Mike Piazza to throw out first pitch in Game 3 of World Series
Mike Piazza smiles as he stretches with the Mets during practice. Credit: Kathy Kmonicek, 2003
Ya gotta believe the mojo will be risin' for Games 3 and 4 of the World Series.
The Mets have tapped Mike Piazza -- who, of course, was part of that Mojo Risin' 1999 playoff squad and the 2000 World Series team -- and country singer Tim McGraw, son of Tug, to throw out the first pitches for Games 3 and 4 at Citi Field on Friday night and Saturday night, the Mets confirmed.
Tug McGraw, who died in 2004, was on the 1969 World Series champion team and helped take the Mets to the World Series again in 1973, the year he came up with the "Ya Gotta Believe!" rallying cry that still lives on today.
Piazza last threw out the first pitch on Sept. 20 for the last game of the Subway Series. He has been rooting along with Mets fans on Twitter.
"Great ballgame last night," he tweeted on Wednesday. "Never thought it was going to be easy, got to battle back find a way. #LetsGoMets #WorldSeries."
Laura Albanese is a reporter, feature writer and columnist covering local professional sports teams; she began at Newsday in 2007 as an intern.
