Part 6/10:
Piazza's brilliance didn’t just last a season; he consistently performed at elite levels throughout the mid-90s. The 1994 season was cut short due to a players' strike, yet Mike managed an impressive .319 average with 24 home runs over just 107 games. In 1995, he bounced back strong despite a thumb injury, finishing with a .346 average and 32 home runs, and making his first postseason appearance.
As he established himself as one of baseball’s best catchers, Piazza experienced career-defining moments, including historic performances such as a walk-off home run marking Tommy Lasorda’s last game as manager and a 3-homer game against the Rockies in 1996.