Sports radio hosts duped by fake Mike Piazza rumor

No, the New York Mets are not un-retiring Mike Piazza’s number 31 for newly acquired centerfielder Cedric Mullins.

The Mets retired Piazza’s 31 on July 30, 2016, the same week the Hall of Fame catcher was inducted into Cooperstown. Nine years later, the Mets traded for veteran outfielder Cedric Mullins from the Baltimore Orioles, who also wears the number 31.

Shortly after the trade, Mets troll account Mark Gooden alleged Mullins asked for Piazza’s number 31 to be unretired for him, claiming the franchise obliged. Despite it being an absolutely ridiculous claim, many on social media fell for the post, including the afternoon radio hosts on Detroit’s 97.1 The Ticket.

“I just saw this on social media,” said legendary Detroit sports radio host Mike “Stoney” Stone, who was filling in for regular co-host Mike Valenti. “Cedric Mullins…he wears number 31. 31 has been retired for Mike Piazza. He asked if they would unretire it and they have obliged.”

Stoney then posed two questions to co-host Rico Beard. Should the number be unretired for Mullins? And is Piazza more of a Dodger or a Met?

Hopefully, their listeners weren’t duped. “I just saw this on social media” should have been the first cause for pause. The second reason for doubt should have been the hosts questioning whether Piazza is more of a Dodger or Met. Piazza played the most games as a Met. He hit the most homers as a Met. His biggest moments were as a Met. There’s a reason Piazza is wearing a Mets hat on his Cooperstown plaque.

Despite not being sure whether Piazza was more of a Dodger or Met, both hosts did agree it was “bad” for Mullins to be given his number 31. Just not bad enough to warrant fact-checking the bogus report.

It’s reasonable to assume Stoney and Beard didn’t know Mark Goodman was a troll account on social media. But if you know troll accounts exist, and you read something as ridiculous as the Mets giving Piazza’s number to Cedric Mullins, just do a quick double-check before breaking it down on a prominent sports radio show.