“U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A,” the sellout crowd at Citi Field roared.
The ceremony, remembering the Sept. 11, 2001, World Trade Center attacks 20 years to the day, had yet to get underway, but Mets and Yankees fans were ready for an emotional half hour of looking back at that tragic day, saluting and honoring those who lost their lives or aided someone in need.
The stadium was almost completely full at 7 p.m., when the festivities began. A 9/11 banner was draped across the mound and an American flag was shown on the big screen beyond center field, leading to more chants of “U-S-A.” Fans held up different signs looking back on the day. One lifted up a blue Mike Piazza jersey. Another held a sign that read “United We Stand,” with the number 31 — Piazza’s number — underneath it. American flags were everyone — in the stands and on the field being held up by first responders.
“This was more than just a baseball game tonight,” Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge said.
“It was a fun day to be a part of,” Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner said after the 8-7 win over the Mets. “It was a special day to be a part of. … It puts things in perspective.”
Perhaps the most touching moment came when different groups of first responders representing the FDNY, NYPD, Port Authority Police Department, Department of Sanitation and Department of Corrections were introduced along the outfield fence from left-center to right-center field, accompanied by different members of the 2001 Mets. At that point both current Mets and Yankees teams, who had been standing in their respective dugouts wearing hats of first responder agencies, walked onto the infield and lined up on each line amongst one another and shook hands as “one unified New York,” public address announcer Marysol Castro said.
“It really is such a special thing to have both New York teams playing against each other this year,” Mets first baseman Pete Alonso said before the game. “This is a truly special event, not just for New York, but for our country.”
Following a moment of silence and the national anthem, performed by the NYPD Cops and Kids Chorus, more thunderous chants of “U-S-A, U-S-A,” erupted. Then, with the game nearing, the two groups of fans provided more traditional Subway Series chants.
“Let’s go Yankees,” one faction of fans screamed.
“Let’s go Mets,” the other responded.
“It felt like a unified crowd and that was nice to be a part of,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Aside from a couple of idiots jumping the wall and running on the field, it was about a perfect night.”
As the two teams began to get ready to play, a video showing highlights of the first professional game played in New York City after 9/11, when the Mets beat the Braves at Shea Stadium on Sept. 21, 2001, after Mike Piazza hit a two-run, eighth-inning homer, was shown. The franchise’s two managers in 2001, Bobby Valentine and Joe Torre, were then introduced to throw out the ceremonial first pitches to a pair of first responders.
If Citi Field had a roof, it would’ve been blown off at that point.
