2
2011
Remembering How The Mets and Piazza Helped Heal A City
An article by 
On the morning after President Obama ordered US Forces to attack and kill 9/11 mastermind, terrorist Osama Bin Laden, it’s hard to focus on anything Mets. The emotions still run too deep. We are all so joyed and relieved that justice has been done, but it also brings back the memories of how it all began.
I found a wonderful video on MLB.com that does a nice job of retelling those tragic events and how they led up to one of the most memorable games in Mets history. I’m of course referring to that emotional night when baseball came back after ten days of mourning, and the Mets told the rest of the country that everything was going to be okay.
The Mets beat the Braves and Mike Piazza helped to heal a city and a nation with a mighty blast and the most memorable moment of his Hall of Fame career. For one night, that homerun transformed a city in mourning into a pillar of strength for the rest of the country. Piazza ignited the crowd at Shea Stadium that was mostly filled with thousands of people who lost loved ones on that tragic day.
“As far as drama goes, that was like a Hollywood script,” said longtime Mets radio personality Ed Coleman. “You could write it up and people wouldn’t believe it.”
The terrorists underestimated our resiliency and how much we love our American values and our American way of life.
That Piazza homerun remains so significant to Mets fans that it’s been called the second greatest moment in Shea Stadium history, right behind Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.
“I remember standing on the line during the national anthem – actually when the bagpipes and band came out – I said to myself, ‘Please God, give me the strength to get through this,’” Piazza said. “I was fortunate to find the strength to hit a home run in that situation. I’m flattered, I’m honored that people put that moment as a time where it helped the city at least have a little bit of joy in a really tough week.”
And how awesome would it be, if the New York Mets invited Mike Piazza back to Citi Field this weekend to finally retire his number and thank him for a tremendous career and his transcending and momentous post 9/11 homerun.
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 42 | 30 | .583 | - |
| Phillies | 35 | 37 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Nationals | 34 | 36 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Mets | 27 | 40 | .403 | 12.5 |
| Marlins | 22 | 48 | .314 | 19.0 |
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“And how awesome would it be, if the New York Mets invited Mike Piazza back to Citi Field this weekend to finally retire his number and thank him for a tremendous career and his transcending and momentous post 9/11 homerun.”
YES, PLEASE.
That was one of the first games I watched from beginning to end… That HR felt different than any other one I’ve ever seen in my life. I hadn’t turned 8 yet in the year and yet I can still remember it fairly vividly 10 years later. I’ll always have a special spot of respect for Mike Piazza and this moment made him a NY Hero.
Tons of props for this one! Somebody please send this to the Mets and lets get Mike Piazza’s number retired. It is long overdue. Please let this happen and like this post shows the timing couldn’t be any better. Lets Go Mets and God Bless the USA!
Great, great, great moment. Unforgettable and etched in our memories for all time.
Very Good Joe. 1st thing I did today was go outside and put my USA flag up.
I thought it was very appropriate for the Mets to be playing when the Nation learned of Bin Laden’s death. It was also pretty special to have Bobby Valentine on hand when it happened. Bobby V., Mike Piazza, and so many others did so much to help the Greatest City recover. I think we all woke up today thinking that world (at least for the moment), is a safer and better place with Bin Laden gone.
How beautiful a night: we finally killed that scumbag, and our Mets gave it everything to beat the Phillies.
It was a must win game on a night when we all won big as Americans!
I tell you, the Mets were deeply frustrating last night, but man oh man, did they ever dig deep to win that game.
Yes, Mr. Paulino, Welcome!
The Mets win, our sometime enemy Yankees win, New York wins, America wins. FANTASTIC- An understatement in this time.
And in answering your statement that they should retire Piazza’s number now, I believe we should wait until September 21, 2011. The ten year anniversary of his magical homerun that healed a city. That would be an emotional day to say the least.
Too bad we are on the road that day against the Cardinals. It was a good idea.