Mets to honor Piazza

Mike Piazza will be inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame during Fan Appreciation Day at Citi Field on Sept. 29. The Mets made the announcement Sunday, before the former catcher played in the celebrity softball game ahead of Tuesday night’s All-Star game. A 62nd-round draft pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988, Piazza hit 220 of 427 career homers for the Mets, his team from 1998-05. He made seven of his 12 All-Star appearances with New York. Says Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon: “Mike Piazza reinvigorated our franchise.” The burly catcher received 329 of 569 votes when Baseball Hall of Fame totals were announced in January, falling 98 shy of the necessary 75 percent. – Associated Press