New York & New Jersey Sports Teams Remember 9-11
Twenty-two years ago we lived through a day that none of us will ever soon forget.
On the morning of September 11, 2001, terrorists flew planes into the World Trade Center towers in New York City and flew another into the Pentagon. A fourth plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania when the people on the plane took on the hijackers. From the victims to first responders, three thousand people lost their lives that day.
But to the rest of us, our lives had been altered and scarred in some fashion.
One thing that stood out from that painful day, and the sorrowful days to come was the absence of sports. Major League Baseball paused its game for a week. The NFL postponed its entire Week 2 slate to the end of the season. There was no outlet, no escape from the increasingly painful news that came in the days after 9-11. It was the right thing to do. There were more pressing needs than sports.
America was under attack. Families were looking/hoping for loved ones to return.
In response to the moment, many athletes from the area’s sports teams volunteered to help first responders and EMTs bring food, belongings, and water when needed. It was a time to pause, reflect, and unite.
I’m just happy I gave people something to cheer about -Mike Piazza, on his go-ahead home run 10 days after 9/11 🇺🇸pic.twitter.com/Gui2kT0IJv
— Baseball Quotes (@BaseballQuotes1) September 11, 2023
The Day Sports Returned
When sports did return, it was a release we all needed. The Mets were the first to play baseball in New York post-9-11 on September 21. The night had an eerie feel to it until Mike Piazza’s home run in the eighth inning against Atlanta not only won the game, but it proved to be the defining moment that Americans and New Yorkers would never relent.
Two days later football returned. The Giants got a standing ovation in Kansas City from Chiefs fans. The Jets and Patriots played in Foxboro with all kinds of emotions. Patriots lineman, and Bronx native, Joe Andruzzi’s three brothers were firemen in New York on 9-11. His brothers were at Foxboro Stadium and were recognized before the crowd.
Weeks later the Yankees played the Arizona Diamondbacks in the World Series, a series the Yankees would ultimately lose, but one that went down as one of the best Fall Classic’s ever.
President George W. Bush throws a ceremonial first pitch from the mound for a strike before Game 3 of the 2001 World Series at Yankee Stadium! #MLB #Baseball #History #September11 #NeverForget pic.twitter.com/DU8qjQ4KaT
— Baseball by BSmile (@BSmile) September 11, 2023
It was a surreal time.
On this anniversary, all the major sports teams in the area took time to reflect.
SOMERSET PATRIOTS
22 years later, we still remember and mourn those we lost. pic.twitter.com/7M7urAbPoY
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) September 11, 2023
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY
We honor and remember those lost on September 11, 2001. #NeverForget pic.twitter.com/I4GjtWWetr
— Rutgers Scarlet Knights (@RUAthletics) September 11, 2023
New York Mets
We will #NeverForget. pic.twitter.com/kzqfbr5qC7
— New York Mets (@Mets) September 11, 2023
New York Yankees
We will always remember. #NeverForget pic.twitter.com/rH36AYVbbk
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 11, 2023
Woody Johnson – NY Jets owner
We will #NeverForget pic.twitter.com/TPF0bPMMNl
— Woody Johnson (@woodyjohnson4) September 11, 2023
New York Giants
— New York Giants (@Giants) September 11, 2023
Never Forget: 22nd Anniversary 9/11 Remembrance Ceremonies Scheduled In New Jersey
