Oh what a night!

 Shea Stadium, 25 years ago tonight.

9/21/2001.

Do you remember that baseball season?

Let’s go back to the 2000 Subway Series, when the National League Champion Mets lost to the American League champs, the Yankees, and NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani had to pretend to like the Mets as much as he liked the Yankees.

Both teams entered 2001 primed for a pennant race. It was an exciting season. Remember who was in the Mets that year?  John Franco.  Todd Zeile. Al Leiter. Robin Ventura. Ray Ordóñez. Edgardo Alfonso.

And, of course, Mike Piazza.

The team was in a pennant at race.

And then came 9/11.

The first professional sports event in NYC came 10 days later,  on 9/21.  The NY Mets and the Atlanta Braves in Shea Stadium.  The Braves were the Mets’ arch rivals.  But that night…

Police officers, firefighters and military personnel were on the field for pregame ceremony.  The Mets wore the caps of the various first responders,  Diana Ross sang “God Bless America”.  Mark Anthony sang the national anthem.  And later, during the 7th inning stretch, Liza Minnelli sang “New York, New York”.

And then, in the bottom of the 8th, the Mets down 2-1, Mike Piazza came to bat. 

The emotion in Howie Rose’s voice as he made that call …

Hard to believe that was 25 years ago.