This has been a very good month for Mets fans. Mike Piazza was finally elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on January 6th, Yoenis Cespdedes agreed to a three year contract with the Mets on Saturday, and today it was announced that Mike Piazza will have his number retired by the NY Mets on July 30th.

Being able to see number 31 hanging in left field with the other Mets retirees is a well deserved honor for Piazza, and here is what he had to say:

“It is such a tremendous honor to have my number retired alongside the great Tom Seaver. My time as a Met was truly special and I want to thank Fred, Jeff and the entire organization for this incredible gesture.”

Mike Piazza is one of my three favorite Mets of all-time, Gil Hodges and David Wright being the other two. Other than the 9/11 home run, my most treasured memory of Piazza was at a game in Philadelphia.

I was at Citizens Bank Park with a few buddies of mine and we decided to grab some food at the concessions located behind the outfield. While I was enjoying a cheesesteak, Piazza came up to bat and he hit a MONSTER home run that landed a couple of hundred feet away to my left. I stood there with my mouth wide open as the scramble was on to grab the ball. I glanced out to the field to catch Piazza rounding second, and then glanced back to my left and couldn’t believe how far that ball went. Phillies fans next to me were in awe of his power, and they were the ones scrambling to own that ball! It was a surreal sight for sure.

Mike Piazza will always live in Mets history as one of the best to ever wear the orange and blue, and I feel so fortunate to have been able to watch him play so many times at Shea Stadium. Even when he returned with the Padres, I was cheering so loud for him along with my fellow brethren to let him know that we would always love him.

I will be in Cooperstown come July to see Mike Piazza’s induction to the hall, as well as his number retirement ceremony in Queens. I hope many of you will be fortunate enough to join me and the thousands of Mets fans planning to say thank you one more time to Number 31.

Mike Piazza Weekend: July 29-31, 2016

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Friday, July 29

Mike Piazza Replica Jersey (all fans)
Game Time: 7:10 PM
All fans in attendance will receive a Mike Piazza replica jersey
Buy Friday Tickets

Saturday, July 30

#31 Pre-Game On Field Retirement Ceremony
Ceremony: 6:30 PM

Fans should arrive early for a special pregame number retirement of Mike Piazza’s #31
Buy Saturday Tickets

Sunday, July 31

Mike Piazza Bobblehead
(first 15,000 fans)
Game Time: 1:10 PM
The first 15,000 fans in attendance will receive a Mike Piazza bobblehead
Buy Sunday Tickets