PITTSBURGH – Bobby Valentine got up yesterday and acted on the nation’s leader’s words. He continued his life with normalcy, taking a commercial airliner here for last night’s game.
Last night, America’s Pastime returned. As Valentine had put it earlier, part of the heartbeat of America wasn’t stopped. It went on as a diversion.
“We’re in the entertainment business,” Valentine said. “Entertainment any time during the year is to get away from the seriousness of life, put people away from their thoughts.”
It would be different; everyone knew that. With the heightened security, there would be a small uneasiness in the air. But overcoming that, a united feeling was expected to pervade.
“I’m sure it will be different,” Robin Ventura said.
It was. When fans walked across Roberto Clemente Bridge, a video board mixed in, “God Bless America” with the Pirates’ upcoming schedule. The three flags – the state, the American and the Pirates from left to right – were all at half-staff.
When the media arrived, their bags were checked. Pirates GM Dave Littlefield said security methods were increased to make sure no one would be able to bring anything in.
The Mets arrived expecting an emotional night, as did everyone else. Baseball was scheduled to resume last night and the Mets were ready to do their part. But no one could forget. A pre-game ceremony was expected to be emotional.
“It’s going to be sad,” Rick White said. “This is where I get stuck on words. There is going to be anticipation as far as the game starting. There is a lot of uncertainty. We’ve never been in anything like this before.”
The Mets built a sense of unity before they left for Pittsburgh. Nearly every Met helped out in the Shea parking lot, packing goods to aid the rescue efforts. Others, like Jerrod Riggan, went to local hospitals, heeding co-owners Fred Wilpon’s and Nelson Doubleday’s words, to uplift New Yorkers.
“It gives you a closer look to what really happened,” Riggan said. “You see some down-home people laid up in a hospital because of crazy guys. You know it just tugs at your heartstrings. It is just something you’ve got to see to experience.”
According to Riggan, patients didn’t want to see some local dignitaries, but when the Mets walked in, it was different.
“They just welcomed up with open arms,” Riggan said. “It was just an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”