Note: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links, Schneps Media may earn a commission.
Mike Piazza (Wikimedia Commons)
QUEENS — Twenty-two years on from his famous home run that helped guide a wounded city toward the first steps of healing, Hall of Famer and New York Mets legend Mike Piazza has also developed into the custodian looking after and honoring one of the most painful moments in American history.
His visits to local firehouses around New York City now consist of numerous men and women who were born after the terrorist attacks stole the lives of 2,753 civilians and first responders at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
“We have a duty to educate the next generations,” Piazza said on Monday afternoon at Citi Field. ‘On a personal level, my kids were born after 9/11 and I think the way we came together that week as a city, as a country, and as a family is the way I hope we enlighten and teach the next generation going forward and the lessons learned so that it’ll never happen again… The stories of courage and bravery and self-sacrifice and all the things that are indicative of our country, that transcends any differences that we may have at this point.
“The unity we had that week out of a very horrible tragedy was one of the finest moments in our country.”
Piazza will forever be linked to the city’s recovery efforts — his home run in the bottom of the eighth inning at Shea Stadium on Sept. 21 against Atlanta Braves reliever Steve Karsay proved to be the game-winner in the first baseball game played in New York City since the attacks.
“The more time goes by and the more I reflect on it, I also understand that it wasn’t just me,” Piazza said. “I was in that particular situation and was fortunate to come through but I’m a man of faith and I truly felt people pulling for me. I really did. It’s something I can’t explain. I can’t crystalize it… but I did feel this rush of support…
Read the full article here
