by Mike Piazza
work of, 4
Piazza Auto Group, 273, 342
Piazza Management, 10
Pierre, Juan, 298
Piniella, Lou, 205, 234
Pizzica, Joe, 20, 31–32, 35, 37, 123, 345
Plant, Robert, 282
Plaschke, Bill, 169, 182, 208
Podres, Johnny, 59
Podsednik, Scott, 303
Poffo, Randy, 41
Polanco, Placido, 231
Polignano, Marc, 124
Polonia, Luis, 152
Poole, Jim, 55
Portugal, Mark, 175
Posada, Jorge, 185, 207, 234, 239, 240
Posada, Leo, 57, 68
Posey, Buster, 219, 220
Pratt, Todd, 204, 212, 214, 216, 237
Prince, Tom, 160
Puhl, Terry, 94
Pujols, Albert, 253, 256, 310–11, 324, 326, 337
Putski, Ivan, 26
Radinsky, Scott, 163
Radomski, Kirk, 286
Rakoczy, Gregg, 43
Ramirez, Manny, 297
Randa, Joe, 307
Randolph, Willie, 302, 306, 309, 310, 313–14, 324
Ratt (band), 30
Reames, Britt, 232
Reece, Gabrielle, 131
Reed, Jeff, 257
Reed, Jody, 111, 126, 220
Reed, Rick, 137, 210, 213, 240
Reed, Steve, 94
Reid, Jason, 172, 174, 209
Reinsdorf, Jerry, 93
Reliford, Charlie, 235, 236, 237, 238
Remlinger, Mike, 212, 214, 229
Retton, Mary Lou, 32
Reyes, Jose, 284, 290, 301, 314
Reynolds, Shane, 284
Rhoden, Rick, 205
Rickey, Branch, 59, 179
Rickter, Alicia, 271, 272, 273, 278, 288–89, 313, 334
and comfort, 305
and Mike’s career, 318–20, 335, 346
Mike’s proposal to, 299
wedding of Mike and, 303–5
Ridinger, J. R. and Loren, 304
Righetti, Dave, 121, 306
Rios, Armando, 230
Ripken, Cal Jr., 130, 153, 243, 253
Rivera, Carlos, 285
Rivera, Mariano, 207, 234, 237, 240, 290, 322
Rizzuto, Phil, 31, 317
Roberts, Grant, 268, 269
Roberts, Kari, 29
Roberts, Selena, 298
Roberts, Tony, 29
Robinson, Brooks, 136
Robinson, Frank, 54
Robinson, Jackie, 101, 337
Robson, Tom, 205, 319
Rocker, John, 210, 212, 213, 214, 216, 221–22
Roderick, Brande, 303
Rodriguez, Alex “A-Rod,” 153, 234, 253
Rodriguez, Frankie “K-Rod,” 327, 330
Rodriguez, Ivan “Pudge,” 1, 153, 155, 167, 279, 294, 297, 304, 334
Roenicke, Ron, 181
Rogers, Kenny, 212, 214, 216
Rolen, Scott, 136, 229
Rome, Jim, 174, 176
Rookie of the Year, 123, 142, 343
Rose, Axl, 275
Rose, Pete, 267, 295, 316
Roseboro, Johnny, 54, 57, 61, 72, 78, 100, 108, 109
Ross, David, 276, 277
Ross, Diana, 246, 247
Royster, Jerry, 87
Runge, Paul, 112
Rusch, Glendon, 255
Russell, Bill, 200
and Albuquerque, 87, 146
and Dodgers, 20, 145–47, 151, 160, 181
and Lasorda, 144, 146
and Mike’s trade to Marlins, 175, 177
and MVP, 162, 169
Russo, Christopher “Mad Dog,” 185, 259
Ruth, Babe, 140, 250, 291, 292, 337
Ryan, Mike, 168
Ryan, Nolan, 235
Samuel, Juan, 42
Samuels, Charlie, 258, 314
Sanchez, Freddy, 310
Sandberg, Ryne, 90
San Diego Padres, 316, 318–25
San Francisco Giants, Vince’s bid to buy, 88, 91–94, 161
Santo, Ron, 317
Savage, Randy “Macho Man” (Poffo), 41
Sax, Steve, 20, 298
Schell, Michael J., 295
Schilling, Curt, 343
Schmidt, Jason, 223, 282, 318
Schmidt, Mike, 3, 12–14, 16, 18, 21, 66, 136, 145, 337, 346
Schourek, Pete, 139–40, 227
Scioscia, Mike, 58, 99, 162
and Campanella, 100, 109
as catcher, 94–95, 101, 220, 280
and Dodgers, 86, 89, 95, 102, 181
training and rehab with, 134, 148, 159
Scott, Byron, 98
Scott, Dave, 42
Scott, Mike, 94
Screnar, Pat, 134–35
Scully, Vin, 102, 151, 169, 170, 173
Seaver, Tom, 323, 337, 342–43, 344
Selig, Bud, 266–67
