Officers representing New York City's firefighters, police and rescue agency throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Shea Stadium in New York prior to the Mets' game against the Atlanta Braves. (Reuters Photo)
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Ribbon on WTC facade, Giuliani, star singers at Shea
By Ben Walker, Associated Press, 09/21/01
NEW YORK -- Al Leiter stared at the miniature New York City skyline atop the right-field scoreboard, and closed his eyes.
Diana Ross sings 'God Bless America' at Shea Stadium in New York prior to the Mets' game against the Atlanta Braves. (Reuters)
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The World Trade Center's twin towers were still standing, covered by a red, white and blue ribbon.
"I hadn't noticed it," the New York Mets pitcher said, pausing to take a long, deep breath. "I'm glad they left them up. Those people will not be forgotten."
Amid tight security at Shea Stadium, baseball returned to the city Friday night for the first time since last week's terrorist attacks. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and singers Diana Ross and Marc Anthony took part in a pregame tribute that was both solemn and uplifting.
The 30-minute festivities included the city's police, fire and emergency medical personnel throwing out the first balls and finished with Mets and Atlanta Braves players hugging in the middle of the diamond. In a scene seen throughout the majors this week, fans chanted "U-S-A! U-S-A!"
Later, a crowd of about 35,000 that came to watch a key matchup in the NL East race was in for another treat. Liza Minnelli was to stand on the Braves' third-base dugout and sing "New York, New York" during the seventh-inning stretch.
The miniature New York skyline atop the scoreboard is formed by light blue neon lights. Only the twin towers were dark, covered by the ribbon.
Giuliani drew the biggest ovation, by far -- in a ballpark where the noted Yankees' rooter is routinely booed during interleague games.
Wearing an "FDNY" pullover shirt and a cap with the police department shield, he was cheered by Mets and Braves alike. Giuliani stepped down into Atlanta dugout and got a vigorous pat on the back by manager Bobby Cox.
Mets manager Bobby Valentine raised his arms and led cheers of "Rudy! Rudy!"
"This is the way life gets back to normalcy. You can't just concentrate on the tragedy. It's so wonderful that these people have such confidence to turn out in such large numbers," the mayor said.
"Things will be back to normal when I hear boos at Shea Stadium. I'm a Yankees fan," he said, laughing.
Signs and symbols of America's heartache were all over ballpark, which had been used as a staging area for the relief effort at the site of World Trade Center collapse.
The Mets had the date of the terrorist attacks -- 9-11-01 -- embroidered on the left sleeves of their uniforms, right between two U.S. flags. "God Bless America" was written on top of the Mets' dugout and an enormous flag logo replaced the Budweiser sign on the scoreboard.
The Mets continued to wear caps honoring New York's rescue and relief personnel, and the umpires did the same.
"We wanted to show that we're in there with them," plate umpire Wally Bell said.
The Mets donated their entire salaries for the day, about $450,000, to a charity set up by ex-Mets star Rusty Staub for families of police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty.
"We want to put our money where our mouths are," Leiter said.
Leiter said he had no qualms about feeling safe at Shea. Neither did most fans, who were given small U.S. flags but needed a few extra minutes to pass through the turnstiles as they were checked by metal security wands.
"We really wanted to be down here tonight, with all that was going on with the tributes," said Joe Marchiony, 37, of Rochester, N.Y.
Added his wife, Kathy: "We hesitated about coming tonight, actually. I was worried about safety a little bit, but we feel safe."
The Marchionys stood on a walkway at the top deck, looking at city's skyline. Smoke could still be seen rising from the collapse.
A day earlier, Leiter and pitcher John Franco were among a group of Mets who visited the area known as Ground Zero.
"It's mind-boggling, cars and buildings and steel all twisted," Franco said.
Said Leiter: "My mother was raised in England, during the blitzes of World War II. We've talked about it a little, and she talked about the war zones. This looked like those did, I imagine."
Cox also saw the site firsthand. He was walking around the city Friday morning when a policeman recognized him and drove him around the area.
"Up close, it's horrific," he said. "There are no words to describe."
The Braves got a faraway glimpse of the area around 1 a.m. when the team bus drove up the New Jersey Turnpike after Thursday night's game in Philadelphia.
"We all looked over at where the twin towers were, and they weren't there," Atlanta star Chipper Jones said. "There was a hole in the skyline. When it dawned us, everyone got real quiet. It was like a moment of silence."
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