How Mets and FDNY reflect on healing, sacrifice 25 years after 9/11

Firefighters. Friends of family. Community members.

The ramifications of that day when hijackers flew into the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center still feel raw 25 years later. The members of the 2001 New York Mets became intertwined in the healing process and continue to feel their own duty to give back.

That's why every year since the tragedy took place, former Mets players and staff visit a firehouse in New York City to show their appreciation for the first responders in the community. On Tuesday morning, Franco joined Todd Zeile, Al Leiter, Robin Ventura, David Wright and other Mets personnel to show their support at FDNY Ladder Company No. 25.

"Obviously, it's a sad time, for sure," said Franco, who was the captain and setup man for the 2001 Mets. "It's 25 years ago. There was a lot of lives lost for no reason. It's just something that myself and my teammates in the Met organization and (vice president of alumni relations) Jay Horwitz gets a lot of credit to keep the tradition going, (to) come to visit a firehouse and to thank them and to make sure that the city and the country never forgets what happened that day."

How Mets helped after Sept. 11 attacks

When the events of 9/11 took place, baseball took a backseat, but the Mets organization ended up finding purpose and a way to help the city move forward in the aftermath.

First, Shea Stadium was morphed into a recovery area. As donations poured in, from clothes to toothpaste to goggles to food and water, coaches, players and staff helped load supplies onto trucks.

Then, the team ventured to Ground Zero to offer support.

"I think we felt initially like we were going into a space that we didn't belong, and when we found out that there was an embracing core at Ground Zero when we first went down, it gave us a little bit more ease to be able to try and do what we could, just as a group to promote some healing," Zeile said.

"And then you got to talk about the leadership with the Mets, Jay Horwitz, Sue Lucchi, Bobby Valentine, they gave us a sense of purpose at that time, and for us, it's an honor to continue to come back."

In the mind of Leiter, who grew up in Toms River, baseball felt "meaningless" at the time. The events brought a sense of vulnerability, anger and fear. The Mets' purpose moved beyond the field.

"Even as a player, after 2001, I played four more years with the Mets, it was so easy," Leiter said. "It was so easy, right? We wanted to. How can I help? There's a family here, they lost their father, like, 'Oh my god!' It was so simple to do that little bit."

While the Mets players might have been viewed as "heroes" on the diamond, the response following the attack showed the bravery and resilience in the rescue efforts.

But eventually, baseball was its own sense of escape amid the grueling recovery efforts and the heaviness of the loss.

Mike Piazza's home run gave a moment of relief

Ten days after the Twin Towers fell, the Mets returned for the first regular-season game in New York. Mike Piazza provided a rare opportunity for people to smile with his go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth inning of a 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves.

It was another stepping stone on the early path to healing.

"I think everybody remembers that Mike Piazza home run. Mike Piazza was my hero growing up," firefighter Mario Noriega said. "The 'tears to cheers' home run and you see the crowd going nuts, and it just kind of revitalizes the city at a time when they needed it the most. You fast-forward 25 years and the Mets are still kind of resuming all of that. It's a beautiful thing."

"And especially to see some of the guys from the 2001 team that were here in New York and know and remember the impact that day and what it meant to all of us when baseball kicked off again, starting to get back to a little bit of normalcy, so we can't thank the Mets enough for what they do and the support."

That sense of desire to show reverence has not left the former members of the Mets who were impacted by 9/11.

David Wright carries on support for first responders

David Wright has taken on added responsibility to support the members of the New York Police and Fire Departments with his annual Battle of the Badges Charity Baseball Game. As a son of a police officer, the events hit home even more for Wright, who has become an honorary member of the 2001 Mets.

The former third baseman and captain has taken on ownership of teaching the organization's younger players how important the first responders are to the fabric of the city.

"It's an incredibly sad day, but a day that I look forward to coming and celebrating those true heroes of New York, the first responders, the men and women that run towards the trouble when most of us would be running away from it," Wright said.

"It's a no-brainer to come in here and shake hands and just a quick 'thank you' for their service and their sacrifice and their bravery."

25-year tradition of honoring FDNY heroes

On Tuesday, the playful firehouse banter centered on the Mets' absence of Pete Alonso. What could the Mets alumni do to get him back? Other firefighters shared stories about their own baseball-playing careers.

It all took place in front of the backdrop of the six firefighters from Ladder Company No. 25 who lost their lives performing their duty to their community.

The Mets' visit was the latest temporary cure in the wake of tragedy. It will be top of mind again when the Mets and Yankees play on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on Friday at Yankee Stadium.

"We talk a lot about never forgetting. We want to never forget what happened that day," FDNY Department Chief Joe Esposito said. "The folks that we lost that day, you can see them from this firehouse on the wall behind us and their pictures. Twenty-five years is a long time, and the Mets have been with us every year since that."