MLB
Prior to the Infamous Mike Piazza Homer
September 11th, 2001 is a day that will forever be in America’s thoughts, feelings, and heart. Not just the country, but the entire world would change forever after the tragic events. The way people went about their daily lives would never be the same. When it seemed as if America had nothing, President Bush stood upon Ground Zero with a bullhorn addressing the American people with the only sign of hope from that day. “I can hear you! I can hear you! The rest of the world hears you! And the people — and the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon!” The crowd began chanting, “U-S-A” and patriotism grew to all-time highs. The country was united more than ever before.
September 21st, 2001
Major League Baseball had paused their schedule for ten days following the terrorist attacks on September 11th. The Mets hosted the Braves in what would be the first game in New York since the attacks. In the final stretch of a pennant race, the Mets were trailing the Braves 2-1 into the bottom of the eighth inning. Mike Piazza came up to the plate, with a runner on first and one out. With one swing of the bat, Piazza crushed a baseball to deep left center. As the ball carried into the outfield, Mets broadcaster Howie Rose shouted, “And it’s hit deep to left center, Andruw Jones on the run, this one has a chance… HOME RUN! MIKE PIAZZA! AND THE METS LEAD 3-2!” The ball landed behind the outfield wall at Shea and the stadium erupted. People all over the country finally had something to smile and cheer about.
The After Effects of Piazza’s Home Run
Piazza’s homer was the beginning of the healing process throughout the country. America finally had their reason to smile. One mother who lost her husband in 9/11 said, “My children, for the first time in ten days, which I thought would never happen, were cheering, and smiling, and happy. They saw they could enjoy a baseball game without their father which I thought would never happen.” Piazza’s homer continues to give chills today as any hope the United States had to hold was still there. Fans can’t put into words the significance of Piazza’s homer even to this day. America just wanted something to smile about and that is what Mike Piazza gave them with his infamous home run after the September 11th attacks.
Want to watch Piazza’s home run? Check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fLGzbGGEYQ
Photo Credit to debby19 via Flickr
