20th anniversary of terrorist attacks marked by MLB teams

Todd Zeile thought back 20 years, to the night baseball returned in New York following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

“We put a small Band-aid on a big wound for a couple of hours,” the retired Mets infielder said Friday.

The Mets will mark the 20th anniversary of the attacks before tonight’s Subway Series game against the Yankees. They will wear caps from the New York City Police Department, Fire Department of the City of New York, Port Authority Police Department and New York City Department of Correction to honor first responders. The Mets will have “New York” rather than “Mets” on their jerseys, and American flags and “9-11-01’’ will be on the right sleeves.

Bobby Valentine, manager of the 2001 Mets, will throw a ceremonial first pitch to Joe Torre, manager of the 2001 Yankees. The Mets have at least 14 former players and coaches planning to attend.

Today’s ceremony will include the New York Police and Fire Widows’ & Children Benefit Fund, the Feel Good Foundation that assists people afflicted by 9/11-related illnesses, Mets employees who lost loved ones and people who worked at Shea Stadium during the relief effort. Police and fire department honor guards will participate.

The New York police and children’s chorus will sing“the Star-spangled Banner,”jazz artist Anaïs Reno will sing “America the Beautiful” and New York firefighter Regina Wilson“god Bless America.”

In Pittsburgh, families of Flight 93 passengers will be recognized on the field along with military and first responders before the Pirates host the Washington Nationals.