Sports World Commemorates the 25th Anniversary of 9/11

Major League Baseball Honors 9/11 Anniversary

Major League Baseball and teams such as the New York Mets and New York Yankees paused to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. They held on-field tributes, special programming, community service projects, and other observances.

In New York, MLB and the Mets co-hosted an event with the nonprofit 9/11 Day at Citi Field. This meal-packing event was part of the UNITE for Good initiative and occurred near the site of the attacks. Later, MLB players, managers, coaches, and umpires wore special caps with a patch reading “We Shall Never Forget.” The Toronto Blue Jays sported caps with both the Canadian and American flags. The Yankees and Mets wore first-responder caps with their logos at Yankee Stadium.

New York Yankees Pay Tribute

Members of the 2001 Yankees stood during a ceremony commemorating the anniversary before their game against the Mets at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Before the first pitch, Yankees Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole, and manager Aaron Boone laid a wreath at the 9/11 memorial in Monument Park.

The national anthem resonated through the stadium, sung by opera tenor James Valenti. Lee Greenwood then performed “God Bless America.” At ballparks nationwide, there were customized base jewels and official lineup cards as part of the tribute. Home teams observed a league-wide moment of silence.

Universities Remember 9/11 Victims

Universities honored victims of the attacks with memorial stair climbs. Shortly after the events of September 11, Shea Stadium became a relief effort hub. Volunteers loaded trucks with essential supplies for Ground Zero.

Baseball returned to New York on September 21 with Mike Piazza hitting a decisive home run for the Mets against the Atlanta Braves. President George W. Bush threw the ceremonial first pitch at the World Series Game 3. Eventually, the Yankees lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the series.

College Football Tribute

Boston College and Rutgers marked the anniversary with a special-edition college football matchup. Rutgers sported red jerseys and white helmets with No. 37, honoring 37 alumni lost. “Never Forget” was inscribed on their pants.

Boston College featured a red bandanna design on their uniforms during the annual Red Bandanna Game. This honored Welles Crowther, a former lacrosse player who rescued people during the attacks. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on September 8.