Mike Piazza's family wants to buy his post-9/11 Mets jersey
Mike Piazza wasn't happy with the New York Mets' decision to auction off the jersey he wore for the Mets' first game back after the Sept. 11 attacks. But days after Piazza voiced his disappointment in his former team, Papa Piazza swooped in to save the day.
According to the New York Post, Vince Piazza has offered to buy the jersey from the auction house if they can negotiate a reasonable price and pledged to donate it to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Via the New York Post:
"My God, it's not right what is going on here," Vince Piazza told the Post. "That thing belongs in the Hall of Fame. It belongs to all the fans of baseball. That home run was so important, not only for New York, but for the entire country."
The current highest bid for the jersey is $86,000, but Ken Goldin, the president of Goldin Auctions house, said there is a way to negotiate a deal to buy the jersey before the end of the auction on April 30 if the buyer plans to donate the jersey to charity.
Piazza wore the jersey on Sept. 21, 2001 when the Mets returned to the field for the first time since the tragic events of 9/11. The former catcher hit a home run in the eighth inning of that game, and celebrating fans turned it into an emotional moment by erupting into chants of "U-S-A. U-S-A."
The jersey was autographed by Piazza and has an American flag on the back collar and a 9/11 tribute patch on the sleeve.
