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On deck: another wave of emotions

After playing in Boston last week, Rays prepare for first game at Yankee Stadium since attacks.

By MARC TOPKIN

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 25, 2001

TORONTO -- Unsure of what they will see, hear and especially feel during tonight's game at Yankee Stadium, the first since the terrorist attacks, the Rays say they are ready for anything, including their own tears.

"I think there's probably going to be a lot of goose bumps," first baseman Steve Cox said. "And I think there will be a lot of people on the verge of tears."

The Yankees have a somber and reserved ceremony planned that apparently is devoid of appearances by big-name celebrities or speeches by politicians. The pregame tribute will be highlighted by Branford Marsalis performing Taps, a dramatic flight by a bald eagle, and police officers and firefighters joining the players on the foul lines for a moment of silence.

No matter what, it will be an emotional moment marking the return of baseball -- and the symbolic return of normalcy -- to New York's most famous sports venue. A large and loud crowd is expected, with fans showing their patriotism, as well as to cheering on the Yankees, who have a chance to clinch the AL East.

"I think it's going to be such an emotional night, and I think the game is going to be secondary to what anybody truly feels," Greg Vaughn said. "They're New Yorkers first. Baseball is going to bring people together. People are trying to move forward, and for them to move forward it goes through the Yankees."

The Yankees worked out at the stadium several days during the hiatus but have been on the road for a week, separated from the events and the emotions. Their players have been watching what has been going on, heard about the touching scenes during the Mets' game Friday at Shea Stadium, and have been eager to get home in front of their fans.

"Make no mistake, it will be very emotional," pitcher Roger Clemens, who starts tonight, told New York reporters. "I'm looking forward to it to some degree. Part of me has to focus on what I have to do, but I do want to participate and see what's going on. That's very important."

"It will be tough," reliever Mariano Rivera said. "It will be very emotional, and it will be something nice. We are playing for the people of New York. It will be tough not to think about the families. It's tough. It's what you think about when you go to sleep and it's what you think about when you wake up."

The Rays, who agreed to donate their pay from today's game to one of the relief funds, are aware of the potential for distractions. Manager Hal McRae said he thought his squad of mostly young players handled the break and first game in Boston well, and expects the same in New York.

"I would hope that we've had enough time to sort things out and just go through the ceremony and do what we've got to do, keep our focus on the game and winning the game," McRae said.

But starter Tanyon Sturtze, whose friend's wife was a passenger on one of the hijacked planes, said that will be a challenge.

"It's going to be a different night," Sturtze said. "There's going to be all kinds of distractions. I'm going to have to find a way to tune it out. If I don't tune it out it will be a very quick night for me, especially against that lineup. Somehow, someway, I've got to get that stuff out of my mind."

Friday's game at Shea Stadium featured performances by stars Marc Anthony (singing the national anthem), Diana Ross (God Bless America), and Liza Minnelli (New York, New York) and very public displays of emotion on the field and in the packed stands. The crowd even cheered Mayor Rudy Giuliani, an admitted Yankees fan.

A Sunday prayer service at Yankee Stadium featured a stirring speech by Giuliani and appearances by former President Clinton and Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Charles Schumer, plus entertainers Placido Domingo, Bette Midler, Oprah Winfrey and James Earl Jones.

The Yankees don't plan nearly as grand a production tonight.

Irish tenor Ronan Tynan will sing God Bless America and Max Von Essen, the son of the New York fire commissioner, will perform the national anthem. There will be a joint city services color guard and a giant flag unfurled by 300 maritime cadets.

The Yankees will wear NYPD and FDNY hats during batting practice, but their standard caps for the game. "The "NY' on the cap, to me we represent New York. All of New York," manager Joe Torre said.

The Rays spent their off-day in Toronto and are traveling to New York this morning, a change in the usual routine. But the players say they don't have any extraordinary concerns about their safety.

"There's a lot of security in the city right now," said Jose Guillen, who flew to New York on his own Sunday night to spend extra time with his mother. "You never know what can happen, we're living in a crazy life. But I don't think anything can happen."

"Everyone there is in kind of a time of need so it's going to be kind of strange to go there to play baseball," Cox said. "But as far as safety concerns, I don't really have any. Not unless we go to war."

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