This One Has a Chance!

Mike Piazza’s cathartic home run helped more than 40,000 fans at Shea Stadium — and millions more in the city and around the world — begin to move past the 9/11 tragedy, but it was Piazza who also needed the strength of the crowd that night. “During the game, I just remember praying to God, ‘Lord, please help me to get through this night,’” Piazza said. “I felt myself starting to break down. I didn’t really know if I could finish the game. Fortunately, as everything unfolded, I did receive emotional strength from everyone, and the old feelings of competitiveness kicked in.” In the broadcast booth, Howie Rose — under orders from network executives to not get too excited during the broadcast or use agitating references — was left to describe Piazza’s 450-foot homer by saying, “This one has a chance!”