September 11 attacks, 243–48, 249, 254, 255, 312, 342, 344
Serby, Steve, 300–301
Shaw, Jeff, 181
Sheary, Kevin, 43
Sheets, Ben, 267
Sheffield, Gary, 153, 176, 177, 181, 182, 221, 256
Shepherd, Keith, 111
Sherman, Joel, 202, 266
Shinjo, Tsuyoshi, 247
Showalter, Buck, 211
Skid Row (band), 322
Skippack Skippers, 40–41, 45, 48, 50
Slayer (band), 29, 30
Slusser, Susan, 331
Smiley, Brett, 37
Smiley, Don, 185
Smiley, John, 38
Smith, Dwight, 90
Smith, Emmitt, 127, 202
Smith, Ozzie, 108
Smith, Pete, 103
Smith, Randy, 156
Smith, Reggie, 60, 67, 72, 73–74, 134, 181
Smiths (band), 76
Smoltz, John, 152, 153, 209, 212, 215
Snider, Duke, 121, 240
Snow, J. T., 230
Snuka, Jimmy “Superfly,” 26
Snyder, Cory, 110, 111
Sojo, Luis, 240
Soriano, Alfonso, 297
Sosa, Sammy, 153, 211, 250, 251, 343
Sotomayor, Sonia, 130–31
Souray, Sheldon, 272, 303, 313
SportsChannel Florida, 178
Sports Illustrated, 179, 264
Springer, Russ, 214
Stanton, Mike, 234, 243, 293
Stapp, Scott, 313
Stearns, John, 13, 225, 231
Steinbrenner, George, 130, 239
Stephenson, Jerry, 254
Stern, Howard, 195, 196
Steve Miller Band, 29
Stewart, Jon, 302
Stewart, Shannon, 206, 333
Stottlemyre, Todd, 184
Strasser, Charlie, 157–58, 175
Strawberry, Darryl, 20, 102, 104, 136
Street, Huston, 327, 328, 332
Strom, Brent, 59
Suppan, Jeff, 175, 310
Sutherland, Gary, 181
Suzuki, Ichiro, 297
Suzuki, Kurt, 329, 332, 333
Swift, Billy, 121
Tango, Tom, 280
Tarasco, Tony, 327
Tatum, Jim, 79
Taubensee, Eddie, 96
Tavarez, Julian, 256, 307, 310–12
Teed, Dick, 53
Telemaco, Amaury, 184
Ten Commandments, 341
Testaverde, Vinny, 43
Texas League, 86–87
Texas Rangers, 47, 200
Thomas, Frank, 125, 325
Thompson, Rob, 34
Thompson, Tim, 35, 84
Thornton, Andre, 37, 345
Timlin, Mike, 232
Tipton, Gordon, 78
Tirendi, Vince, 92
Titanic (movie), 182
Tomlin, Randy, 90
Topps, 6
Torrealba, Yorvit, 320
Torre, Joe, 31, 226, 234, 237, 242, 255, 295, 317
Torres, Salomon, 121
Torres, Tico, 334
Towers, Kevin
, 316, 325
Trachsel, Steve, 256, 305
Tracy, Jim, 277
Trammell, Bubba, 240
Travis, Neal, 260–63
Traxler, Brian, 55, 102
Treadwell, Jody, 78
Triple-A ball, 87–89
Trump, Donald, 303
Trunk, Eddie, 275
Tucker, Michael, 192–93, 220
Tuesday’s Children, 344
Tulowitzki, Troy, 320
Twisted Sister, 29, 30, 211
Tyson, Mike, 31, 199, 237
United Airlines Flight 93, 244
University of Southern California, 98–99
Usher (singer), 201
Valdez, Ismael, 136, 145, 147, 150, 151, 153, 307
Valent, Eric, 293
Valentine, Bobby, 217, 233, 278
and All-Star Game, 242
on batters hit by pitchers, 225, 238, 256, 257, 265
and Lasorda, 47, 187, 194, 242
and media, 188, 193, 200–201, 229, 260, 262, 266, 268–69, 271
and Mets, 187, 205–6, 228–29, 230, 258–59, 269–71
and Mike’s injuries, 214, 225, 238, 258
and Mike’s playing, 216, 221, 223–24, 267, 284
and September 11 attacks, 245, 254, 255
and Texas Rangers, 47, 200
and umpires’ calls, 193, 206
Valverde, Jose, 318
Van Halen (band), 204
Van Halen, Eddie, 132
Vaughn, Greg, 210
Vaughn, Mo, 256, 264, 266, 269, 281, 283
Velazquez, Guillermo “Memo,” 79–80
Ventura, Jesse “the Body,” 26
Ventura, Robin, 115, 235
and free agency, 255–56
as hitter, 208, 210, 214, 215, 231, 232, 240, 247, 295
in Japan, 218–19
and Mets, 199, 205, 218, 241, 295
