Long Shot (63 page)

When I came to bat against Roger Clemens in the second inning of a game at Yankee Stadium on July 8, 2000, I was seven for twelve against him in my career, including home runs in our three previous encounters, the most recent a grand slam. On an 0–1 count, Clemens hit me in the head with a fastball. (© Bernie Nunez/REUTERS/Landov)

I was very fortunate to come away with only a minor concussion. That’s our trainer, Fred Hina, attending to me while our manager, Bobby Valentine (no. 2), looks on anxiously. Talking to reporters after the game, I shared my opinion that Clemens had purposely thrown at my head. (© Bernie Nunez/REUTERS/Landov)

After Clemens beaned me, the next time we faced off was in that year’s World Series, game two at Yankee Stadium. In the first inning, he jammed me with a two-strike fastball, and the bat blew into three pieces. I wasn’t sure where the ball was (it was well foul, in the direction of the Yankees’ dugout), so, with the fractured handle in my hand, I started toward first base. Meanwhile, the splintered barrel bounced Roger’s way. He picked it up and fired it at my feet. I didn’t even see it coming. Confused, I turned toward the mound, ready to throw a punch, and asked Roger what his problem was. He said he thought the bat was the ball. That wasn’t what I was expecting to hear and it stopped me cold. The heavyweight fight that everybody seemed to be lusting for never happened. (Top left: © AP Photo/Mark Lennihan; top right: © Peter Morgan/REUTERS/Landov; bottom left: © Matt Campbell/AFP/Getty Images; bottom right: © New York Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

Ten days after 9/11, we played the first baseball game in New York City since the devastation at the Twin Towers. The Atlanta Braves led 2–1 in the eighth inning when, with Desi Relaford pinch-running at first base for Edgardo Alfonzo, I sent a fastball from Steve Karsay over the center-field fence. The whole stadium seemed to be rocking back and forth in a giant group hug as we held on to win, 3–2. It was the most emotion, and the most gratification, I’ve ever experienced on a playing field. That poignant night proved to me that baseball is far more than just a game. (© New York Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

Playing for Bobby Valentine was an adventure unto itself. There were not many dull moments. Bobby would tick me off on a regular basis and just as often leave me shaking my head—I had plenty of company in that respect—but I considered him an excellent manager nevertheless. I’ll say this: he could make you smile. In a lot of ways, he reminded me of his mentor and mine, Tommy Lasorda. (© Doug Kanter/AFP/Getty Images)

In 2004, six weeks after breaking Carlton Fisk’s record for home runs by a catcher, I was humbled by a ceremony that brought the greatest living catchers to Shea Stadium—from left to right, Gary Carter, Johnny Bench, Fisk, Yogi Berra, and Pudge Rodriguez, who was playing against us that night for the Detroit Tigers. I considered the occasion an observance of the toughest position on the field. (© AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

In January 2005, amid a whole lot of pink roses at St. Jude Catholic Church in Miami, I married the love of my life, Alicia Rickter.

I had the privilege of catching Tom Seaver’s last pitch at the closing ceremony for Shea Stadium, after the final game of the 2008 season—my first season in retirement. Seaver remains the only member of the Hall of Fame who was inducted as a Met. I’d love to join him someday. (© George Napolitano/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

Every summer, we take the girls (Nicoletta, in my arms, and Paulina) on a long vacation to Southern California to be near both Alicia’s family and the beach—in this case, Santa Monica.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Countless people warrant thanks for their generous help in putting this work together. The authors wish to especially recognize the following: Vince and Roni Piazza; Vince Piazza Jr.; Danny, Tony, and Tommy Piazza; Alicia Piazza; Tom Lasorda; Dan Lozano; Doc Kennedy; Brad Kohler; Joe Pizzica; Blaine Huey; Eric Karros; Greg Hansell; Mark Cresse; Al Leiter; John Franco; Fred Claire; Bobby Valentine; Martie Wheeler; Clark Wheeler; Allison Hemphill; David Black; Jonathan Karp; Johanna Li; and Bob Bender.

APPENDIX

BATTING STATISTICS