Our county needed it and our city needed it.
14 years ago tonight, president George W. Bush walked to the mound at the old Yankee Stadium. Derek Jeter famously teased the President that he should throw the ceremonial first pitch from the mound and better not bounce it, otherwise he’ll get booed.
Everyone was on pins and needles. No one knew when and if another attack would take place – a secret service agent was even disguised as an umpire on the field while Bush walked out of the dugout. He took the Captain’s advice and ignored the rubber set down in front of the mound. Bush climbed the hill in front of 55,820 people, raised his arm in the air and gave a thumbs up, and threw a perfect strike to catcher Todd Greene.
It signaled to all of us that everything was alright. The crowd erupted with chants of “USA! USA!” Bush would later say that this was the most nervous moment during his presidency. But the Yankees still had a game to play, and it was a big one.
Having lost the first two games in Arizona, the series shifted to the Bronx. Roger Clemens was tasked with essentially saving the season, as he went up against Arizona starter Brian Anderson. Clemens went 20-3 in 2001, and racked up another Cy Young Award. He went seven innings that night, allowing one run on three hits while striking out nine. The offense was paced by Jorge Posada, who put the Yankees on top in the second inning with a solo home run.
Arizona tied it up in the fourth, but New York pushed ahead when Scott Brosius singled home Bernie Williams in the sixth. Clemens handed the ball off to Mariano Rivera for a two inning save to secure the victory. The Yankees went on to win games four and five in dramatic fashion, but ultimately fell in seven games.
However, the series will be remembered for those three games at Yankee Stadium. People were able to take their mind off what was happening in the real world for a couple hours a night, and the Yankees provided us with memories that will last a lifetime.
14 years ago tonight, baseball served as a crutch to help a healing nation. A first pitch never meant so much.
Video is below. Also, if you haven’t seen it already, check out ESPN’s 30-for-30 short on the first pitch
