs were Piazza's 17th & 18th of the season. In his career he had now hit six HRs against Pedro Martinez. 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.