NEW YORK CITY — The New York Yankees and New York Mets played a baseball game at Yankee Stadium on Friday to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Friday marked the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, which killed 2,977 people.

Both teams wore first responder caps paying tribute to the FDNY and NYPD during the game. The Port Authority honor guard, NYPD ceremonial unit, and FDNY ceremonial unit presented colors at the edge of the infield. Opera tenor James Valenti performed the National Anthem before the game, while a giant American flag was unfurled in center field by longtime Yankees season ticket holders.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone, Aaron Judge, and Gerrit Cole laid a wreath beside a plaque in Yankee Stadium's Monument Park earlier in the day. Members of the 2001 Yankees team took the field for pregame ceremonies, including manager Joe Torre, Jorge Posada, Paul O'Neill, Tino Martinez, Scott Brosius, Derek Jeter, and Mariano Rivera. Lee Greenwood performed "God Bless the U.S.A." before the game, and FDNY Lieutenant William Arce sang "God Bless America" during the seventh-inning stretch. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation and Tuesday's Promise were recognized during the pregame ceremonies.

Carlos Rodón was scheduled to start for the Yankees, and Nolan McLean was scheduled to start for the Mets. Mark Vientos was in the Mets lineup as designated hitter for the game, and Christopher Morel was playing first base for the Mets. The game first pitch was scheduled for 7:05 p.m. EDT, and fans were asked to be in their seats at 6:30 p.m. for the start of pregame ceremonies. Yankee Stadium gates opened to guests with valid tickets beginning at 5 p.m.

"It's going to be special. It's going to be a big day. Something that impacted not only a lot of New Yorkers, but the whole world and our whole country," Yankees captain Aaron Judge said.

Francisco Lindor said, "The energy, the vibes, how loud it should be, it should feel somewhat like October." He added, "The vibes, it’s almost like everybody comes together before the game, it doesn’t matter whether it’s Yankees or Mets, and it feels really good." "And then once the game starts, it becomes Yankees vs. Mets, which is really cool."

Why It Matters

The game served as a commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, an event that killed 2,977 people. The ceremony honored first responders and victims, including families such as those of Brielle Saracini and Sean McGuire, who lost parents in the attacks. The presence of the 2001 Yankees team and the recognition of organizations like the Tunnel to Towers Foundation reflected the ongoing connection between the city's baseball institutions and the historical trauma of that day.

The event demonstrated the role of sports in fostering unity, as noted by players from both teams. Francisco Lindor described the pregame atmosphere as a moment when rivalry gave way to collective remembrance before competition resumed. The inclusion of historical elements, such as the performance of patriotic songs and the laying of wreaths, reinforced the scale of the anniversary and the continued relevance of the attacks to New York's civic identity.

Timeline

Brielle Saracini and Sean McGuire met at Camp Better Days, a camp for children who lost parents on Sept. 11, 2001. On Sept. 11, 2001, Sean McGuire's father, Patrick McGuire, was working on the 84th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center. The Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks killed 2,977 people.

On Sept. 21, 2001, Mike Piazza hit a home run for the Mets against the Atlanta Braves at Shea Stadium in the first game played in New York after the Sept. 11 attacks. On Oct. 30, 2001, President George W. Bush threw out the first pitch before Game 3 of the 2001 World Series at Yankee Stadium. On Nov. 4, 2001, the Yankees lost the 2001 World Series in seven games to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Brielle Saracini and Sean McGuire were married in 2017.

What's New

Lindor said, "The vibes, it’s almost like everybody comes together before the game, it doesn’t matter whether it’s Yankees or Mets, and it feels really good." He also said, "And then once the game starts, it becomes Yankees vs. Mets, which is really cool." Further context included that the Yankees lost the 2001 World Series in seven games to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Yankee Stadium gates opened to guests with valid tickets beginning at 5 p.m. Lindor said, "The energy, the vibes, how loud it should be, it should feel somewhat like October." He also said, "I’m looking forward to it. It’s a special day for a lot of people, and hopefully we can put a smile on people’s faces with a great showing and remember the ones that fought for everybody."