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How the New York Mets and Yankees helped a city heal after 9/11

By Kevin Henry

New York Mets players bow their heads during a moment of silence 21 September 2001 at Shea Stadium in New York. The New York Mets played their first home game after the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon 11 September. Rescue workers from New York City agencies were honored in a ceremony before the game against the Atanta Braves. From left are: coach John Stearns, Mike Piazza, Rey Ordonez, Glendon Rusch and Edgardo Alfonzo. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo by STAN HONDA / AFP) (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP via Getty Images)
New York Mets players bow their heads during a moment of silence 21 September 2001 at Shea Stadium in New York. The New York Mets played their first home game after the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon 11 September. Rescue workers from New York City agencies were honored in a ceremony before the game against the Atanta Braves. From left are: coach John Stearns, Mike Piazza, Rey Ordonez, Glendon Rusch and Edgardo Alfonzo. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo by STAN HONDA / AFP) (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 10: A faded photograph of the four firefighters from FDNY Engine 6 house who died in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack hang in the station house on September 10, 2021 in New York City. Engine 6 was a first responder to the World Trade Center and Fire Fighters Paul Beyer, Thomas Holohan and William R. Johnston and Lt. Thomas O’Hagan were killed in the North Tower. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 10: A faded photograph of the four firefighters from FDNY Engine 6 house who died in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack hang in the station house on September 10, 2021 in New York City. Engine 6 was a first responder to the World Trade Center and Fire Fighters Paul Beyer, Thomas Holohan and William R. Johnston and Lt. Thomas O’Hagan were killed in the North Tower. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) /

Twenty years ago today, as first responders dug through the rubble of the World Trade Center in New York City to find survivors as well as those who had perished, everything stopped after the terrorist attacks on 9/11.

Nearly every event that would have a large gathering of people in the following days and close to a week was postponed. That included award shows, like the Emmys, flights, and nearly all sporting events.

How Major League Baseball returned to play after September 11’s attacks

Initially, Major League Baseball canceled all games for that Tuesday but they extended that postponement until Monday, September 17. Six games were played on September 17, and one of them included the New York Mets, who were to play the Pittsburgh Pirates at Shea Stadium.

However, due to security concerns that were still around New York, the series was moved to Pittsburgh and their new stadium, PNC Park. The New York Yankees resumed play on Tuesday, one week after 9/11, facing the Chicago White Sox on a scheduled road trip. The Yankees took two of three from the White Sox before they went to Baltimore, where they lost two of three to the Orioles.

The Mets swept the Pittsburgh Pirates before returning home to play the first MLB game in New York City since 9/11.

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