When Roger Clemens’ pitch exploded into the front of Mike Piazza’s helmet, Vince Piazza didn’t know what to think. All he knew was that he was frightened for his son.

“I was scared,” Vince admitted. “Something of that sort you feel it can be life threatening, career threatening.”

Mike Piazza will get into the batter’s box again tonight against Clemens at Yankee Stadium. The world will be watching but no one will be watching as closely as Vince Piazza.

“To see Mike come back in that situation, it tells you the kind of person he is and what he’s made of, it really does,” Vince said.