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Long Shot
In this New York Times bestselling autobiography, baseball legend Mike Piazza takes readers into his exceptional and storied career—from the rumors and controversies to his proudest achievements.
In this remarkably candid autobiography, superstar Mike Piazza takes readers inside his life and career to show what it takes to make it to the major leagues and to stay on top.
Piazza was drafted in the sixty-second round of the 1988 MLB draft, a courtesy pick because of a family connection to Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda. No one expected Mike Piazza to play in the major leagues except Mike and his dad—not even the Dodgers. But with talent, determination, and a formidable work ethic, long shot Piazza learned the demanding position of catcher and not only made it to the majors, he became one of the great players in the history of the game.
With resolute honesty Piazza addresses the issues that swirled about him during his career: the rumor that he was gay, the infamous bat-throwing incident with Roger Clemens, and the accusations of steroid use that plagued nearly every power hitter of his era. But above all, Long Shot is the story of a superstar who rose to the top through his talent and his deep drive to succeed.
In this remarkably candid autobiography, superstar Mike Piazza takes readers inside his life and career to show what it takes to make it to the major leagues and to stay on top.
Piazza was drafted in the sixty-second round of the 1988 MLB draft, a courtesy pick because of a family connection to Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda. No one expected Mike Piazza to play in the major leagues except Mike and his dad—not even the Dodgers. But with talent, determination, and a formidable work ethic, long shot Piazza learned the demanding position of catcher and not only made it to the majors, he became one of the great players in the history of the game.
With resolute honesty Piazza addresses the issues that swirled about him during his career: the rumor that he was gay, the infamous bat-throwing incident with Roger Clemens, and the accusations of steroid use that plagued nearly every power hitter of his era. But above all, Long Shot is the story of a superstar who rose to the top through his talent and his deep drive to succeed.
Audiobook
First published February 12, 2013
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About the author
Mike Piazza
6 books5 followersMichael Joseph Piazza is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. He played in his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres and the Oakland Athletics.
A 12-time All-Star, Piazza is often regarded as one of the best-hitting catchers of all time and holds the record for home runs hit by a catcher, with a career total of 427. He had at least one RBI in 15 consecutive games for the New York Mets in 2000, the second-longest RBI streak ever (Ray Grimes of the Chicago Cubs had 17 consecutive games in 1922).
A 12-time All-Star, Piazza is often regarded as one of the best-hitting catchers of all time and holds the record for home runs hit by a catcher, with a career total of 427. He had at least one RBI in 15 consecutive games for the New York Mets in 2000, the second-longest RBI streak ever (Ray Grimes of the Chicago Cubs had 17 consecutive games in 1922).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
June 1, 2014
Rating:
4 of 5 stars (very good)
Review:
Baseball fans have heard the story: 62nd round draft pick, who was chosen by a well-known major league manager as a favor to the player’s father. Worked his way up to the big leagues where he became one of the best hitting catchers in the game. Mike Piazza shares his thoughts on these topics and a lot more in this memoir of his life and career that was fun to read, and at the same time it evoked a lot of reaction for his comments and viewpoints on many issues and people that affected him personally.
The first impression I had when reading this book, no matter at what point in his life or career he was describing, was that he was being himself and honest. It didn’t seem to matter to him if someone would be upset or offended by his comments; he wrote what he felt about the topic. This was especially telling when he talked about his bitter contract negotiations and subsequent trade from the team that drafted him, the Los Angeles Dodgers. He blamed many others for the situation, including broadcaster Vin Scully, a beloved icon in Los Angeles. He blamed the Dodgers’ ownership, fans, and anyone else that he could except himself. He had the on-field statistics to back him up for his position in the negotiations, but even to this day, it doesn’t seem that he fully understood why some people would not look upon this situation favorably.
While this was the most notable example of Piazza being critical about others, it wasn’t the only one. When he ended up in New York playing for the Mets he was critical of many of their moves as well. Whether the reader believes the criticism is justified or not, Piazza’s style of writing and the items he chooses to discuss can rub many readers the wrong way. However, it is also obvious that he is being honest with his opinion and because of that I thought the book was one to enjoy, even if the reader disagrees or will react with anger to some of the comments.
The tone he sets also comes across as defensive, especially when addressing topics such as performance enhancing drugs, the feud between himself and Roger Clemens and the aforementioned departure from Los Angeles. Whether he was explaining why he was taking “andro” (a legal substance at the time and the one that was famously found in Mark McGuire’s locker in 1998), telling why he would not react differently to Clemens beaning him and then throwing a broken bat piece at him in the World Series, or even when trying to explain the rumors in New York that he was a homosexual, he comes across as overly defensive. He is honest, he doesn’t pull punches, but it felt like he was trying too hard to win over the reader’s mind. That wasn’t necessary in my opinion. The honesty was refreshing – that was all that was needed.
Some of his stories can be quite touching. One in which I thought was really good was also my favorite one in the book and that was when Ted Williams came to his house and watched Piazza takes some cuts in the backyard. Williams, who always had a keen eye for hitting, felt that Piazza would be a great hitter someday. That prediction did turn out to be true.
So given all this, I still felt the book was an enjoyable read even if by the end of it, the aura he left in my mind of his career was a little tarnished because of his attitudes. That doesn’t take away his on-field accomplishments, nor does it take away from my opinion of the book, which certainly is one to read if you are interested in learning more about him. It was an enjoyable and entertaining read, and one that will surely leaving you wanting to talk about it with anyone else who read it or follows baseball.
Did I skim?
No.
Pace of the book:
It reads fairly quickly as Piazza takes the reader throughout all the important events and stories of his life and career, from childhood to the end of his playing career. There isn’t a lot after that except for his opinion on a few baseball topics in the epilogue.
Do I recommend?
Fans of Piazza and the Mets will enjoy this book. Dodger fans may not take kindly to some of his remarks, however. If the reader was not a fan of Piazza or looks poorly upon any player who is controversial, this is not a book for him or her. Otherwise, I do recommend it to all baseball fans, regardless of team loyalty.
Book Format Read:
Hardcover
4 of 5 stars (very good)
Review:
Baseball fans have heard the story: 62nd round draft pick, who was chosen by a well-known major league manager as a favor to the player’s father. Worked his way up to the big leagues where he became one of the best hitting catchers in the game. Mike Piazza shares his thoughts on these topics and a lot more in this memoir of his life and career that was fun to read, and at the same time it evoked a lot of reaction for his comments and viewpoints on many issues and people that affected him personally.
The first impression I had when reading this book, no matter at what point in his life or career he was describing, was that he was being himself and honest. It didn’t seem to matter to him if someone would be upset or offended by his comments; he wrote what he felt about the topic. This was especially telling when he talked about his bitter contract negotiations and subsequent trade from the team that drafted him, the Los Angeles Dodgers. He blamed many others for the situation, including broadcaster Vin Scully, a beloved icon in Los Angeles. He blamed the Dodgers’ ownership, fans, and anyone else that he could except himself. He had the on-field statistics to back him up for his position in the negotiations, but even to this day, it doesn’t seem that he fully understood why some people would not look upon this situation favorably.
While this was the most notable example of Piazza being critical about others, it wasn’t the only one. When he ended up in New York playing for the Mets he was critical of many of their moves as well. Whether the reader believes the criticism is justified or not, Piazza’s style of writing and the items he chooses to discuss can rub many readers the wrong way. However, it is also obvious that he is being honest with his opinion and because of that I thought the book was one to enjoy, even if the reader disagrees or will react with anger to some of the comments.
The tone he sets also comes across as defensive, especially when addressing topics such as performance enhancing drugs, the feud between himself and Roger Clemens and the aforementioned departure from Los Angeles. Whether he was explaining why he was taking “andro” (a legal substance at the time and the one that was famously found in Mark McGuire’s locker in 1998), telling why he would not react differently to Clemens beaning him and then throwing a broken bat piece at him in the World Series, or even when trying to explain the rumors in New York that he was a homosexual, he comes across as overly defensive. He is honest, he doesn’t pull punches, but it felt like he was trying too hard to win over the reader’s mind. That wasn’t necessary in my opinion. The honesty was refreshing – that was all that was needed.
Some of his stories can be quite touching. One in which I thought was really good was also my favorite one in the book and that was when Ted Williams came to his house and watched Piazza takes some cuts in the backyard. Williams, who always had a keen eye for hitting, felt that Piazza would be a great hitter someday. That prediction did turn out to be true.
So given all this, I still felt the book was an enjoyable read even if by the end of it, the aura he left in my mind of his career was a little tarnished because of his attitudes. That doesn’t take away his on-field accomplishments, nor does it take away from my opinion of the book, which certainly is one to read if you are interested in learning more about him. It was an enjoyable and entertaining read, and one that will surely leaving you wanting to talk about it with anyone else who read it or follows baseball.
Did I skim?