and World Series, 233, 240
Veras, Dario, 151
Verducci, Tom, 158, 163, 168, 226, 264
Vermeil, Dick, 345
Vero Beach, Dodgertown in, 58–62, 64–67, 70, 72, 78–79, 112, 127, 174
Vioxx, 157, 158, 203
Vizcaino, Jose, 234
Voltaren, 158, 203
Wade, Ben, 50, 51, 52–53
Wagner, Billy, 194–95, 316
Wahlberg, Mark, 168
Wakamatsu, Don, 101
Waldstein, Dave, 261
Walker, Larry, 162, 163, 165, 166, 169
Wallace, Dave, 59, 60, 65, 150, 160, 228
Wallach, Tim, 111, 139, 153
Washington, George, 41
Weathers, David, 266, 284, 293
Weber, Joe, 18, 37
Weider, Joe, 45, 157
Weiss, Walt, 192, 215
Welch, Bob, 20
Wells, David, 140, 201
Wendell, Turk, 214, 215, 234
Wengert, Bill, 59
Wengert, Don, 222
Werndl, Bill, 316
West, Joe, 91
Wheeler, Chris, 200
White, Bill, 31
White, Devon, 175, 184
Wigginton, Ty, 276, 285, 297
Wildwood, New Jersey, 30–32
Williams, Bernie, 206, 221, 240
Williams, Gerald, 192, 214, 216
Williams, Jerome, 284, 292
Williams, Jimy, 293
Williams, Matt, 121
Williams, Mike, 149
Williams, Ted:
and Hall of Fame, 337
as hitter, 85, 104, 138, 140
honored at Fenway, 207
influence of, 11–12, 14, 33, 63, 73, 320, 346
Museum & Hitters Hall of Fame, 152, 195
The Science of Hitting, 21, 22
visit to Mike’s house, 21–22, 48
Wilpon, Fred:
and media, 185, 187, 260, 271, 345
and Mets, 185, 187, 197, 264
and Mets sale, 264, 265, 302
Mike signed by Mets, 185, 187, 197–98
and September 11 attacks, 245
and Valentine, 269, 270, 271
Wilpon, Jeff, 2, 259, 270, 299, 302, 314, 345
Wilson, Preston, 186, 221
Wilson, Vance, 262, 278, 285, 293, 301
Wise, Dewayne, 291
Wismer, Mike, 66
Wladika, Vince, 169
Wolff, Lew, 329
World Baseball Classic, 317, 339
World Series:
historic moments in, 248
home-field advantage in, 267
Mets in, 232, 233–40, 297, 342, 343
World Trade Center, September 11 attacks on, 243–46
Worrell, Todd, 144
Worthy, James, 98
Wright, Craig, 84–85, 88–89, 279–80, 295
Wright, David, 295, 298, 301, 310, 312, 314
Wrigley Field, 90
Wylde, Zakk, 210
Yankee Stadium, 205
Yarnall, Ed, 186
Yeager, Steve, 4, 101, 109, 173, 309
Yelding, Eric, 257
Yesterday and Today (band), 204
Yoshii, Masato, 211, 214
Young, Chris, 324
Young, Eric, 70, 83, 90, 145, 162, 163, 169
Zambrano, Victor, 305, 313
Zaun, Gregg, 192
Zebra (band), 204
Zeile, Todd, 2, 163, 169, 184
and free agency, 162, 293
as hitter, 162, 175, 231, 234, 240, 295
and Mets, 218, 241, 255, 293
on pitchers and batters, 222–23, 251
trade to Marlins, 175, 176, 177, 179
and Yankees, 279
Zimmer, Don, 226
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First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition February 2013
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Designed by Nancy Singer Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Piazza, Mike, 1968–Long shot/Mike Piazza with Lonnie Wheeler.
p. cm.
1. Piazza, Mike, 1968– 2. Baseball players—United States—Biography. I. Wheeler, Lonnie. II. Title.
GV865.P52A3 2013
796.357092—dc23 2012017246
[B]
ISBN 978-1-4391-5022-1
ISBN 978-1-4391-6303-0 (ebook) In the story concerning “my first big-league crush,” the name and details have been altered in deference to the party involved.
All photographs are courtesy of the Piazza family collection unless otherwise noted.
