The attacks had delayed the baseball season, and for the first time ever, the World Series would stretch into November. For a city still in mourning, the games were a welcome lift.
A torn American flag, recovered from the wreckage at Ground Zero, flew over the stadium during the Series.
“We wanted a place America could see this flag so they could see the rips in it, but it still flies,” said Port Authority police Sgt. Antonio Scannella.
Before the game, country singer Lee Greenwood stood on the field in a stars-and-stripes jacket and sang the song America knows him for.
Lee released “God Bless the U.S.A.” in 1984. “I’ve always wanted to write a song about America,” he once said, “and I said we just need to be more united.” The song came back every time the country went through hard days. After 9/11, it was released again and climbed to No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100.
And the game that followed? It became one of the most famous nights in World Series history.
The Yankees were down 3–1 with two outs in the ninth inning when Tino Martinez hit a two-run home run to tie it. When the clock passed midnight, the scoreboard read “Welcome to November Baseball.” Then, in the 10th inning, Derek Jeter hit a home run to win the game, earning the nickname “Mr. November.”
For one night, a hurting city had something to cheer about.
Where were you when you first heard “God Bless the U.S.A.”? Share this with a veteran or anyone who loves this song.