After the 9/11 terrorist attacks occurred in New York City, The Pentagon in Washington D.C., and Somerset County, PA, Americans sought refuge via The National Pastime mentally repress the horrors they witnessed on live TV. On September 21, 2001, in the first Mets game played after the attacks, catcher Mike Piazza hit the a home run that uplifting the mourning spirits of baseball fans within Shea Stadium. The game's attendees collectively felt the patriotism in the iconic moment, and rejoiced with an emotional chant of "U-S-A" shortly after he went yard on the play.
Piazza's No. 31 jersey was a symbol of hope for many New Yorkers and other across the country following the attacks. But to the Mets, who owned the jersey, it was a mere symbol for profiteering 15 years later. And the former All-Star catcher isn't happy one bit about it.
On Tuesday, Piazza told New York Post writer Kevin Kernan his bitter feelings about the news he got that his 9/11 jersey was sold and is set for auction on April 30th:
Now the Mets have to bid for the jersey back, and they released a statement to save face for the auctioning of the jersey that are claiming they screwed up and have to get back:
According to Kernan, Piazza wants the jersey on display in Cooperstown, NY at the Baseball Hall of Fame. The jersey has an embroidered logo that reads "9-11-01" and American flags. Bidding on the jersey began online on Monday, with the current amount, per Kernan, set at $42,000 by Goldin Auctions.
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[via Bleacher Report]