Today is a day to remember. Remember all who were lost on 9/11, their families and their friends. Never forget them.
Yesterday, a teacher asked me what my memories were of 9/11/01. I can vaguely remember the day, sitting it woodworking class and listening to an old radio play out the news of the morning.
But what I remember most about the days surrounding 9/11 is what transpired 10 days later.
On Sept. 21, 2001, baseball returned to New York.
The Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets squared off at Shea Stadium. After seven and a half innings of baseball, the Mets trailed by a score of 2-1.
Steve Karsay came on to pitch the 8th for Atlanta. After inducing a Matt Lawton groundout, Karsay walked Edgardo Alfonzo. Desi Relaford came on to pinch-run for Alfonzo as Mike Piazza stepped to the plate.
Piazza already had two hits that game, both doubles.
Behind 0-1 in the count, Piazza stepped into the batters box and hit a home run that meant more to the city of New York than any home run before or since.
A towering shot to center field, New Yorkers had a reason to cheer. It didn’t matter if you were a Mets fan, Yankees fan or no fan at all. This home run was the first bright spot in the city since the attack. It was, in a word, euphoric.
I vividly remember sitting on my friends porch and watching this home run through his living room window. I will never forget Piazza’s home run or the impact it had on the people of New York City.
To relive that moment, here’s a short video on the events leading up to the home run and to see that uplifting moment one more time.
Never forget 9/11.