New York Mets Overcoming the 9/11 Attacks

The 9/11 attacks definitely changed the face of everything in New York. Baseball wasn’t exempt from these changes. Major League Baseball had to deal with a ten game break. During this break, many groups of first responders helped at the site of the attack. What happened when the first responders needed assistance? Bobby Valentine, the former Mets manager said,“Were we just going to be a Band-Aid over this gaping wound or would we make a difference?” So they decided to make a big difference.

The Mets were at the Ground Zero site passing out care boxes for the first responders. They also stayed in the parking lot of Shea Stadium where they handed out boxes of food and water to people helping at Ground Zero and victims the attacks.

Not only did they help the victims of the horrible attacks, they helped the city recover emotionally. Ten days after the terrorist attacks, the Mets played the Atlanta Braves at Shea Stadium. They were down 2-1 at the end of the eighth inning. Mike Piazza, the star catcher on the Mets gave a lift that America needed badly He hit a glorious two-run homerun to give the Mets the lead and eventual win. "I feel blessed to be remembered for a home run that helped heal the city,” Mike Piazza stated to SNY.

Piazza made healing the wounds that were dealt on the dreaded day much easier. His miracle woke America up and told it to get up and move along. America needed this wake up call; they needed something to cheer about. People everywhere still remember this game and how he gave the people what they needed. He gave the people the spirits to move on and continue with their lives, to focus on the present and get over the past.

Every year there is a 9/11 anniversary to commemorate the people that died on that day. This day is where everyone feels great sorrow, where everyone is connected in a special way no matter what race what gender or what nationality, and a day everyone will never forget. Ten long years have pasted and still this feeling of sorrow has not been completely healed. The death of 2,819 cannot be undone, the devastation that came with the 9/11 attacks cannot be forgotten, and the memory of that day will scar the world. The day we lost our sense of security, the people we loved, and the tower that symbolized our pride. We have lost so much but we will always keep one thing with us: our hope.

-Contributed by Alex Long and Jason Wang