Ventura, Yost share vivid memories of 9/11

CHICAGO — The emotions are still raw, even 15 years later.

They come flooding back to White Sox manager Robin Ventura and Royals manager Ned Yost whenever they’re asked about Sept. 11, 2001, when terrorist attacks that struck New York, Washington D.C. and rural Pennsylvania changed the world.

Sunday marked 15 years since those attacks, and prior to Sunday’s series finale between Chicago and Kansas City, a ceremony was held to observe the National Day of Remembrance. It included members of the military, Chicago police and fire departments and a parade of American-flag carrying Harley Davidson motorcycles ridden by The Warrior Watch Riders.

Players wore specially-designed hats, as well, but the true emotions of the day could best be felt earlier in the day, when each manager spoke in detail about their memories of the attacks and the aftermath.

“We were in Pittsburgh, actually, at the time,” said Ventura, who was playing with the Mets. “We had a players association meeting scheduled. I remember getting up and having some coffee and then you just see what’s unfolding on TV and you can’t believe it. You just can’t believe what your eyes are seeing.”

Ventura started to choke up when he talked about what he saw next, after the Mets returned to Shea Stadium on a bus the next day.

“Shea was used as a staging area for all the supplies going into Manhattan,” he said. “It was right there in front of us. It was amazing, just the cooperation and the teamwork of everybody and all the firefighters coming from all over to help out. Just incredible. It still just gets to you. It really does.”

Yost, …

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