Mets Banned From Wearing 9-11 Hats

Among the lasting images of the games following the 9/11 attacks 10 years ago were those involving New York Mets players wearing hats from New York City uniformed service departments. For a brief time Sunday, it appeared the 2011 Mets were prepared to make a similar gesture.

"It's the least we could do," catcher Josh Thole said after batting practice before the Mets dropped a 10-6 decision to the Cubs in 11 innings at Citi Field. "What are they going to do, fine us?"

Actually, yes.

Joe Torre, Major League Baseball's executive vice president for baseball operations said the league opted to have teams be consistent, without exceptions.

The issue with the caps brought to mind the Mets' first game back after the attacks in 2001, when they were told by MLB they could not wear the hats from the FDNY, NYPD and other agencies. But former Met Todd Zeile said at the time league officials "are going to have to pry these hats off our heads."

"I find it ironic that it's 10 years later and they still can't get past it for one day of tribute," Zeile said after being part of Sunday night's pre-game ceremonies. "I guess they feel it's a slippery slope or something."

So the Mets decided to only wear the hats before the game and switch to MLB-approved hats with American flags on them for the game.

"MLB came down hard on it," said Thole, the Mets player representative, after speaking with teammates and manager Terry Collins. "It's something we just can't do. As a group, we thought it was the right thing to do, but Baseball contacted the club and there was absolutely no chance. There was nothing we could do."

According to Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey, MLB sent a representative to the team dugout Sunday night to retrieve the banned caps after third baseman David Wright was caught on camera donning an FDNY hat while sitting on the bench.

A fan asked Dickey via Twitter if Wright was in trouble after he was shown wearing the hat, prompting Dickey to respond, "not after the 4th inning when they came in the dugout and took it."

"It's so much bigger than hats," Dickey wrote afterward.

"That's their decision," Wright said. "If we got a vote, I think we'd wear the hats. But MLB makes that call and we're going to respect that."Read more: NYPost