The New York Yankees have teamed up with the FDNY to auction off game-worn catcher's gear, offering fans a chance to own a piece of baseball memorabilia while honoring fallen heroes tied to the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
The FDNY shared the announcement on social media, amplifying a post from the FDNY Foundation that read, in part, that the FDNY
was collaborating with the Yankees to auction game-worn catcher's gear to honor fallen heroes. The FDNY's account retweeted the FDNY Foundation's original post about the effort.
Among the items connected to the auction is a catcher's-gear set listed on auctions.mlb.com. As of the listing reviewed, the set showed zero bids with a quoted current bid of $650.
Part of a Broader 25th Anniversary Push
The auction is part of commemoration surrounding the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
The FDNY itself has laid out a year-long slate of anniversary programming. As reported by amNY, the department announced a year-long plan to commemorate the 25th anniversary of 9/11, anchored by an official ceremony planned for September 9, 2026. That plan also includes a commemorative podcast series and a ceremonial patch, with proceeds from the patch benefiting the FDNY Foundation.
Remembering the Cost Borne by First Responders
FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker framed the anniversary initiatives as a matter of keeping a promise to the department's fallen. “These initiatives help ensure we make good on our promise to always remember those who made the supreme sacrifice,” Tucker said, per the same amNY report.
The toll behind that promise is steep. The outlet's report notes that while 343 FDNY members died on September 11, 2001, roughly 400 more New York firefighters have died since from illnesses linked to toxins from the attacks — a grim reminder that the department's losses have continued to mount long after that morning.
For now, the memorabilia auction gives fans a tangible way to participate in the tribute, with the items up for bid described as one-of-a-kind pieces of baseball memorabilia. Anyone with a New York City emergency should still call 911, while non-emergency matters can be directed to 311, per the FDNY's standard guidance.
