September 21st is an extremely special day in the history of sports in the United States. During one of the most shocking, terrifying, and mournful times in American history, professional baseball made its return to provide a light for many citizens and fans in the country. In addition, Monday Night Football made its debut on ABC exactly 50 years ago today with the Las Vegas Raiders’ first home game coming on its half-century anniversary. Events as such are impacting the fan experience of sports each day.

Jaime Segui also contributed to this article.

Baseball Returns After 9/11

YEAR: 2001

SIGNIFICANCE: 10 days after 9/11, the Mets beat the Braves 3-2, including an iconic 8th-inning HR by Mike Piazza

10 days after the terrible attacks of September 11 and four days after resuming play, baseball was officially back in New York City, as the Mets took on their division rival Atlanta Braves. It was the first time the Mets played at home since a Sept. 2 matchup against the Florida Marlins, and it was also the first baseball game in the city since the Yankees played the Red Sox in the Bronx on Sept. 9, two days before the society-altering attacks in NYC.

Despite the emotion that ran through all of the players, coaches, and fans due to what had happened a week or so prior, the Mets were still fighting for the division title. The Braves entered this game first in the NL East with the Mets sitting in third place just 4.5 games out. The reigning NL champs Mets were inspired to fight for their fans and the city to try and make the postseason for a third straight season. NYM’s Bruce Chen and ATL’ Jason Marquis both started the game and each had a fantastic performance from the mound. After the seventh inning, it was still a 1-1 game before a Brian Jordan RBI-double off Mets’ reliever Armando Benitez.

Entering the bottom of the 8th inning, the Mets felt the pressure; they couldn’t lose this game, not after everything’s that happened. After a 6-3 groundout to start the inning, Edgardo Alfonzo walked, giving Mike Piazza a chance to give the Mets the lead with one swing of the bat. On an 0-1 count, Steve Karsay missed his spot and left a fastball down the middle that landed off the camera well. The Mets went on to win the game 3-2, and Piazza cemented himself in baseball history and American history, as his iconic home run help lift up a country a week after a national tragedy.

MNF's Debut

YEAR: 1970

SIGNIFICANCE: Monday Night Football debuted on ABC

Exactly 50 years ago today, Monday Night Football made its debut as the Cleveland Browns defeated the New York Jets 31-21. Broadcasted by ABC, the original commentary crew consisted of Keith Jackson, former Cowboys QB Don Meredith, and the legendary Howard Cossell. Though ABC was reluctant to commit to the venture at first and TV advertisements costed just $65,000, the game garnered an entire third of the nation’s viewership that night. Prior to 1970, Commissioner Pete Rozelle had envisioned the possibility of playing at least one primetime weeknight game a week to reach a wider audience than a given Sunday game could.

This began with a push for Friday night games in 1964, but that idea was quashed due to the potential impacts on high school football attendance. He decided to experiment with Monday nights instead, scheduling GBvDET for September 28th that year. While not nationally-broadcasted, it resulted in the largest attendance for a football game in Detroit’s history, which led to an expansion of the experiment. CBS broadcasted one Monday night game in 1966 and 1967 then NBC followed with two in each of the following two seasons. Following the NFL-AFL merger, Rozelle made weekly Monday night contests a priority and struck a deal with ABC, ultimately revolutionizing primetime sports forever.

Jets-Dolphins Offensive Explosion

YEAR: 1986

SIGNIFICANCE: The Dolphins and Jets combined for a record 886 passing yards in a 51-45 OT thriller

Long before the average NFL offense was as comfortable airing it out as they are today, the Jets and Dolphins put on a show that could’ve been considered a window into the future. An instant-classic, 51-45 OT victory for the Jets in New York, the teams combined for a record that stood until 2011 of 884 total passing yards along with 10 passing TDs. Dolphins QB Dan Marino went 30/50 with 448 yards and 6 TDs (one short of the single-game record), but Miami fell to QB Ken O’Brien’s 29/43, 470-yard, 4-TD performance which included a 43-yard game-winner to WR Wesley Walker, who caught all four of O’Brien’s TDs.

"Dream Team" Roster Announced

YEAR: 1992

SIGNIFICANCE: USA Basketball announced the Summer Olympic roster, later known as the “Dream Team”

On this day in 1991, USA Basketball revealed the first 10 players that would electrify the nation in the following summer’s Olympics. While the initial 10 would each become HOFers on their own, the final NBA spot yielded another (SG Clyde Drexler) and the collegiate spot was between Duke PF Christian Laettner and LSU C Shaquille O’Neal, with HC Chuck Daly opting for the former. Less than two months before his HIV announcement and immediate retirement from the Lakers, PG Magic Johnson was named co-captain along with Celtics PF Larry Bird.

Combined with Bulls SG Michael Jordan, the trio brought 10 NBA Championships, 8 MVPs, and 6 scoring titles of experience to Barcelona. Along with Jordan, Knicks C Patrick Ewing and Warriors SG Chris Mullin already had a gold medal to their name from the 1984 Olympics but did not go to Seoul, Korea in 1988, which was Spurs C David Robinson’s first Olympics. Bulls SF Scottie Pippen had earned consecutive All-Defensive nods, an All-NBA selection, and a Championship the previous season, then-76ers PF Charles Barkley would win MVP the following season in Phoenix, and Jazz PG John Stockton and PF Karl Malone were well into their careers as one of the greatest duos the NBA has ever seen. Collectively, they formed the greatest team ever assembled on this day 28 years ago.

First NFL Strike Begins

(A familiar face around 2:17)

YEAR: 1982

SIGNIFICANCE: The very 1st work stoppage in the history of professional football officially began

Beginning after the completion of the Giants-Packers Monday night game, the NFL Players Association officially voted to institute a work stoppage for the first time in the sport’s history. Lasting 57 days (until November 16th), the strike shortened the regular season from 16 to just nine games and provided a wide-open “Super Bowl Tournament”. Though all games between Weeks 3 and 10 were initially cancelled (with the six following a settlement played as scheduled), a new Week 17 was formed with strictly divisional matchups.

This new final week pushed back the start of the playoffs, but the temporary structure would provide plenty of intrigue. Ditching the typical 10-team format (three division winners, two wild cards in each conference), the league opted for a division-less, 16-team format which gave each conference 14 teams fighting for eight playoff spots. Despite tensions between the players and their own union throughout the process, the settlement resulted in retirement severance, wage scale and post-season pay increases, and service-based bonuses. This would be the precursor to the 1987 “Scab” season, which was just as heavily impacted by labor relations at the end of this very agreement.