MLB

And on Tuesday, before games in 15 cities, Major League Baseball remembered the trauma of that day, the people who passed, and the first responders -- the firemen and policemen -- who dug through the rubble searching for anyone still alive.

"It's a reminder of that day," said Mets pitcher Tom Glavine, who along with his teammates wore caps honoring those in uniform who responded on that day and in the months after as the World Trade Center continued to smolder. "And it's a reminder of the policemen and the firemen and all those groups, and of what they do on a daily basis to keep people in this city safe."

MLB played a big part in the recovery of the country back then, when life as everyone knew it almost came to a screeching halt. Flights were grounded and games were postponed after planes flown by terrorists did their damage, felling the Twin Towers, taking out a chunk of the Pentagon and leaving a hole in the Pennsylvania countryside.

"It's something that we'll never forget," said Mets manager Willie Randolph, who was a Yankees coach back in 2001. "It still seems very fresh in all our minds, I guess. Tonight's the night, and I hope we can honor them by going out and playing real well."

For nearly a week after the catastrophe, the parking lot around Shea Stadium was used as a staging ground for the New York City Police and Fire Departments. And the first regular season professional sporting event in New York City after the attacks was played at the ballpark in Queens on Sept. 21 -- a 3-2 Mets win over the Braves.

As the country slowly came back to normal, so did MLB heading into a belated and intense postseason that featured the Yankees playing three of the most emotional and dramatic World Series games in their history against the Diamondbacks at Yankee Stadium, just miles north of the World Trade Center ruins.

"I hear the stories now," said Derek Jeter, one of five players remaining on the team now who played for the Yankees that year. "When people talk about September 11, they talk about how -- at least for those few hours -- we gave them something they could cheer for. That makes you feel good. At that point, some people who weren't necessarily baseball fans sort of rallied around us as a symbol for the city. I just think it gave people those three hours a day, something that they could cheer for."

Here's what happened around the rest of the country on Tuesday, as all MLB players again wore caps embossed with a tiny American flag and bases were graced with a Sept. 11 seal:

In Baltimore, the Orioles had a Joint Military Service Color Guard present the flag in the outfield and a U.S. Army Chorus sing the National Anthem.

In Boston, the Red Sox conducted their fifth consecutive "Day of Remembrance" blood drive at stations in the city and throughout New England. Donna Morrissey, a spokesperson for the Northeast Division of the Red Cross, said officials were optimistic that last year's collection of 1,000 units could be exceeded.

In Chicago, the White Sox had a moment of silence and welcomed members of the armed forces, firefighters and emergency medical technicians. The team was in New York at the time of the attack getting ready to open a three-game series that night against the Yankees. "I woke up, looked out the [hotel] window, saw the smoke and turned on the television just in time to see the second plane go into the building," recalled GM Kenny Williams.

In Cincinnati, the Hamilton County Sheriff's bagpipe and drum corps played before the game between the Reds and Cardinals, and the Reds hosted the family of Kenny Marino, a New York firefighter who was killed at the World Trade Center.

In Detroit, the Tigers held a moment of silence prior to each game of their day-night doubleheader against the Rangers and asked the crowds to applaud the men and women serving their communities and country in police and fire departments and the armed forces.

In Houston, members of the U.S. military, the Houston Police Dept., the Houston Fire Dept., the Harris County Sheriff's Office, the Harris County Constable's Office, the Brazoria County Constable's Office, the Galveston County Sheriff's Office and the Dickinson Fire Dept. marched on the field to a rousing standing ovation.

In Kansas City, representatives from all the U.S. military branches threw out first pitches to former Royals players -- Kevin Seitzer, Jim Eisenreich, John Wathan, Dennis Leonard and John Mayberry.

In Los Angeles, it was "Heroes Night" at Dodger Stadium before the Dodgers played the Padres. Fans heard video greetings from a number of local soldiers fighting in Iraq, wishing the Dodgers and their families well. Family members of firefighters who perished in a recent local wild fire were also honored as representatives of the armed forces, California Highway Patrol, local firefighters and police lined the outfield.

In Philadelphia, the Phillies offered a presentation of U.S. state flags by members of the Philadelphia Police and Fire Depts., plus a combined Navy and Marine Color Guard. "God Bless America" was sung by Dorcus Whigham, of the U.S. Navy.

In Pittsburgh, the Pirates had a color guard present the flag and asked for a moment of silence before their game with the Brewers.

In Miami, the Marlins stopped the game for a special moment of silence at 9:11 p.m. ET. And as part of the pregame ceremonies, the organization honored TSA airport workers on the field.

In San Francisco, the Giants and Diamondbacks lined up along the foul lines for a moment of silence before the National Anthem and the introduction of uniformed personnel on "Family Safety Night." As the Giants have done since 2002, a memorial was also erected in Willie Mays Plaza outside the ballpark with a banner listing the names of those who lost their lives on Sept. 11.

In Seattle, there was a six-member color guard representing the various military services, a moment of silence, and a firefighter from a local fire company singing the National Anthem as players from both teams stood on the top step of their respective dugouts.

In Toronto, representatives of the Toronto Police Dept., Toronto Fire Dept. and Toronto EMS were joined on the field by New York City police officers and firefighters, plus members of the Yankees and Blue Jays.

In addition, Military insurance provider USAA pledged to contribute $400 for every strikeout thrown in MLB games on Tuesday, with proceeds going to Giants left-hander Barry Zito's Strikeouts for Troops, which can be located at www.strikeoutsfortroops.org/.