No.
Pace of the book:
It reads fairly quickly as Piazza takes the reader throughout all the important events and stories of his life and career, from childhood to the end of his playing career. There isn’t a lot after that except for his opinion on a few baseball topics in the epilogue.
Do I recommend?
Fans of Piazza and the Mets will enjoy this book. Dodger fans may not take kindly to some of his remarks, however. If the reader was not a fan of Piazza or looks poorly upon any player who is controversial, this is not a book for him or her. Otherwise, I do recommend it to all baseball fans, regardless of team loyalty.
Book Format Read:
Hardcover
March 1, 2013
Rob To say I'm disappointed is an understatement...
I idolized this man. He put numbers in the books that are certainly Hall of Fame caliber...
However, in reading his memoir (and listening TO HIS OWN WORDS) Mike is clearly not a nice man.
The most self-centered, egotistical, aloof, arrogant, moody, selfish bastard on the planet. He had utter contempt for the fans (in LA AND NY), the media, his team mates..you name it. And he makes no bones about explaining it! Like a true sociopath, he discusses all he had (and still has) coming to him...from his rich father's connections in MLB to being placed in the Hall of Fame.
Yes...it's true..this man put up better numbers than any living catcher in baseball...But at what price? Mike, yesterday, I would have salivated for an autographed baseball of yours...Today, I know that not only do I not want it, but more importantly, I could never be your friend.
I idolized this man. He put numbers in the books that are certainly Hall of Fame caliber...
However, in reading his memoir (and listening TO HIS OWN WORDS) Mike is clearly not a nice man.
The most self-centered, egotistical, aloof, arrogant, moody, selfish bastard on the planet. He had utter contempt for the fans (in LA AND NY), the media, his team mates..you name it. And he makes no bones about explaining it! Like a true sociopath, he discusses all he had (and still has) coming to him...from his rich father's connections in MLB to being placed in the Hall of Fame.
Yes...it's true..this man put up better numbers than any living catcher in baseball...But at what price? Mike, yesterday, I would have salivated for an autographed baseball of yours...Today, I know that not only do I not want it, but more importantly, I could never be your friend.
May 25, 2014
During Mike Piazza’s years with the Mets (1998-2005), I loved the guy. I was a HUGE Piazza fan, so much so that at one point, I was seriously considering getting a tattoo of his uniform number, 31. The beanball that Roger Clemens threw at him in 2000, which cost Piazza an appearance in the All-Star Game that year, and the Subway Series that year—during which Clemens inexplicably threw a bat shard at Piazza, claiming he thought it was the ball—roused my indignation. I still believe that Clemens is the biggest jerk to ever don a major league uniform.
But I never thought I would consider Piazza to be a kind of a jerk—until I read his autobiography.
He calls the book “Long Shot,” and in the epilogue, he mentions his fervent hope that his story will serve as an inspiration to his readers. He spends much of the book, however, whining and complaining about how unfair he was treated throughout his major league career, and he misses no opportunity to demonize everyone who (in his perception) slighted him in the least. His father loom over Piazza’s story—indeed, he dominates the guy’s life—so comprehensively that it’s impossible to conceive of Piazza’s career if his father hadn’t been there to pave the way (and in some cases bully people) for Piazza’s opportunities. Tommy Lasorda—although he is not literally Piazza’s godfather—played that role for him, negotiating opportunities for Piazza and making sure that he got what he wanted. But Lasorda, along with many other teammates and acquaintances of Piazza’s, didn’t even attend the guy’s wedding. As Piazza admits, despite his seventeen years in the majors, only two of his teammates chose to attend his wedding. He also admits to being a “brat” for almost the entire time he was in the majors. Throughout this book, he asserts that he wasn’t a good teammate and that he was fairly selfish—and he recites his achievements at random moments, citing the length of certain homeruns and rattling off statistics that admittedly put him among the game’s elites.
But Piazza doesn’t seem to understand that the way to make yourself look good in your autobiography is not to simply brag about your numbers and enumerate your various accomplishments—and you certainly don’t impress anyone by repeatedly expressing your bitterness over never being named MVP or claiming that you’re the target of some widespread conspiracy among Latino players.
I learned a lot about Piazza the man—his fondness for heavy metal music, his abstinence during much of his young adulthood, his devotion to his Catholic faith, and his conservative political beliefs (which should not have come as a surprise to me—did I really think that a multi-millionaire who held a press conference to proclaim his heterosexuality would be a liberal?).
Ultimately, Piazza comes across as a disgruntled brat, despite his claim, in the email that announced his retirement, that he was grateful for his amazing journey through the big leagues.
Before I read the book, I was a huge Piazza fan. My fanaticism is considerably tempered now. I will be forever grateful that he played the majority of his career with the Mets, and I will cherish all of the great memories he created on the diamond. But Piazza the man? Not so much.
But I never thought I would consider Piazza to be a kind of a jerk—until I read his autobiography.
He calls the book “Long Shot,” and in the epilogue, he mentions his fervent hope that his story will serve as an inspiration to his readers. He spends much of the book, however, whining and complaining about how unfair he was treated throughout his major league career, and he misses no opportunity to demonize everyone who (in his perception) slighted him in the least. His father loom over Piazza’s story—indeed, he dominates the guy’s life—so comprehensively that it’s impossible to conceive of Piazza’s career if his father hadn’t been there to pave the way (and in some cases bully people) for Piazza’s opportunities. Tommy Lasorda—although he is not literally Piazza’s godfather—played that role for him, negotiating opportunities for Piazza and making sure that he got what he wanted. But Lasorda, along with many other teammates and acquaintances of Piazza’s, didn’t even attend the guy’s wedding. As Piazza admits, despite his seventeen years in the majors, only two of his teammates chose to attend his wedding. He also admits to being a “brat” for almost the entire time he was in the majors. Throughout this book, he asserts that he wasn’t a good teammate and that he was fairly selfish—and he recites his achievements at random moments, citing the length of certain homeruns and rattling off statistics that admittedly put him among the game’s elites.
But Piazza doesn’t seem to understand that the way to make yourself look good in your autobiography is not to simply brag about your numbers and enumerate your various accomplishments—and you certainly don’t impress anyone by repeatedly expressing your bitterness over never being named MVP or claiming that you’re the target of some widespread conspiracy among Latino players.
I learned a lot about Piazza the man—his fondness for heavy metal music, his abstinence during much of his young adulthood, his devotion to his Catholic faith, and his conservative political beliefs (which should not have come as a surprise to me—did I really think that a multi-millionaire who held a press conference to proclaim his heterosexuality would be a liberal?).
Ultimately, Piazza comes across as a disgruntled brat, despite his claim, in the email that announced his retirement, that he was grateful for his amazing journey through the big leagues.
Before I read the book, I was a huge Piazza fan. My fanaticism is considerably tempered now. I will be forever grateful that he played the majority of his career with the Mets, and I will cherish all of the great memories he created on the diamond. But Piazza the man? Not so much.
February 24, 2013
In who is my favorite ball player of all time, I found this book very insightful but not necessarily in a good way. While Piazza was coming through the Dodger organization he was frequently whiny and self gratifying. His father frequently intervened in his professional life and I'd have been better off not knowing some of that.
Still....who can forget him standing on the first base line, with tears welling in his eyes, for fallen heroes when baseball returned to NY after 9/11. Then he brought us his own heroism by lifting up a fractured city on his shoulders and hitting the game winning home run. I cant help but to think of those moments and cry, and I will always love him for that.
Reading his version of the events of his baseball life was very gratifying, and the story seemed to mature as he went along. One could say the book was a metaphor for his baseball life. while the story was told in Piazza's point of view, it was a frank portrayal of a deeply emotional and fierce competitor. That it wasnt always flattering enhances its validity.
Still....who can forget him standing on the first base line, with tears welling in his eyes, for fallen heroes when baseball returned to NY after 9/11. Then he brought us his own heroism by lifting up a fractured city on his shoulders and hitting the game winning home run. I cant help but to think of those moments and cry, and I will always love him for that.
Reading his version of the events of his baseball life was very gratifying, and the story seemed to mature as he went along. One could say the book was a metaphor for his baseball life. while the story was told in Piazza's point of view, it was a frank portrayal of a deeply emotional and fierce competitor. That it wasnt always flattering enhances its validity.
March 3, 2013
One of my all time favorite players had an interesting career & some great stories to tell, but could have had some help writing them down better. Neat to learn about how he overcame some obstacles in the beginning, but the end just felt like a list of all his home runs. The editor could have also helped Piazza rewrite parts so that he would sound less whiney & egotistical. Overall about as disappointing as Mike not punching Roger Clemens in the face.
March 6, 2013
Let's call this a 2.5, dead in the center of the scale. It's got its interesting points, specifically Piazza's signing and climb through the minors. In the end it goes on a bit long, sort of like a catcher trying to hang on beyond his prime.
