January 6th, 2014 at 6:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka Trying to figure out who the Baseball Writers Association of America will select for the Hall of Fame is always a crap shoot at best. I mean, who would have ever thought that they would snub all 37 guys on the ballot last year? Sure, it’s easy to see why the BBWAA excluded confirmed or even suspected PED users last year, but what about guys like Dale Murphy, Jack Morris, Lee Smith, Alan Trammell and the other longtime HOF candidates on the 2013 ballot who played well before the so-called ‘steroid era’ – why were they snubbed?
And what about first-timers Craig Biggio and Mike Piazza who may have been mentioned by some writer with a chip on his or her shoulder of a suspicion of PED use because of acne or some other nonsense even when there was no evidence whatsoever to substantiate these vicious rumors – why were they also snubbed?
Although there is no guarantee that Piazza will make it into the Hall of Fame this time around either, some exit polls (for lack of a better term) suggest that he might. And even if Piazza does not make it this year, there’s a very good chance that he will within the next few years – which brings up an interesting point: Will Piazza go into the Hall as a Met or as a Dodger?
Although Piazza may have fallen from grace with Dodger fans, he is still one of the greatest offensive catchers the game has ever seen. (Photo courtesy of USA Today)
Dodger fans will argue that Piazza’s best years were during his seven seasons in Los Angeles but his career stats say otherwise. Even though Piazza’s triple slash with the Dodgers was .331/.394/.572 with an OPS of .966 (compared to .296/.373/.542 and .915 in his eight seasons with the Mets), he played in 246 more games, had 771 more at bats, collected 132 more hits, hit 43 more home runs and had 92 more RBIs with the Mets. And this doesn’t even take into consideration that he was extremely bitter towards the Dodgers (more specifically, towards News Corp) for being traded away in 1998.
As most baseball fans know, since 2001 a player no longer gets to choose which cap he gets to enter the Hall of Fame with – this decision is now made by the Hall of Fame Board of Directors. Additionally, as most Dodger fans know, the Dodgers have their own self-imposed criteria that in order to have their Dodger uniform number retired, they must be elected into the Hall of Fame. The only exception to this rule is Jim Gilliam. Of the ten former Dodgers to have their uniform numbers retired, Gilliam is the only one not in the Hall of Fame, nor should he be. (Gil Hodges should be, but that’s a topic for another day). As you may recall, Gilliam’s uniform number (19) was retired two days after his death in 1978 from a massive brain hemorrhage only six days before his fiftieth birthday.
Regardless of which cap Mike Piazza wears when he is enters the Hall of Fame, it is hard to believe that the Dodgers will not retire his uniform number (31) when that day comes – this in spite of the fact that Piazza completely alienated himself from Dodger fans when he slammed Hall of Fame broadcaster and Dodger legend Vin Scully in his autobiography Long Shot, which he released last year.
What were you thinking, Mike?
Posted in 
I think Mike will go into the HOF as a Met. The Board of Directors will take into account his animosity with the Dodgers, their stupidity in trading him, his longer tenure with the Mets and and his stated preference. My heart says I want him in as a Dodger but my mind says it will be as a Met.
I expect the present ownership group will make every effort to repatriate Mike and in due course retire his number only after they have healed the wounds. It took a while to bring Sandy back into the fold if I remember correctly but his alienation was not nearly as great.
I actually believe that the Dodgers will retire Piazza’s number as soon as he makes the Hall, as will the Mets.
You are probably right. If I was the Dodgers owner I would want Mike Piazza there for the retiring ceremony so would build that bridge first. I don’t want him saying publicly he doesn’t care the Dodgers retired his number or make some overly used statement. I would want him as a willing participant in the ceremony.
@Think_BlueLA I don’t think they should.
Hope so. Should also retire 34. RT @Think_BlueLA: New post: Will the Dodgers retire uniform number 31? – http://t.co/Us1jS3jRnM #Dodgers
@FeelinKindaBlue @Think_BlueLA and 55 and 14. Probably others.
@Think_BlueLA I think he’s boarderline. He’ll probably go in as a Met anyway, making it a moot point.
@Think_BlueLA When he blamed Vin Scully for his problem in LA, he may have to wait a long or a least until he gets in the HOF.
@Think_BlueLA How about Gil Hodges he was best 1 baseman of the 50’s 2nd in RBI in the 50″s. WS Mgr. Great def. SB in HOF.
Gil Hodges should have been voted into the Hall years ago. Can’t understand what’s wrong with the Vet’s Committee on this one.
@Dirtbag_Blues @FeelinKindaBlue @Think_BlueLA Doubt the Dodgers will retire Giovanni Carrara’s or Mark Ellis’ numbers anytime soon
@Chapter1ne @FeelinKindaBlue @Think_BlueLA DO NOT DISRESPECT GIO
It’s hard to say which cap Piazza will where if he gets to the HOF. I think it leans towards the Mets since he last played for them, but I’m not possitively sure of that. I would be both happy and surprised if the Dodgers retire his number, since, with the exception of Sutton, I don’t believe any of the others whose numbers have been retired played with another team.
If this were the criteria, we would never see another retired Dodger number (due to free agency).
By the way – Duke Snider played for the Mets and Giants before retiring.
Woo Sorry Ron, I completely forgot about Snider playing for the Mets and the Giants. That should change what I said above significantly.
Knowing the way Vin Scully is, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he’s on the field announcing Mike’s accolades as his uniform number is retired. That might be the only way that Piazza would be well received back in LA. His comments in the book last year pretty much assured that he won’t be well received if he ever returned to Dodger Stadium for honors. Too bad, because his career numbers as a Dodger were superior to his numbers as a Met.