N.Y. Yankees players pay homage to 9-11 heroes

New York Yankees superstar Derek Jeter found out how much he and his Major League Baseball teammates truly meant to the city's unsung heroes in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. As the Yankees marked Sunday's upcoming 10th anniversary of the tragedy that killed nearly 3,000 people in pre-game ceremonies on Wednesday, Jeter recalled meeting the families who lost loved ones in the World Trade Center collapse. "It was hard for everybody," Jeter said. "It was uncomfortable. We're baseball players. People look at us as heroes but we got to meet these families and firefighters and EMS workers. Those were the true heroes at the time. "We met the families. And what do you say to them?" Jeter and teammates Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada all went on to lead the Yankees into an emotional World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, which New York lost in seven games despite winning three times at Yankee Stadium. The salute recalling the attacks was conducted ahead of Wednesday's 5-4 loss to Baltimore because the Yankees are leaving for a road trip. Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher greeted several wounded soldiers honored by the club with handshakes while New York firefighter Regina Wilson sang the American anthem before the first pitch, a US sport tradition. A moment of silence was held before the start and during the seventh-inning break, New York firefighter Frank Pizarro sang "God Bless America", a tradition the Yankees began in the wake of the terrorist attacks. In the 2001 playoffs, the Yankees sparked the passion of a city still shocked and grieving over the tragedy, their mere presence helping soothe emotional wounds. "It probably benefited us just as much, maybe even more so, than the families," Jeter said. "We got an opportunity to hear how much we meant to these families, how we had given them something to cheer for for at least three hours a day. "It was an experience I'll always remember." Posada recalled how the emotional support helped boost the team into the 2001 World Series. "We did something pretty special," Posada said. "We healed a little bit and I think that's what we remember about the time. It was a tough time - still is. People came to the stadium to have a little bit of joy. They helped us, too." Panamanian closing relief pitcher Rivera heard his mother-in-law screaming as she watched in horror on television as a hijacked airplane struck the second tower. "The whole country got together. That's a beautiful thing," Rivera said. "I wish it was still like that, but it's not. "The whole country, the whole (United States) got together. It was amazing, everybody helping everyone. It didn't matter what race or color you were. We were here for one nation, fighting and trying to move forward, and that's exactly what we did." Rivera won the Relief Award for saving the most games in the 2001 season and he recalled giving it to the New York fire department. "I save games," Rivera said. "They save lives -- that's what real heroes are all about."