The dust jacket, in typical fashion, promises thrills and spills: "With resolute honesty Piazza addresses the issues that swirled about him during his career: the rumor that he was gay, the infamous bat-throwing incident with Roger Clemens during the 2000 World Series, and the accusations of steroid use that plagued nearly every power hitter of his era."
Anyone who expected Piazza to come out of the closet or confess to taking steroids will be sorely disappointed, though he does cop to using androstenedione, the same product that ensconced Mark McGwire in so much controversy. Piazza spares no opportunity to work in the hot models and actresses he palled around with, though he's quick to point out he was never serious about most of them because he didn't want to distract himself during the baseball season. So gay, no. Overly proud of dating and marrying eye candy, guilty as charged.
"The week of the wedding, the Daily News conducted a poll on baseball's hottest wife. In a close vote over Anna Benson-the former stripper whose husband, Kris, was a starting pitcher who had just signed with us as a free agent-Alicia won."
That's Alicia Rickter, of Baywatch and Playboy fame for those who didn't know. And I'll count myself in that group, as I'd never heard of her before now. The rumors of Piazza's sexual persuasion were stoked in part on the speculation that all the hot women he hung around with were simply a cover. They were, but not for homosexuality. They were there to paper over the insecurities that ran through every square inch of his body.
What comes through loud and clear in Long Shot is that Piazza cared about what everyone thought, despite his claims to not give a damn. He internalized every slight, large or small, and used it as motivation.
"I played with a chip on my shoulder, and admittedly-unapologetically-I'm writing with one, too," he says in the book's epilogue. "More than five years since my final single started a ninth-inning, game-winning rally, more than seven since my twelfth All-Star Game, more than eight since I broke the home run record for catchers, I still feel the need for validation."
That is why a man who posted numbers unrivaled by any catcher in the history of the game feels the need to toot his own horn repeatedly throughout a book that came out coincidentally within months of his first appearance on the Hall of Fame ballot.
"I'd be less than truthful if I didn't admit that my legacy is something I ponder quite a bit," he writes. "Mostly, it bewilders me. I honestly don't know why it is, exactly, that, from start to finish, I've been the object of so much controversy, resentment, skepticism, scrutiny, criticism, rumor, and doubt. … Whatever the reason, I suppose I might be a little oversensitive about it all, except that I feel I'm defending more than just my reputation. I'm standing up for what I consider to be-deeply wish to be-a fundamentally and triumphantly American story."
There's no doubt he's oversensitive and has been so most of his life. Though he spent half a dozen summers hanging out near the beach in Southern California, any sign of a relaxed surfer dude within was a complete facade. He was wired in such a way that he strove for excellence with little regard for how he was perceived. It wasn't enough to get three hits in a game, and he expressed his frustration at making an out so openly that he was classified as selfish by teammates who interpreted his helmet throwing and wall punching as signs he cared more about his batting average than the team's won-loss record.
He makes no effort to hide his disappointment at being passed over by MVP voters, particularly in 1996 when a roided up Ken Caminiti won what Piazza refers to as a "popularity contest." Four top four finishes, including back-to-back runner-up slots in 1996-97, were little consolation.
Piazza came off to me as a fairly unlikable fellow. He was a hothead who once walked out on his team in the minors and multiple times stormed into opposing clubhouses looking to fight pitchers who had drilled him on the field. I was neutral on him when I began and emerged with a somewhat negative impression. That's probably not what he was looking for. Your mileage will likely vary depending on how closely you followed his career.
The dust jacket, in typical fashion, promises thrills and spills: "With resolute honesty Piazza addresses the issues that swirled about him during his career: the rumor that he was gay, the infamous bat-throwing incident with Roger Clemens during the 2000 World Series, and the accusations of steroid use that plagued nearly every power hitter of his era."
Anyone who expected Piazza to come out of the closet or confess to taking steroids will be sorely disappointed, though he does cop to using androstenedione, the same product that ensconced Mark McGwire in so much controversy. Piazza spares no opportunity to work in the hot models and actresses he palled around with, though he's quick to point out he was never serious about most of them because he didn't want to distract himself during the baseball season. So gay, no. Overly proud of dating and marrying eye candy, guilty as charged.
"The week of the wedding, the Daily News conducted a poll on baseball's hottest wife. In a close vote over Anna Benson-the former stripper whose husband, Kris, was a starting pitcher who had just signed with us as a free agent-Alicia won."
That's Alicia Rickter, of Baywatch and Playboy fame for those who didn't know. And I'll count myself in that group, as I'd never heard of her before now. The rumors of Piazza's sexual persuasion were stoked in part on the speculation that all the hot women he hung around with were simply a cover. They were, but not for homosexuality. They were there to paper over the insecurities that ran through every square inch of his body.
What comes through loud and clear in Long Shot is that Piazza cared about what everyone thought, despite his claims to not give a damn. He internalized every slight, large or small, and used it as motivation.
"I played with a chip on my shoulder, and admittedly-unapologetically-I'm writing with one, too," he says in the book's epilogue. "More than five years since my final single started a ninth-inning, game-winning rally, more than seven since my twelfth All-Star Game, more than eight since I broke the home run record for catchers, I still feel the need for validation."
That is why a man who posted numbers unrivaled by any catcher in the history of the game feels the need to toot his own horn repeatedly throughout a book that came out coincidentally within months of his first appearance on the Hall of Fame ballot.
"I'd be less than truthful if I didn't admit that my legacy is something I ponder quite a bit," he writes. "Mostly, it bewilders me. I honestly don't know why it is, exactly, that, from start to finish, I've been the object of so much controversy, resentment, skepticism, scrutiny, criticism, rumor, and doubt. … Whatever the reason, I suppose I might be a little oversensitive about it all, except that I feel I'm defending more than just my reputation. I'm standing up for what I consider to be-deeply wish to be-a fundamentally and triumphantly American story."
There's no doubt he's oversensitive and has been so most of his life. Though he spent half a dozen summers hanging out near the beach in Southern California, any sign of a relaxed surfer dude within was a complete facade. He was wired in such a way that he strove for excellence with little regard for how he was perceived. It wasn't enough to get three hits in a game, and he expressed his frustration at making an out so openly that he was classified as selfish by teammates who interpreted his helmet throwing and wall punching as signs he cared more about his batting average than the team's won-loss record.
He makes no effort to hide his disappointment at being passed over by MVP voters, particularly in 1996 when a roided up Ken Caminiti won what Piazza refers to as a "popularity contest." Four top four finishes, including back-to-back runner-up slots in 1996-97, were little consolation.
Piazza came off to me as a fairly unlikable fellow. He was a hothead who once walked out on his team in the minors and multiple times stormed into opposing clubhouses looking to fight pitchers who had drilled him on the field. I was neutral on him when I began and emerged with a somewhat negative impression. That's probably not what he was looking for. Your mileage will likely vary depending on how closely you followed his career.
August 16, 2017
Piazza's engaging -- and at times hilarious -- autobiography is a study in contradiction. Piazza's life is in some ways a rags-to-riches story; he's a 62nd-round draft pick who ends up (after the time the book was written) in the Hall of Fame. On the other hand, his father is fabulously wealthy and is friends with the legendary Tommy Lasorda, who is instrumental in Piazza's original signing and ascent to the major leagues. Catchers are traditionally great defenders, but Piazza is famous for being an offensive superstar with a poor throwing arm. Piazza is uncomfortable with being in the public eye, but says things that cause one media controversy after another.
Through it all, Piazza's voice comes through strongly; it's as-if you sat down with him for lunch and he told you his story. And, while Piazza is clearly proud of his accomplishments -- and defensive about some of the criticism he received -- he comes across as honest and genuine; he takes responsibility for many of his mistakes, on and off the field. The middle of the book (after Piazza has made it to the Big Leagues, and before he is contemplating retirement) drags a bit; there's quite a bit of play-by-play description of long baseball seasons. But there are poignant emotional descriptions of childhood, his first serious romantic relationship, the first game at Shea Stadium after the 9/11 attacks, and his decision to retire from baseball.
There are two themes that echo throughout the book. The first is Piazza's relationship with his father; his father is critical to his success, building a batting cage in the basement, introducing him to Tommy, and using his network to help get Mike to the Majors. But, his father is at times overbearing, and Mike resents the fact that some people believe he had an easy path. The second theme is his Catholic faith; he grows up going to church with his mother, finds conflicts between his faith and his behavior, and eventually (after meeting the Pope himself) finds himself happily married with two daughters.
