The Mets don’t look like they are going to retire Mike Piazza’s number any time soon.
Piazza and the Mets parted ways after the 2005 season, and the superstar has been out of baseball since 2007. It seems like enough time has passed that it is logical to wonder if and when the Mets intend to retire Piazza’s No. 31.
The Mets addressed their plans to honor Piazza in a statement released to The Post on Thursday:
“There are a number of great players from our team’s past that we will honor at Citi Field. That process is under way as we have begun installation of photographic imagery of famous Mets — including Mike — and historic moments in team history on the Field and Promenade Levels,” the statement read. “Mike is one of the greatest Mets ever, and we certainly will recognize his significant impact on our franchise and his meaningful connection to our fans in a special way at Citi Field.”
Yesterday the team announced that an image of Piazza would be posted in left field during this homestand. It will be joined by an image of Casey Stengel.
Though photographic imagery is nice, the Mets’ statements say nothing specifically about Piazza’s number being retired.
Piazza hit .296 with 220 homers and 655 RBIs during his eight years with the Amazin’s (1998-2005), and also led the Mets to the World Series in 2000, which the Yankees won in five games. Piazza is widely considered the greatest hitter in franchise history, and there’s a good chance the likely Hall of Famer would be inducted as a Met.
It’s possible Piazza’s number will be retired after he’s elected to Cooperstown, but the Mets waited just two years after Tom Seaver’s retirement in 1986 to retire his jersey.
The Mets honored Piazza by pairing him with Seaver for ceremonial pitches during the final-day ceremony at Shea Stadium and the opening of Citi Field.
The Mets have retired three numbers in their history — Gil Hodges’ 14, Stengel’s 37 and Seaver’s 41.