It's the evening of July 8th, 2000 in New York City.

More than 55,000 fans are packed inside historic Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.

Tonight, baseball's most legendary franchise is hosting its New York neighbor from Queens,

the Metz.

Though they play fewer than 10 miles apart, the Yankees and Metz don't have much in

common historically.

Nor is there any real bad blood between them, but that's about to change.

It's scoreless to begin the second inning.

Metz catcher Mike Piazza strides to the batter's box to lead off.

Piazza looks like a superhero.

His thick arms wheeled a 33-ounce bat that bulges at the barrel.

He sports a mustache in a gray uniform with the top button unbuttoned.

Piazza is less about style, more about the substance of his swim.

On his broad shoulders, he carries the hopes of a fan base starved for success.

Tonight is game 2 of a double-header with the Yankees.

Piazza caught game 1 for the Metz.

Normally, a catcher would take the late game off to rest his body in the middle of a marathon

season.

Squatting and locking in on a pitcher for hours on end is physically and mentally exhausting.

But Piazza can take the pain.

And the Metz don't want to lose Piazza's offense in the lineup.

He's already hit 24 home runs and driven in 72 runs in just 73 games.

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