Through it all, Piazza's voice comes through strongly; it's as-if you sat down with him for lunch and he told you his story. And, while Piazza is clearly proud of his accomplishments -- and defensive about some of the criticism he received -- he comes across as honest and genuine; he takes responsibility for many of his mistakes, on and off the field. The middle of the book (after Piazza has made it to the Big Leagues, and before he is contemplating retirement) drags a bit; there's quite a bit of play-by-play description of long baseball seasons. But there are poignant emotional descriptions of childhood, his first serious romantic relationship, the first game at Shea Stadium after the 9/11 attacks, and his decision to retire from baseball.
There are two themes that echo throughout the book. The first is Piazza's relationship with his father; his father is critical to his success, building a batting cage in the basement, introducing him to Tommy, and using his network to help get Mike to the Majors. But, his father is at times overbearing, and Mike resents the fact that some people believe he had an easy path. The second theme is his Catholic faith; he grows up going to church with his mother, finds conflicts between his faith and his behavior, and eventually (after meeting the Pope himself) finds himself happily married with two daughters.
February 15, 2013
Well, I certainly don't remember Piazza being as much of a whiny, narcissistic brat as he came off as in this book. I knew he was moody and quiet, but I didn't know it was because he was actually fuming most of the time about not being recognized by everyone for how good he was. Yikes, Mike!
I know he probably didn't actually write most of what was in this book word for word, but even so, I'm surprised he let some of his accounts of situations during his career be published in the way that they were. There were times that I actually cringed reading the book. I can't believe he said THAT!
Anyhow, I read the book mostly to re-live some of the Mets stories from the turn of the last century. Some of the most positive things he says in the book are about New York fans and his years with the Mets, so I guess that's a plus. But, I'm still pretty blown away by how different his attitude was than I perceived while he was playing.
Mike was never my favorite player on any of the Mets teams he played on, but it is hard to deny his impact on the ball club. His presence brought a legitimacy to the team that they had lacked for years and his stats speak for themself. Despite his attitude, he is the best hitting catcher of all time.
And he is a first ballot Hall of Famer...if those types of things still existed.
I know he probably didn't actually write most of what was in this book word for word, but even so, I'm surprised he let some of his accounts of situations during his career be published in the way that they were. There were times that I actually cringed reading the book. I can't believe he said THAT!
Anyhow, I read the book mostly to re-live some of the Mets stories from the turn of the last century. Some of the most positive things he says in the book are about New York fans and his years with the Mets, so I guess that's a plus. But, I'm still pretty blown away by how different his attitude was than I perceived while he was playing.
Mike was never my favorite player on any of the Mets teams he played on, but it is hard to deny his impact on the ball club. His presence brought a legitimacy to the team that they had lacked for years and his stats speak for themself. Despite his attitude, he is the best hitting catcher of all time.
And he is a first ballot Hall of Famer...if those types of things still existed.
February 23, 2013
Mike Piazza's bio is for the most part an enjoyable read . He spends a surprising amount of time discussing his childhood and his difficult journey to the major leagues. When he finally does hit the big time each year of his career is given its own chapter and baseball fans are treated to richly detailed accounts of on the field and off the field events. While definitely not a tell all expose; a lot of juicy bits of gossip are revealed. Also enjoyable are all the non baseball people Piazza spent time with, which varied from Fabio to Pamela Anderson to Axel Rose and even to Pope John Paul. The one flaw in this book is that Piazza is a bit whiney about defending himself against his detractors. This is especially the case late in the book when Mike's skills and career are fading. Frankly, I'd forgotten about some of the negative things said and written about him and by bringing them up again Mike probably is doing himself a bit of a disservice. Don't worry so much about it Mike, next year you'll get into the Hall of Fame and as the years go by, the bad things will be forgotten and you will be remembered as one of greatest catchers the game has ever seen.
March 18, 2013
I'm sort of sorry I read this book. A lifelong Met fan, I was skeptical when he came to play for my team, but his unflappability, work ethic, and humility won me over, and I was outraged when he was denied a place in the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. However, in "his" memoir (the syntax is laughably not Piazza's own), he comes off as a complainer and grudge-bearer -- ironically, a great deal less likeable than he was portrayed in the media he gripes so much about here.
(Full disclosure: I read R.A. Dickey's incredibly thoughtful and articulate memoir recently, and I'm afraid it set the bar pretty high.)
(Full disclosure: I read R.A. Dickey's incredibly thoughtful and articulate memoir recently, and I'm afraid it set the bar pretty high.)
May 31, 2022
I listened to this audiobook while traveling with my husband. I am a life long Mets fan so I was going to like the book no matter what. Piazza was one of my favorite players. He always had a big hit at the perfect time to cement his place in Mets lore. I was particularly impressed with his perspective on performance enhancing drugs. As a player who was experiencing the changing landscape on this controversial topic in real time it is easy to see how the messages to players were mixed. The teams wanted the players to do whatever they had to do to optimize their bodies for peek performance and, at best, gave players mixed messages about some of the products on the market or, at worst, remained silent on the issue in a kind of "don't ask, don't tell" policy. It was really unfair to players who were trying to follow the rules but often had a hard time figuring out what those rules really were. The sport and the teams let the players down and we should all remember that the story is far more nuanced when demonizing players for their past actions. It really wasn't just a black and white situation at the beginning, as much as those with hindsight want to make it so. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the game.
Read
September 5, 2017I read Long Shot Mike Piazza by Lonnie Wheeler during the summer. This book wa s published in 2013. This book is a nonfiction biography about Mike Piazza's baseball career, his childhood, and his path to being the best offensive catcher in Major League Baseball history. The main character in the book is Mike Piazza. The setting was mainly in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and a New York during 1980-2010. This is because he talks about his childhood and then his career of playing baseball. The conflict was that everyone said that Mike could never make the big leagues. A theme for this book is keep trying and never give up. Another theme for this book is if you try your hardest, you can do anything you want to.
I liked reading about Mike Piazza's baseball career and his childhood. There is nothing in this book that I did not like. People who like baseball would like this book. I had no expectations for that. My connection with the book is that I love playing baseball.
I liked reading about Mike Piazza's baseball career and his childhood. There is nothing in this book that I did not like. People who like baseball would like this book. I had no expectations for that. My connection with the book is that I love playing baseball.
July 1, 2013
In the epilogue, Piazza writes that he played with a chip on his shoulder and wrote this book with one too. Truer words have never been spoken. I enjoyed this book because, in part, it was a walk down memory lane. As a lifelong Mets fan, I have a lot of really great memories of when Piazza came to NY and his career there. He was one of my favorite players. This book allowed me to a revisit a lot of really great baseball moments and it taught me lot of things I did not know about 90s/00s baseball. As a baseball book, this was pretty enjoyable and I learned a lot.
However, Piazza definitely has a woe is me attitude through a lot of the book and came across as paranoid and whiney quite often. Does that make me appreciate his skill any less? No, he is a great baseball player. Does it make me think his story is any less interesting? No, but it does make me think he is probably a little grumpy and standoffish in real life. He seems to have a long list of people he thinks had it out for him, yet a lot of it seems like it was mostly in his head. For example - Mike, the latin american players did not have it out for you and your position on their failure to assimilate is not appreciated. Mostly, I get the impression that he took a lot of the criticism and trash talking from the media (that I am assuming is par for the course for professional athletes), a little too seriouslymost ALL of the time. He mentioned the Hall of Fame quite a bit in the epilogue and noted that everything would be validated for him if he is inducted. It makes me wonder how Mike felt this year when the voters chose not to induct anyone in his first year of eligibility. (Side Note: honestly though, I do hope he is voted in. He deserves it and I hope he is voted in as a Met. I did not agree with the decision to forego inductions this year. The eligibility list featured some first rate players.)
I was also really bothered by the way he kept slipping religion and his conservative political leanings into the book. Not because I felt like this shouldn't be in the book because it is after all, about his life and if those issues were important to his life and career then, by all means, talk about them! My issue is that the mentions of religion and conservatism always seemed kind of out of place. It was as if he wanted it to be clear that he is a Republican, a Catholic, and watches Fox News (which he mentions) but didn't know how to really fit it into the book. Granted, he does mention how he was raised Catholic and that his faith informed some of his behaviors and decisions, but the mentions always seemed to come in as afterthoughts, like he needed to be sure to give that aspect of his life a nod but was not sure how to effectively do that.
All in all a good read. This one gets 4 stars because it brought back a lot of good memories, taught me some new baseball facts, and kept me engaged.
However, Piazza definitely has a woe is me attitude through a lot of the book and came across as paranoid and whiney quite often. Does that make me appreciate his skill any less? No, he is a great baseball player. Does it make me think his story is any less interesting? No, but it does make me think he is probably a little grumpy and standoffish in real life. He seems to have a long list of people he thinks had it out for him, yet a lot of it seems like it was mostly in his head. For example - Mike, the latin american players did not have it out for you and your position on their failure to assimilate is not appreciated. Mostly, I get the impression that he took a lot of the criticism and trash talking from the media (that I am assuming is par for the course for professional athletes), a little too seriously
I was also really bothered by the way he kept slipping religion and his conservative political leanings into the book. Not because I felt like this shouldn't be in the book because it is after all, about his life and if those issues were important to his life and career then, by all means, talk about them! My issue is that the mentions of religion and conservatism always seemed kind of out of place. It was as if he wanted it to be clear that he is a Republican, a Catholic, and watches Fox News (which he mentions) but didn't know how to really fit it into the book. Granted, he does mention how he was raised Catholic and that his faith informed some of his behaviors and decisions, but the mentions always seemed to come in as afterthoughts, like he needed to be sure to give that aspect of his life a nod but was not sure how to effectively do that.
