In what promises to be an emotional night of remembrance, the Mets and Yankees will play at Citi Field on Sept. 11, 2021, on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The game highlights the Mets’ 2021 schedule, which Major League Baseball released Thursday.
“I can’t imagine how emotional and how powerful of an event that will be,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I would imagine, especially all that we have gone through this year, maybe adding another layer of just how potentially powerful and emotional of a game and a day and an event that might be. It’s something that hopefully we’re all a part of, and it will get the magic it deserves.”
The Mets famously helped the city heal after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, playing in the first professional sports game in New York City 10 days later. Mike Piazza hit a go-ahead, two-run home run off Steve Karsay in the eighth inning, in what became one of the most memorable games in Mets franchise history.
Beyond their on-field efforts in the wake of the attacks, the Mets aided New York City with countless firehouse visits and charitable missions that continue to this day. Last year, Mets first baseman Pete Alonso commissioned customized Sept. 11 cleats for every Mets player; he eventually donated his own pair to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in Lower Manhattan. Alonso also donated 5% of his $1 million Home Run Derby winnings to Tunnel to Towers, a nonprofit that aids the families of fallen New York City servicemen and women.
Each Sept. 11, Mets players and employees regularly visit firehouses around the city in remembrance.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].