Mike Piazza signed a seven-year, $91 million contract with the New York Mets in 1998. At the time, it was the largest transaction in baseball history.
Before he built a name for himself — and a multimillion-dollar paycheck — the Hall of Fame catcher made do with considerably less: “My first contract was $850 a month,” Piazza tells online investing site Wealthsimple. That happened in 1989, when he was a minor leaguer with the Salem Dodgers.
“I lived in Salem with four other guys, and we all pooled our money and kind of lived like a family,” he continues.
Piazza and his teammates were given $8 to $10 per day for meals when they went to games. He explains, “We stretched our dollars.” “Of course, your Sizzler Steak would have a salad bar.” The Olive Garden, complete with limitless breadsticks. We always knew where we were going. I forgot where it was, but they had all-you-can-eat pasta and Bolognese for like $6.99, and we’d all go there and just smash all this spaghetti and Bolognese.”
Mike Piazza was promoted to $1,000 per month in his second year. The following year, he earned $1,100 every month. After three seasons in the minor levels, he was promoted to the top leagues in 1992. “It was $15,000 for the year, non-negotiable,” he said of his first major league deal with the Dodgers in 1993. It wasn’t a lot of money, but it seemed like a lot at the moment.”
Does Mike Piazza still live in Italy?
Piazza, who is now married and lives in Italy with his wife and three children, still enjoys saving money. Life in Italy is “a lot cheaper” than life in Miami, where his family used to live, he says.
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