All in all a good read. This one gets 4 stars because it brought back a lot of good memories, taught me some new baseball facts, and kept me engaged.
May 22, 2013
Full disclosure. When he was playing Major League Baseball for Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Diego and Oakland, I was pretty much unaware of Mike Piazza. In fact, when I picked up this autobiography, I was totally unaware Piazza had played for any other team than the Dodgers. In fact, it was kind of a shock to learn how many teams he had payed for since Los Angeles.
That said, I came away from Long Shot with the overall impression, none of us would've ever heard of Piazza had it not been for his father and the legendary Dodger manager, Tommy Lasorda. Especially in the early chapters of Piazza's journey through the major leagues, Vince Piazza appears to have been the ultimate Stage Mother, er, Father. Early in Piazza's baseball career, Vince was his son's Puppet Master, pulling the strings and knocking down the doors.
The epilogue to Lonnie Wheeler's assisted tell-all is more revealing, in my view, than the previous twenty-six chapters. In this wrap-up, Piazza explains why he did what he did in the first 336 pages. Here, the former catcher and sometime first baseman makes an argument for why he belongs in Cooperstown. He confirms why he'd prefer to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as a New York Met. He also attempts to lay to rest the rumors he faced while in uniform that he used PED's or performance enhancing drugs at and behind the plate. What's remarkable here is despite his major, perhaps Italian-fueled ego, Piazza is remarkably candid about his own weaknesses and shortcomings, both as an athlete and as a human being. He admits to being less than stellar as a defensive catcher, preferring we focus solely on his prowess with the bat. In Piazza's own words, he "was too moody, too brooding, too consumed, too unlikeable." After nineteen seasons in the Big Show, "the principal regret" he has about his career is he "never really did" enjoy the game. Pretty sad.
That said, I came away from Long Shot with the overall impression, none of us would've ever heard of Piazza had it not been for his father and the legendary Dodger manager, Tommy Lasorda. Especially in the early chapters of Piazza's journey through the major leagues, Vince Piazza appears to have been the ultimate Stage Mother, er, Father. Early in Piazza's baseball career, Vince was his son's Puppet Master, pulling the strings and knocking down the doors.
The epilogue to Lonnie Wheeler's assisted tell-all is more revealing, in my view, than the previous twenty-six chapters. In this wrap-up, Piazza explains why he did what he did in the first 336 pages. Here, the former catcher and sometime first baseman makes an argument for why he belongs in Cooperstown. He confirms why he'd prefer to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as a New York Met. He also attempts to lay to rest the rumors he faced while in uniform that he used PED's or performance enhancing drugs at and behind the plate. What's remarkable here is despite his major, perhaps Italian-fueled ego, Piazza is remarkably candid about his own weaknesses and shortcomings, both as an athlete and as a human being. He admits to being less than stellar as a defensive catcher, preferring we focus solely on his prowess with the bat. In Piazza's own words, he "was too moody, too brooding, too consumed, too unlikeable." After nineteen seasons in the Big Show, "the principal regret" he has about his career is he "never really did" enjoy the game. Pretty sad.
September 22, 2013
I'm generally not the type of pre-order books before they are released or even buy them when they first hit the shelves. I'm usually reading something else at the time, so I always figure I can pick up the newly-released book some other time.
Because Mike Piazza was one of my favorite baseball players growing up, I made the exception for his book Long Shot.
I'm given it three stars, but I have to admit that if I weren't a huge fan of his growing up, I would have given it fewer.
The best autobiographies either show us a vulnerable side to the subject or give us some insight to information we didn't know before reading.
This book did neither.
One of the first things I noticed was that it had a very defiant tone to it. At times, it seemed that the book was nothing more than a vehicle for Piazza to call out everyone that ever doubted him or had something negative to say. In the afterword, even Piazza admits that the book may come off as sour grapes, but if he was so aware of that, I wish he would have done something to change it.
For me, the other big negative was that there were chapters upon chapters that just read like series by series (or home run by home run) rundowns of individual seasons. It's impressive that he remembers so many small details from each season, but it's very dull to read them being regurgitated.
If nothing else, it was nice to take a trip down memory lane with this book. During my formative years as a baseball fan, Piazza was as good a hitter as there was.
I will also give credit to Piazza for addressing the steroid and homosexuality rumors head on. Sure, he didn't have anything new to say, but it would have been easy for him to not mention them at all and say something like "the book is about my career and not about those off-field issues.
I'm glad I read the book because it took me back in time, but ultimately, I was left wanting much, much more.
Because Mike Piazza was one of my favorite baseball players growing up, I made the exception for his book Long Shot.
I'm given it three stars, but I have to admit that if I weren't a huge fan of his growing up, I would have given it fewer.
The best autobiographies either show us a vulnerable side to the subject or give us some insight to information we didn't know before reading.
This book did neither.
One of the first things I noticed was that it had a very defiant tone to it. At times, it seemed that the book was nothing more than a vehicle for Piazza to call out everyone that ever doubted him or had something negative to say. In the afterword, even Piazza admits that the book may come off as sour grapes, but if he was so aware of that, I wish he would have done something to change it.
For me, the other big negative was that there were chapters upon chapters that just read like series by series (or home run by home run) rundowns of individual seasons. It's impressive that he remembers so many small details from each season, but it's very dull to read them being regurgitated.
If nothing else, it was nice to take a trip down memory lane with this book. During my formative years as a baseball fan, Piazza was as good a hitter as there was.
I will also give credit to Piazza for addressing the steroid and homosexuality rumors head on. Sure, he didn't have anything new to say, but it would have been easy for him to not mention them at all and say something like "the book is about my career and not about those off-field issues.
I'm glad I read the book because it took me back in time, but ultimately, I was left wanting much, much more.
February 25, 2017
There is no doubt that Mike Piazza was one of baseball's greatest backstops of all-time. The trouble was, he never really endeared himself to fans despite being perpetually able to energize said fans with a big blast from his prodigious bat. Thus, I was hoping to learn a bit more about Mr. Piazza from this book, but unfortunately what I learned was that he seems like a very petty, grudge-holding, somewhat whiny individual.
Mainly, I was just saddened to read this book because Piazza could have so easily been a fan favorite of all-time with the Dodgers and Mets. I remember enjoying his playing career and was usually rooting for his teams. I have to give him credit for admitting to most of his faults right in the pages of the book, but it doesn't change the fact that those issues still seem to plague him.
Basically, it seems as if he is always trying to "prove something" to someone, which turns into a no-win situation in the realm of sports. Whether getting out from the shadow of his often-domineering father, making his niche with the Dodgers, becoming a baseball icon with the Mets, or finally deciding on retirement, Piazza never seemed able (until the very end) to live without a chip on his shoulder. Like I said, more sad than anything.
That being said, there are at least some interesting portions of this autobiography, including Piazza's strong work ethic and emotions surrounding 9/11 as a member of the NY Mets. And, of course, boy oh boy could he ever hit! Through it all, Piazza did put up numbers that cannot be easily dismissed.
This past year, Piazza's first for Hall of Fame eligibility, he would have gotten my vote. He was a great ballplayer and I enjoyed watching him ply his craft. So, this book was just sad to hear that he is still so bitter about so many things.
Mainly, I was just saddened to read this book because Piazza could have so easily been a fan favorite of all-time with the Dodgers and Mets. I remember enjoying his playing career and was usually rooting for his teams. I have to give him credit for admitting to most of his faults right in the pages of the book, but it doesn't change the fact that those issues still seem to plague him.
Basically, it seems as if he is always trying to "prove something" to someone, which turns into a no-win situation in the realm of sports. Whether getting out from the shadow of his often-domineering father, making his niche with the Dodgers, becoming a baseball icon with the Mets, or finally deciding on retirement, Piazza never seemed able (until the very end) to live without a chip on his shoulder. Like I said, more sad than anything.
That being said, there are at least some interesting portions of this autobiography, including Piazza's strong work ethic and emotions surrounding 9/11 as a member of the NY Mets. And, of course, boy oh boy could he ever hit! Through it all, Piazza did put up numbers that cannot be easily dismissed.
This past year, Piazza's first for Hall of Fame eligibility, he would have gotten my vote. He was a great ballplayer and I enjoyed watching him ply his craft. So, this book was just sad to hear that he is still so bitter about so many things.
