The Mets announced today hat they will induct Mike Piazza into the team's Hall of Fame in a ceremony on September 29. The team did not mention anything about retiring his number, but it noted he will be the 27th member of its own Hall of Fame.
Piazza joined the Mets during the 1998 season and remained on the team for seven seasons after that. He was outstanding, particularly in the first few years with New York. He put up a 167 OPS+ with the Mets in 1998 and had four excellent full seasons between 2000 and 2003. Even as he trailed off a bit in 2004 and 2005, Piazza was still a pretty good hitter.
Although he didn't earn a spot in baseball's Hall of Fame last summer, there is no doubt that Piazza is one of the greatest catchers of all time. If the Hall continues to keep him out amid its voters' hesitation to admit any hitter from the 1990s and early 2000s, it only make the Hall less important of a baseball institution. For now, at least the Mets will get around to honoring one of their truly great players.