Editing 2001 World Series (section)

=== September 11 and the month of November ===
[[File:2001 World Series first pitch.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Donning an [[FDNY]] fleece, with a bulletproof vest underneath, President Bush tosses out the ceremonial first pitch.]]
After MLB games were postponed as a result of the [[September 11 attacks]], the World Series began on October 27, 2001,<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://m.mlb.com/postseason/history/2001/world-series/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031111056/http://m.mlb.com/postseason/history/2001/world-series/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 31, 2015|title=Postseason History: 2001 World Series|publisher= MLBAM, LP|access-date=April 4, 2020}}</ref> the latest start date for a World Series until the [[2009 World Series]], which started on October 28. The last three games were the first major-league games (other than exhibitions) played in the month of November.<ref name="auto"/> This was just the fourth time that no World Series champion was decided within the traditional month of October.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.mlb.com/postseason/history/1918/world-series/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029081450/http://m.mlb.com/postseason/history/1918/world-series/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 29, 2015|title=Postseason History: 1918 World Series|publisher=MLBAM, LP|access-date=April 3, 2020}}</ref> The previous three occurrences were in {{wsy|1904}} (no series), {{wsy|1918}} (series held in September because of World War I), and {{wsy|1994}} (series cancelled by the [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike|players' strike]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/postseason/history/world-series|title=Postseason History: World Series|publisher=MLB Advanced Media, LP|accessdate=July 12, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/ws/yr1918ws.shtml|title=1918 World Series|publisher=Baseball Almanac, Inc.|accessdate=July 12, 2022}}</ref> Game 7 was played on November 4; at the time this was the latest date a World Series game was played, and still tied with Game 6 of the 2009 Series for the second-latest date of a World Series game (only behind {{wsy|2022}}'s Game 6, played on November 5).<ref>{{cite magazine |title=2022 World Series Could Extend to Nov. 5, Latest Date Ever |magazine=Sports Illustrated |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2022/08/15/2022-world-series-could-extend-to-nov-5-latest-date-ever |accessdate=November 11, 2022}}</ref>

Additionally, the Series took place in New York City only seven weeks after the attacks, representing a remarkable boost in morale for the fatigued city.<ref name="auto"/> A tattered and torn American flag recovered from the wreckage at Ground Zero, which had been used at funerals of fallen [[Port Authority of New York and New Jersey|Port Authority]] police officers after the attacks, was flown over Yankee Stadium during the series.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/mlb/playoffs2001/s/2001/1030/1271252.html Torn flag a reminder of Sept. 11 terrorist attacks]</ref> According to Port Authority sergeant Antonio Scannella, "We wanted a place America could see this flag so they could see the rips in it, but it still flies."<ref>[Flag: An American Biography By Marc Leepson]</ref>

[[President of the United States|President]] [[George W. Bush]] threw out the [[ceremonial first pitch]] before Game 3 at Yankee Stadium.<ref name="auto"/> Bush had been counseled by security officials to appear before Game 1 in Phoenix because they believed it would be more secure there, but Bush thought it would be better for the country to do it in New York.<ref name="911m">[https://www.911memorial.org/connect/blog/remembering-president-george-w-bushs-2001-world-series-pitch Remembering President George W. Bush's 2001 World Series Pitch]</ref> Security was extremely tight at Yankee Stadium before the game, with bomb sniffing dogs sweeping the property, snipers positioned around the stadium, and vendors screened by federal agents.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/31/nyregion/nation-challenged-security-precautions-turn-house-that-ruth-built-into-fortress.html A NATION CHALLENGED: SECURITY; Precautions Turn House That Ruth Built Into the Fortress That Bush Visited]</ref> A [[United States Secret Service|Secret Service]] agent dressed as an umpire and stood on the field with the other umpires before the game, briefly appearing on the TV broadcast.<ref>[https://www.nj.com/yankees/2021/09/remembering-how-the-yankees-helped-us-heal-after-911.html Remembering how the Yankees helped us heal after 9/11]</ref> Bush wore a bulletproof vest underneath an FDNY sweater. Having been counseled by Derek Jeter to throw from the rubber on top of the pitcher's mound rather than the base of the mound, Bush strode to the rubber, gave a thumbs up to the crowd, and fired a strike over home plate as the crowd chanted "U-S-A".<ref name="911m"/> Bush later reflected, "I had never had such an adrenaline rush as when I finally made it to the mound. I was saying to the crowd, 'I'm with you, the country's with you' ... And I wound up and fired the pitch. I've been to conventions and rallies and speeches: I've never felt anything so powerful and emotions so strong, and the collective will of the crowd so evident."<ref>[https://www.newsweek.com/why-george-bushs-2001-world-series-first-pitch-meant-more-just-play-ball-1531324 Why George Bush's 2001 World Series First Pitch Meant More Than Just 'Play Ball']</ref>