March 3, 2013
Mike Piazza is my favorite baseball player of all-time. This was an interesting and revealing look at the life of a ballplayer from his beginnings through post-retirement. Piazza is simultaneously arrogant and humble at the same time, which is pretty difficult to do. Not the best autobiography I've read, but a decent read. Absolute crime that he was denied admission to the Hall of Fame by the idiot baseball writers.
February 21, 2013
I loved the book. I think it answered many questions regarding how he carried himself. Being in his company away from the field he was very open and was respectful of everyone. I think the people who are saying he is whiny are dodger fans who are disappointed that LA meant less to him than most believed. It's great to read a book that wasn't kissing everyone's butt.
July 27, 2013
Awful. While I will never lose respect for Piazza as a ball payer, given the work ethic, talent and penchant for clutch power in late-inning, meaningful ball games, I must report that it was a struggle to get through this whining, defensive and downright juvenile account of a life on the top of the heap in the Bigs. Wow. Awful.
February 19, 2013
Wow....I gave it 3 stars because of the nogstalgia factor, it was fun reliving some classic baseball events and stories from his perspective, BUT ...the swipe at vin scully was cheap and misguided, and he does come off as whiny
April 9, 2023
RICK “SHAQ” GOLDSTEIN SAYS: FROM THE 1,390th PICK IN THE 62nd ROUND… TO 427 CAREER HOMERUNS!”
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This is the autobiography of Mike Piazza former 12-time Major League Baseball All Star who currently holds the all-time record for most homeruns hit by a catcher in a career (396). The first thing worth pointing out to potential readers is that this book is not a typical run-of-the-mill baseball biography with big printed letters with wide spaces between the sentences and large blank margins to increase the number of pages in a book without increasing the intellectual content. The 347 pages of the story are easily equal to probably 425 or more pages in most books of this type. The writing style comes across as if Mike is talking directly to you with no phony re-interpretation of his thoughts and feelings to make his personal experiences come across more digestible for the everyday fan. In this vein… it is first a little surprising… and I mean pleasantly surprising… that when he discusses his childhood he does not camouflage his childlike exuberance for anything, whether it’s his favorite snacks… favorite music… or his love of baseball… and his family.
His Father, Vince played an unbelievable roll in Mike’s love for and growth within the magical world that is baseball. And here’s where even an old-school-baseball-fanatic like myself… learned more about Mike’s Dad than I had learned over all the years that Mike has been in the countries spotlight. Being that I was a Mike Piazza fan from the time he was a rookie on the Dodgers… I of course knew that his Dad (Vince) was old friends with Dodger manager and Hall Of Famer, Tommy Lasorda… and that if it wasn’t for Tommy, Mike would not have even been drafted in 1988. It’s part of the legend that Tommy pushed through a complimentary throw away 62nd round pick on Piazza. But the media has also always simply described Vince Piazza as a rich multi-millionaire car dealer and so you were left with the feeling that Mike was just a poor-little-rich-kid. This book lets you know that Vince earned it all on his own and came from anything but a cushy background. I already knew about the endless hours Mike spent in the homemade batting cage in the backyard. But to hear the hour after hour… day after day… year after year… commitment… made me feel even better about Piazza’s success. One of the truly mystical… almost fairy tale… stories… is the one about teenage Mike and his Dad meeting the legendary Ted Williams at an autograph show… and when the “Splendid Splinter” heard about the batting cage he said: “LET’S GO SEE HIM HIT!” And believe it or not… the next morning Ted showed up!
As Mike grows up and takes you along the bumps… hills… and valleys… of his career… it is also enjoyable that the author isn’t afraid to drop the childlike exuberance mentioned earlier… and talk with no filters exactly like men talk in clubhouses… bars… and the streets. You’ll get a bird’s eye view of everything from the time was he was fourteen and entered the Shea Stadium clubhouse and the players were watching porn… to feeling the emotions that beat in a young Piazza’s heart when he sees and discusses his childhood idol Phillies Hall Of Famer Mike Schmidt.
This is a fully fleshed out life story that doesn’t seem to miss a thing. From a shy boy who didn’t even date in high school… to losing his virginity… to the infamous gay and steroid rumors. There are even unvarnished comments that might have come from a baseball version of an Oliver Stone conspiracy theory in areas ranging from his last days as a Dodger with accusations made about the legendary Vince Scully… to his final days as an Oakland A. And of course there’s all the ugliness regarding Roger Clemens.
This is a tremendously in depth look at a legendary ballplayer… who like many players during this seriously tainted era… is still awaiting… the final words… of what… and how… his accomplishments… finally… and forever… will be carved into the stones of time. One negative trait is that Piazzi is always blaming others for any problems he may encounter.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the autobiography of Mike Piazza former 12-time Major League Baseball All Star who currently holds the all-time record for most homeruns hit by a catcher in a career (396). The first thing worth pointing out to potential readers is that this book is not a typical run-of-the-mill baseball biography with big printed letters with wide spaces between the sentences and large blank margins to increase the number of pages in a book without increasing the intellectual content. The 347 pages of the story are easily equal to probably 425 or more pages in most books of this type. The writing style comes across as if Mike is talking directly to you with no phony re-interpretation of his thoughts and feelings to make his personal experiences come across more digestible for the everyday fan. In this vein… it is first a little surprising… and I mean pleasantly surprising… that when he discusses his childhood he does not camouflage his childlike exuberance for anything, whether it’s his favorite snacks… favorite music… or his love of baseball… and his family.
His Father, Vince played an unbelievable roll in Mike’s love for and growth within the magical world that is baseball. And here’s where even an old-school-baseball-fanatic like myself… learned more about Mike’s Dad than I had learned over all the years that Mike has been in the countries spotlight. Being that I was a Mike Piazza fan from the time he was a rookie on the Dodgers… I of course knew that his Dad (Vince) was old friends with Dodger manager and Hall Of Famer, Tommy Lasorda… and that if it wasn’t for Tommy, Mike would not have even been drafted in 1988. It’s part of the legend that Tommy pushed through a complimentary throw away 62nd round pick on Piazza. But the media has also always simply described Vince Piazza as a rich multi-millionaire car dealer and so you were left with the feeling that Mike was just a poor-little-rich-kid. This book lets you know that Vince earned it all on his own and came from anything but a cushy background. I already knew about the endless hours Mike spent in the homemade batting cage in the backyard. But to hear the hour after hour… day after day… year after year… commitment… made me feel even better about Piazza’s success. One of the truly mystical… almost fairy tale… stories… is the one about teenage Mike and his Dad meeting the legendary Ted Williams at an autograph show… and when the “Splendid Splinter” heard about the batting cage he said: “LET’S GO SEE HIM HIT!” And believe it or not… the next morning Ted showed up!
As Mike grows up and takes you along the bumps… hills… and valleys… of his career… it is also enjoyable that the author isn’t afraid to drop the childlike exuberance mentioned earlier… and talk with no filters exactly like men talk in clubhouses… bars… and the streets. You’ll get a bird’s eye view of everything from the time was he was fourteen and entered the Shea Stadium clubhouse and the players were watching porn… to feeling the emotions that beat in a young Piazza’s heart when he sees and discusses his childhood idol Phillies Hall Of Famer Mike Schmidt.
This is a fully fleshed out life story that doesn’t seem to miss a thing. From a shy boy who didn’t even date in high school… to losing his virginity… to the infamous gay and steroid rumors. There are even unvarnished comments that might have come from a baseball version of an Oliver Stone conspiracy theory in areas ranging from his last days as a Dodger with accusations made about the legendary Vince Scully… to his final days as an Oakland A. And of course there’s all the ugliness regarding Roger Clemens.
This is a tremendously in depth look at a legendary ballplayer… who like many players during this seriously tainted era… is still awaiting… the final words… of what… and how… his accomplishments… finally… and forever… will be carved into the stones of time. One negative trait is that Piazzi is always blaming others for any problems he may encounter.
June 13, 2020
Mike Piazza is my favorite baseball player of all-time. I was certainly nervous reading this autobiography after browsing a number of reviews here that seemed to lose quite a bit of respect for him as a result of the book. Now having finished, I can say--I actually love Piazza more than ever, because this is an unvarnished recounting of his life and career, warts and all.
Piazza is brutally honest throughout about his mistakes, his frustrations, his feuds, his perceptions of unfair treatment. He comes off often as bratty, sullen, spoiled, stuck up, and hot-headed. And, he was; part of his appeal to many fans was his willingness to embrace his emotions, for better or worse. But he's also totally self-aware, making frequent comments such as "Not my finest moment", and he clearly has no interest in being someone he's not or trying to make himself look better, which is a refreshing bit of sincerity.
