Former New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza played a special role as baseball returned to New York following the terror attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001, and the jersey he wore in the memorable moment can now be yours.
Piazza’s game-worn jersey from September 21, 2001 against the Atlanta Braves is being auctioned off by Goldin Auctions. The jersey will be auctioned off on April 30 in New York City and was consigned to the auction by a Mets collector. The collector previously donated the uniform to the Mets for a public display, but it was recently returned by the franchise so it could be auctioned off.
The September 21 game, which was highlighted by Piazza’s two-run blast to push ahead of the Braves, was the first home sports event by a New York team since the attacks 10 days earlier. The NFL postponed its full weekend slate of games until the end of the regular season and Major League Baseball shut down for the rest of the week.
The Mets were not playing for much of anything but to be a spoiler for those standing in the way. But the Mets carried the heart of New York as baseball returned to a baseball-loving city, and Piazza’s two-run shot was just the kind of moment those in New York needed. Now, with Piazza heading to the Baseball Hall of Fame, someone can own a piece of baseball and American history provided by a Hall of Fame player.
[ESPN]