In New York, MLB and the New York Mets co-hosted a meal-packing event at Citi Field in partnership with the nonprofit 9/11 Day as part of the UNITE for Good initiative, which serves as the nation’s largest annual day of service. Former Mets players, including Hall of Famer Mike Piazza, David Wright, Al Leiter, John Franco, Robin Ventura, Todd Zeile, Adam Ottavino, and Dellin Betances, led the effort alongside MLB Network’s Harold Reynolds, local college athletes, and volunteers to pack thousands of meals for tri-state families in need.
Sports World and MLB Observe 25th Anniversary of Sept. 11 Attacks
Across all major league ballparks, players, managers, coaches, and umpires wore special New Era caps bearing a We Shall Never Forget
side patch. The Toronto Blue Jays wore caps featuring both the American and Canadian flags, while the New York Yankees and Mets wore first-responder caps featuring their team logos during their matchup at Yankee Stadium. Ballparks also featured customized base jewels, official lineup cards, league-wide moments of silence, scoreboard dedications, and renditions of God Bless America.
Yankees Host Mets in Subway Series Tribute and Pre-Game Ceremony
At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees and Mets met for a Subway Series game on Friday night, marking only the second time the crosstown rivals have played on Sept. 11.
Saracini was joined by her husband, Sean McGuire, whose father also died in the attacks. The couple threw their ceremonial tosses to Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger, with former Yankees captain Derek Jeter watching from the mound alongside former teammates Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, Paul O’Neill, Tino Martinez, Scott Brosius, and manager Joe Torre.
Ahead of the first pitch in the Bronx, Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole, and manager Aaron Boone laid a wreath at the 9/11 memorial in Monument Park. Opera tenor James Valenti performed the national anthem while a giant American flag covered the outfield, followed by Lee Greenwood singing God Bless America.
College Football and Media Tributes Honor Victims and Survivors
Beyond Major League Baseball, the sports world’s commemorations extended to college football. Boston College and Rutgers met in a special-edition Friday night college football game to commemorate the anniversary. Rutgers wore red jerseys and white helmets featuring the number 37 with an American flag inside the digits to honor the 37 alumni the university lost a quarter-century ago, with “Never Forget” printed on the side of their pants.
Boston College marked its 13th annual Red Bandanna Game, featuring white uniforms designed with a red bandanna pattern on the sleeves, chest logo, and helmet stripe. The tradition honors Welles Crowther, a former Boston College lacrosse player who saved lives during the attacks and was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on September 8, 2026.
In broadcasting, MLB Network premiered the two-hour documentary When America Took the Field,
which explores the healing role baseball played in the weeks following the tragedy. Produced by MLB Network’s production staff alongside Todd Zeile, the film was screened for season-ticket holders at Citi Field before its national television premiere.
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