Piazza is a political conservative--that's a big deal these days of course, so if you just don't like conservatives, you'll probably want to move on. But, other than a questionable couple of pages where he rants about Latin players not speaking English, the book is really not political and is pretty squarely focused on his baseball journey. It is well-paced and not burdened with unnecessary side-trails, particularly once it gets to his pro days, with each chapter representing one season in his fifteen-year career. It will also certainly anger Dodgers fans, who he feels severely unappreciated by (he notably says that he'd rather wear a blank cap on his Hall of Fame plaque than a Dodgers one).
It feels overall like a great editing job by Piazza's co-author, Lonnie Wheeler, who lets Mike be himself and share all the unsanitized stories and feelings about Roger Clemens, Guillermo Mota, the Martinez brothers, 9/11, Bobby Valentine, PEDs, the LA and NY media circus, while trimming out much of the fat; I can imagine if left on his own, Mike would have turned in a 600-page draft with two pages of complaints for every time someone hit him with their backswing. There's something appealing to me about that kind of passion. I don't recommend this book for those who might already be prone to hate Piazza--because you really will after this--but as a fan I found this to be an endearing and honest recap of a great career.
Piazza is brutally honest throughout about his mistakes, his frustrations, his feuds, his perceptions of unfair treatment. He comes off often as bratty, sullen, spoiled, stuck up, and hot-headed. And, he was; part of his appeal to many fans was his willingness to embrace his emotions, for better or worse. But he's also totally self-aware, making frequent comments such as "Not my finest moment", and he clearly has no interest in being someone he's not or trying to make himself look better, which is a refreshing bit of sincerity.
Piazza is a political conservative--that's a big deal these days of course, so if you just don't like conservatives, you'll probably want to move on. But, other than a questionable couple of pages where he rants about Latin players not speaking English, the book is really not political and is pretty squarely focused on his baseball journey. It is well-paced and not burdened with unnecessary side-trails, particularly once it gets to his pro days, with each chapter representing one season in his fifteen-year career. It will also certainly anger Dodgers fans, who he feels severely unappreciated by (he notably says that he'd rather wear a blank cap on his Hall of Fame plaque than a Dodgers one).
It feels overall like a great editing job by Piazza's co-author, Lonnie Wheeler, who lets Mike be himself and share all the unsanitized stories and feelings about Roger Clemens, Guillermo Mota, the Martinez brothers, 9/11, Bobby Valentine, PEDs, the LA and NY media circus, while trimming out much of the fat; I can imagine if left on his own, Mike would have turned in a 600-page draft with two pages of complaints for every time someone hit him with their backswing. There's something appealing to me about that kind of passion. I don't recommend this book for those who might already be prone to hate Piazza--because you really will after this--but as a fan I found this to be an endearing and honest recap of a great career.
August 4, 2020
When I read a biography, I hope to get an in-depth look into someone’s life. I want to learn about their background and upbringing; understanding the events and values that shaped their life. I develop empathy and compassion for them as I understand the lowlights and highlights that define them.
Yeah, I did not get that with Mike Piazza.
When I was a kid, I was a huge Piazza fan. I was the starting catcher for my little league team growing up an hour or so from Los Angeles during Piazza’s Dodger blue tenure. Yes, I was absolutely shocked when the Dodgers traded him away. My heart was broken then but, don’t worry, my heart is fine now.
Should Piazza be in the Hall of Fame? Absolutely, he is the best home run hitting catcher in history. Was he the best catcher? No. Was he the worst? No. I am saddened by the trend that teams move great hitters away from the catching position. Bryce Harper was a catcher during his amateur days, but as soon as he was drafted he was sent to the outfield to save his legs. I would love to see Bryce catching in the big leagues.
Would Piazza be in the Hall of Fame if he wasn’t a catcher? Probably not, but he probably would have had more hits and home runs playing another position, so the question is moot.
Nevertheless, reading Piazza’s autobiography, I started liking him less and less. He comes off very entitled. He is constantly complaining that he deserved better from coaches, GMs, scouts, players, media, almost everybody. It is not endearing at all.
Do you know how every person who runs president writes a book as sort of a manifesto before declaring their candidacy? I think Piazza wrote this book as his argument for the Hall of Fame. He lays out some convincing evidence, his statistics are compelling. But as a whole, the Piazza provides a “woe is me” mentality. I don’t have a lot of sympathy for a guy who made millions and started numerous all-star games yet was never crowned MVP. He appeared frustrated that he never won a World Series, but then again, he constantly mentions that he had to only look out for himself. These two notions conflict.
If you are a Piazza fan, perhaps ignorance is bliss.
Yeah, I did not get that with Mike Piazza.
When I was a kid, I was a huge Piazza fan. I was the starting catcher for my little league team growing up an hour or so from Los Angeles during Piazza’s Dodger blue tenure. Yes, I was absolutely shocked when the Dodgers traded him away. My heart was broken then but, don’t worry, my heart is fine now.
Should Piazza be in the Hall of Fame? Absolutely, he is the best home run hitting catcher in history. Was he the best catcher? No. Was he the worst? No. I am saddened by the trend that teams move great hitters away from the catching position. Bryce Harper was a catcher during his amateur days, but as soon as he was drafted he was sent to the outfield to save his legs. I would love to see Bryce catching in the big leagues.
Would Piazza be in the Hall of Fame if he wasn’t a catcher? Probably not, but he probably would have had more hits and home runs playing another position, so the question is moot.
Nevertheless, reading Piazza’s autobiography, I started liking him less and less. He comes off very entitled. He is constantly complaining that he deserved better from coaches, GMs, scouts, players, media, almost everybody. It is not endearing at all.
Do you know how every person who runs president writes a book as sort of a manifesto before declaring their candidacy? I think Piazza wrote this book as his argument for the Hall of Fame. He lays out some convincing evidence, his statistics are compelling. But as a whole, the Piazza provides a “woe is me” mentality. I don’t have a lot of sympathy for a guy who made millions and started numerous all-star games yet was never crowned MVP. He appeared frustrated that he never won a World Series, but then again, he constantly mentions that he had to only look out for himself. These two notions conflict.
If you are a Piazza fan, perhaps ignorance is bliss.
May 3, 2019
Talk about mixed feelings. I come away from this autobiography with an overwhelming sadness. I loved Mike before I read this book. I followed his whole career. After, I have an abiding respect for his accomplishments as a baseball player, but he is an unlikeable person. He mentions often that he is a practicing Catholic. But (especially in the epilogue, which is an uncomfortable, self-conscious, unapologetic screed) he makes sure you know he doesn’t care about you and if you like him as a person. He doesn’t like minorities (particularly Latino players who he believes formed a Mafia-esque cabal against him). That’s not Christian, let alone Catholic. It’s obvious he doesn’t like “others.” He also obliquely mentions his addiction to Fox News. He keeps telling you he is a CONSERVATIVE (who is a hardcore metal head who hates “explicit” rap), but I don’t think he ever dated a woman who was not a model, starlet, Playboy bunny, actress, or a woman who was aspiring to be one (goes to Mass on Sundays, goes to the Playboy mansion the following Saturday). There’s a soullessness to Mike Piazza. Was he deprived of socialization from childhood when he would spent every night after school in the dad-built batting cage in his backyard? He seems to have been socially awkward throughout his life, blaming the other people if they couldn’t get along with him. He assures us that he knew he was no leader in the clubhouse and obliquely says “shake on YOU, sucker” if you expected him to be. He used many “legal” performance-enhancing substances and chemicals, but he emphasizes how he was on the leading edge of healthy eating with “supplements” and shakes. He has a violent temper and again seems to ridicule anyone who takes him to task for this antisocial behavior (Mike, did it occur to you that the “legal supplements” you existed on may have contributed to your penchant for fisticuffs?). I relished the baseball stories in this book but I wish I hadn’t looked behind the curtain at this unapologetically selfish (antithetically unchristian) and not-particularly-likeable human being.
February 4, 2021
So I read this because I remember Mike Piazza and remembered how good of a hitting catcher he was. I was never a fan of him or his teams. Not to say I disliked him just that I didn't follow his career particularly closely.
Maybe it's because of that detachment that I enjoyed the book as much as I did. I understood where he was coming from even though I didn't agree with a lot of his reasoning and were I his peer I certainly wouldn't have held any of his decisions against him. He was the best offensive catcher in the game, one of the best bats in baseball and he wanted top dollar, which he deserved, people hating him because he came from privilege doesn't make sense. In part because most baseball players now come from upper middle class so in that respect he was just ahead of his time. The other reason it doesn't really make sense to hold his privilege against him is because he still had to have both the talent and work ethic to achieve all that he did.
That all said, he comes off as the poster child for white male privilege in a lot of his musings, which I suppose he can't really help. That point against him (if you can even call it that) however also works in his favor, because after reading this any doubts I had about his alleged sexuality or steroid use were put to bed, not because he said I didn't and I'm not, but because he said so many things such as admitting he took andro and greenies, while also saying things that an editor had to warn against. Why would he say all of these things that could've hurt his hall bid but keep out the other? He'd have just tried to brush it off as a footnote were he a chronic PED user.
