New York City was shocked on September 11, 2001, when two commercial airliners crashed into the Twin Towers in one of the most notorious terrorist acts in human history. This, together with other attacks on the Pentagon and Pennsylvania, generated brutal chaos that, as might be expected, affected baseball, whose Major League season was totally interrupted for six days.
Since then, every 9/11, tribute has been paid to the victims of the attacks in MLB stadiums, where spaces are also conceived to honor members of the Fire Department (FDNY) and the New York Police Department (NYPD) who gave the first response on that fateful day. Much emphasis is placed on the Yankees and Mets ceremonies, New York teams that usually wear caps with the FDNY and NYPD insignia.
Due to the symbolism of the date, the games on each 9/11 have a special value for the New York franchises, although the two have not managed to go the same route in terms of results.
Yankees on a winning streak
On Thursday, September 11, with the presence of President Donald Trump in the stands at Yankee Stadium, the Bronx Bombers achieved an important victory against Detroit. Home runs by Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton were key in the victory, which went to talented rookie Cam Schlittler.
In this way, the Yankees improved their 9/11 record, a day on which they have only lost six times since 2002 to date. On the first anniversary of the attacks, for example, they managed to defeat the Orioles in 11 innings with a decisive hit by Nick Johnson, which represented the beginning of a streak of six consecutive wins on that date.
During that streak between 2002 and 2007, there was a very close victory against the Red Sox, their great rivals. In 2005, they achieved that victory thanks to a masterful combined pitching performance by Randy Johnson and Mariano Rivera, two members of the Cooperstown Hall of Fame.
The first team to beat the Yankees on 9/11 after the 2001 attacks was the Orioles in 2009. That year, Baltimore dealt a blow of 10 while playing in the Bronx, although the day left a historic event for the New Yorkers: Derek Jeter reached 2,722 hits and became the player with the most hits in the franchise, after surpassing Lou Gehrig.
In 2017, for example, the 9/11 game between the Yankees and Rays was scheduled to be played in Tampa, but was moved to Citi Field, the home of the Mets, due to damage caused by Hurricane Irma in Florida. The Bombers then picked up an extra win at their city rivals’ home stadium.
The Mets played the 9/11 clash on the 20th anniversary of the attacks. In 2021, the two New York teams met at Citi Field and the Yankees won 8-7 with a pair of home runs by Aaron Judge, who again in 2025 repeated with a pair of home runs on the same date.
The Yankees have not lost a 9/11 game since 2018, so their record in 22 games after the attacks is 16 wins and six losses.
Mets, the opposite face
The Mets’ 9/11 narrative differs from that of their neighbors. The Queens franchise has a losing record of 9-13 in 22 games played on this date. However, these duels have always been lived with great emotion due to the tributes paid.
In 2011, for example, the Mets held the ceremony for the 10th anniversary of the attacks at Citi Field. While they lost to the Cubs, there was an emotional moment before the game when Joe Torre and Bobby Valentine, managers of the Yankees and Mets in 2001, went out on the field together and threw out the first pitch in a show of brotherhood between the two teams in the city.
Since 2002, the Mets have never been able to win on more than two consecutive seasons playing on 9/11. This campaign they lost 6-4 to the Phillies, squandering a four-run lead in the first inning. Next year they hope to right the ship on such an important date, although to do so they will have to defeat the Yankees, their rivals on the 25th anniversary of one of the most atrocious attacks humanity has ever experienced.
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