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Mike Piazza Taking A Swing At Ballet

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Former Major League Baseball player Mike Piazza will be under the glare of the spotlight again on May 3, but instead of on a baseball field it will be on a stage for the Miami City Ballet.

The dance company has selected Piazza, a longtime catcher who spent time with multiple teams including the Marlins, New York Mets, and Los Angeles Dodgers, to play the role of a gangster in the upcoming production of "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue."

But don't expect Piazza to be dancing across the stage in tights. Instead, he'll wear a 1920's-era gangster costume. Piazza is expected to have a few lines and then watch the rest of the show from a seat onstage.

So what made Piazza want to take a swing at the ballet? He said it's a gift to his six-year-old daughter who is a student at Miami City Ballet.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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