Anyway if you're a child of the 90s/00s or a Piazza fan or a Mets/Dodgers fan this is a solid book and interesting insight into one of the best players of that era.
Maybe it's because of that detachment that I enjoyed the book as much as I did. I understood where he was coming from even though I didn't agree with a lot of his reasoning and were I his peer I certainly wouldn't have held any of his decisions against him. He was the best offensive catcher in the game, one of the best bats in baseball and he wanted top dollar, which he deserved, people hating him because he came from privilege doesn't make sense. In part because most baseball players now come from upper middle class so in that respect he was just ahead of his time. The other reason it doesn't really make sense to hold his privilege against him is because he still had to have both the talent and work ethic to achieve all that he did.
That all said, he comes off as the poster child for white male privilege in a lot of his musings, which I suppose he can't really help. That point against him (if you can even call it that) however also works in his favor, because after reading this any doubts I had about his alleged sexuality or steroid use were put to bed, not because he said I didn't and I'm not, but because he said so many things such as admitting he took andro and greenies, while also saying things that an editor had to warn against. Why would he say all of these things that could've hurt his hall bid but keep out the other? He'd have just tried to brush it off as a footnote were he a chronic PED user.
Anyway if you're a child of the 90s/00s or a Piazza fan or a Mets/Dodgers fan this is a solid book and interesting insight into one of the best players of that era.
September 14, 2022
It can be convincingly argued that Mike Piazza is the best hitting catcher of all time. He certainly put up the numbers while surviving the rigors of the most demanding position in baseball. He used the title “Long Shot” to emphasize how low he was in the draft of 1988, in fact he was the last player selected. Even Piazza admits that he was drafted by the Dodgers as a favor from Tommy Lasorda to his buddy, Piazza’s father.
Yet, with the backing and encouragement he received starting from a very young age, there is no question that Piazza received favors that few prospects have been the beneficiary of. For example, how many teenage boys have received personal hitting instruction from Ted Williams? He also put in the hours of practice and study of the game, his father built a batting cage in the backyard so that he could practice hitting.
While Piazza is an interesting baseball personality, the book is tainted by what is at times very close to whining. While his complaints about the media and fans in New York are founded, his prose indicates that he was being singled out. I have been following baseball and reading books about baseball for years and recall reading how the press and fans hounded Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle and other stars. Mickey Mantle was booed a great deal in the first half of his career with New York. Piazza also has words of criticism of the way baseball teams bring along players from Latin America, helping them with translators and other aspects of fitting in. Given how much some of these players are worth and the fact that many are kids from very poor backgrounds, aiding those players is simply good business.
While there are some high moments, I found the whining aspects annoying. Others that played in New York received far harsher treatment, by both the fans and the press.
Yet, with the backing and encouragement he received starting from a very young age, there is no question that Piazza received favors that few prospects have been the beneficiary of. For example, how many teenage boys have received personal hitting instruction from Ted Williams? He also put in the hours of practice and study of the game, his father built a batting cage in the backyard so that he could practice hitting.
While Piazza is an interesting baseball personality, the book is tainted by what is at times very close to whining. While his complaints about the media and fans in New York are founded, his prose indicates that he was being singled out. I have been following baseball and reading books about baseball for years and recall reading how the press and fans hounded Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle and other stars. Mickey Mantle was booed a great deal in the first half of his career with New York. Piazza also has words of criticism of the way baseball teams bring along players from Latin America, helping them with translators and other aspects of fitting in. Given how much some of these players are worth and the fact that many are kids from very poor backgrounds, aiding those players is simply good business.
While there are some high moments, I found the whining aspects annoying. Others that played in New York received far harsher treatment, by both the fans and the press.
April 9, 2024
A lot of reviewers here wrote that Piazza came across as a spoiled brat. I didn't see it that way and instead thought he was proving the naysayers who doubted he'd ever be a decent baseball player as wrong. Turns out, Piazza was one of the greatest overall catchers to ever play.
I wasn't a big Mets fan, nor did I really care for Piazza... not because of who he was, but I am a Minnesota Twins fan and follow the American League more closely. Of course, I was aware of what Piazza did in his career and I thought he did a decent job of relating his exploits on the field.
I can see where some may think he's whiny when he talks about other players, the poor management decision of the Dodgers, the fractured relationship with Tommy Lasorda, etc. But I think he was defending himself and showing how he was wronged most of his career. He also writes about how he was suspected of using steroids and being gay.
This was the first sports book I've read this year. Usually, I read quite a bit, but I've been reading more fiction lately. I had read Long Shot before and enjoyed it and liked it again. Yeah, it may have come across a bit bitter, but I thought he did a good job recapping his career and making us remember is career. The section he wrote about playing after the Twin Towers attack was very good as well.
I wasn't a big Mets fan, nor did I really care for Piazza... not because of who he was, but I am a Minnesota Twins fan and follow the American League more closely. Of course, I was aware of what Piazza did in his career and I thought he did a decent job of relating his exploits on the field.
I can see where some may think he's whiny when he talks about other players, the poor management decision of the Dodgers, the fractured relationship with Tommy Lasorda, etc. But I think he was defending himself and showing how he was wronged most of his career. He also writes about how he was suspected of using steroids and being gay.
This was the first sports book I've read this year. Usually, I read quite a bit, but I've been reading more fiction lately. I had read Long Shot before and enjoyed it and liked it again. Yeah, it may have come across a bit bitter, but I thought he did a good job recapping his career and making us remember is career. The section he wrote about playing after the Twin Towers attack was very good as well.
April 5, 2022
When reading a modern sport superstar’s biography, your perception of the work as both a whole and in nitpicking the details is bound to rely on how closely you and the media covered their career. Enter Mike Piazza in his 2013 autobiography, “Long Shot.” Though Piazza and his incredible batting accomplishments as an everyday catcher stand out to me as a historian of the game, my childhood memories of this Hall of Famer mostly just concerns his run-ins with Roger Clemens and his game-winning home run following the return to New York City after 9/11. Thankfully, I was far enough removed from the tabloids of LA and NYC to not hear the everyday movements of the jerk they call Piazza. Also, thankfully, Mike does not shy away from addressing his brash personality in the game, and offers up numerous thoughts on the steroid era and his own suspected use. In the end, I agree with Mike when he says that his story IS the American dream - he just doesn't have the homely, heroic character and attitude that the fans of the National Pastime craves.
August 8, 2017
There are plenty of autobiographies out there that I feel you don't really need to be a fan of the person's body of work, or have a real interest in what they did to enjoy their story. I'm not a fan of Marilyn Manson's music, but very much enjoyed his story. This isn't that type of autobiography.
Mike Piazza tells his story about playing baseball, and that's pretty much it. Gossip and personal life are kept to a minimum in favor of how he felt about playing the game. I feel you really need to be a big baseball fan, and at least have a passing interest in Mike Piazza to enjoy this book. It definitely caters to a niche market.
Fortunately, I love baseball and Mike Piazza is my favorite player. I am the niche market this book caters to. Some people may get bored with the repeated statistics and inside baseball talk, but I enjoyed hearing my all time favorite player talk about my favorite era in baseball.
Mike Piazza tells his story about playing baseball, and that's pretty much it. Gossip and personal life are kept to a minimum in favor of how he felt about playing the game. I feel you really need to be a big baseball fan, and at least have a passing interest in Mike Piazza to enjoy this book. It definitely caters to a niche market.
Fortunately, I love baseball and Mike Piazza is my favorite player. I am the niche market this book caters to. Some people may get bored with the repeated statistics and inside baseball talk, but I enjoyed hearing my all time favorite player talk about my favorite era in baseball.
February 23, 2024
Coming to this book a little late. It was probably a better read before Mike eventually makes the HOF. Here Mike spends some time laying out his case for the HOF, or just being one of the greatest offensive catchers.
So Mike does have a few axes to grind whether media, or opposing players or team ownership. He does not always come off as a likable guy (neither his father), but that’s ok. You should not always need to meet your heroes.
He does excel at telling the story of a baseball season. Some player write fairly dull game by game recaps with all the emotion of Elias stats. Mike is good about including context, whether a pennant/wildcard chase, stories of 9/11, injuries and rehab, or some pitcher rivalries.
So Mike does have a few axes to grind whether media, or opposing players or team ownership. He does not always come off as a likable guy (neither his father), but that’s ok. You should not always need to meet your heroes.
He does excel at telling the story of a baseball season. Some player write fairly dull game by game recaps with all the emotion of Elias stats. Mike is good about including context, whether a pennant/wildcard chase, stories of 9/11, injuries and rehab, or some pitcher rivalries.
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