On This Date in Sports September 21, 2001: Piazza Lifts a City
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
In the first sporting event in New York following the attacks on September 11th, the New York Mets host the Atlanta Braves at Shea Stadium. The game began with an emotional ceremony as the stands were filled with rescue workers who had been down at the World Trade Center in the rescue and recovery efforts. The Mets would win the game 3-2 as Mike Piazza hit a two-run home run off Steve Karsay in the eighth inning.
After losing to the New York Yankees in the Subway Series in five games, the New York Mets had a World Series hangover in 2001. They struggled in much of the early season and were buried in the National League playoff chase. At the All-Star Break, the Mets had a record of 38-51 for manager Bobby Valentine, as the loss of Mike Hampton took a toll on their starting rotation. It was just another disappointing season for the Flushing faithful, as the Mets' struggles continued into August when they were a season-worst 14-games under .500 on August 17th.
As August came to a close, the Mets began to turn things around; they closed the month winning 9-of-12 and continued their resurgence in September, as they won seven of their first eight games before suffering a 4-2 loss to the Flordia Marlins on September 9th, missing out on a chance to get back to .500 for the first time since the fourth game of the season. The Mets had a day off on Monday and were scheduled to begin a three-game series at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on September 11th.
The attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon brought the sports world to a halt. With air travel also suspended, the Mets needed to charter a bus to get back to New York. Games in MLB would be halted for six days; the Mets helped with rescue and recovery efforts as Shea Stadium was used as a staging ground where supplies were collected and handed out, with Bobby Valentine and the Mets players at the forefront.
The games that were to be played the week of the terrorist attacks were rescheduled at the end of the season. The Mets were to be home on September 17th against the Pirates, but the series was moved to the end of the season, as the city was not quite ready for the Mets and Yankees to play at home. Instead, the Mets returned to Pittsburgh and swept a three-game set with the Pirates and moved over .500 for the first time since early April at 74-73.
The Mets game against the Atlanta Braves would be the first sporting event in New York after the attacks on 9/11. The Braves had become the Mets nemesis; they were well on their way to a 10th straight division championship, holding a record of 79-67 for Bobby Cox. The Mets had Bruce Chen, who was acquired at the trade deadline, make the start, while Atlanta sent Jason Marquis, a native of Staten Island, to the mound.
Before the game, there was an emotion-filled ceremony, as a ribbon was placed over the Twin Towers that were on top of the scoreboard at Shea Stadium. The Mets wore hats representing the various agencies affected by the attacks, including the police and fire departments. Diana Ross sung "God Bless America," and Mark Anthony sung the national anthem. At the end of the ceremonies, the Mets and Braves joined together in a show of unity, as the bagpipes played "Amazing Grace."
The Braves scored first as Brian Jordan scored on a double by Ken Caminiti as Mike Piazza dropped the throw home from Matt Lawton in the fourth inning. Piazza would score the tying run in the bottom of the fourth as Tsuyoshi Shinjo hit a sacrifice fly to rightfield. The Braves regained the lead in the eighth inning as Jordan doubled in Cory Aldridge, who came on to pinch run for Julio Franco. The double was hit against Armando Benitez, who came on with two runners on and two outs to replace John Franco.
Jason Marquis pitched six innings, with Steve Reed and Mike Remlinger getting the seventh for Atlanta. The eighth inning would be in the hands of Queens native Steve Karsay as the Braves led 2-1. With one out Edgardo Alfonzo walked, sending Mike Piazza to the plate. Desi Reliford came on to pinch run as the Mets looked to tie the game. Instead, Mike Piazza launched a home run off the camera tower in left-centerfield, sending Shea Stadium into a state of delirium. Firefighters and police officers who had watched their friends and co-workers killed were able to jump for joy for the first time since the horrific attacks ten days earlier.
With a 3-2 lead, Armando Benitez was able to get the final three outs as Keith Lockhart grounded into a double play to Rey Ordonez to end the game. The Mets would finish the 2001 season with a record of 82-80. The home run by Mike Piazza would single a turning point in the recovery from September 11th, as it was the moment the healing began. Shea Stadium is gone, but the skyline with the ribbon was moved over to Citi Field, proving a reminder of what once was and how the Mets helped a city heal.