During the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on Friday night, September 11, 2026, a 38-year-old Long Island resident ran onto the Yankee Stadium field during the seventh inning of the Subway Series opener between the New York Yankees and New York Mets, waving a Palestinian flag before being tackled by security.
The disruption unfolded precisely as the stadium clock struck 9:11 p.m. ET in the Bronx. The demonstrator, identified by the New York Police Department as Kelly Marcucci of Long Island, surged from the left-field seats and sprinted toward center field. He briefly evaded stadium security and police officers before being brought down on the outfield grass, according to The Athletic.
Security guards quickly converged on the field to detain the intruder. As personnel escorted Marcucci past the center-field wall and toward the exit, spectators seated directly above the New York Mets bullpen voiced their immediate disapproval. The stadium crowd then erupted in unison with rolling chants of USA
.
Subway Series Game Interrupted During Critical Seventh-Inning Moment
The on-field intrusion forced a brief delay during the top of the seventh inning with the New York Yankees holding a 5-2 lead over their crosstown rivals. The timing injected an unexpected pause into a tense athletic showdown. The Mets had loaded the bases with two outs and a full count against Yankees relief pitching, with leadoff hitter Francisco Lindor standing at the plate.
Left-handed reliever Headrick tossed a few warm-up pitches during the stoppage while security subdued the protester. Once play resumed, Headrick needed just a single pitch to retire Lindor on a sharp line drive back to the mound, ending the threat and preserving the Yankees’ advantage.
Charges Filed Following Unhinged Social Media Rant
Law enforcement moved swiftly following the detention. The NYPD confirmed that 38-year-old Kelly Marcucci was facing misdemeanor charges for interference with a professional sporting event and trespassing.
Hours before breaching the Yankee Stadium outfield, Marcucci published a rambling post on Facebook. The statement careened through tangents concerning capitalism, Zionism, Saudi Arabia, and the September 11 attacks, referencing various high-profile figures including Donald Trump and Joe Rogan.
A Quarter-Century of Remembrance at Yankee Stadium
The demonstration occurred against the backdrop of solemn pregame ceremonies marking the 25th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people. Major League Baseball players and coaches across the league wore caps featuring a special We Shall Never Forget
side patch, while the Yankees and Mets wore specialized caps honoring the New York Fire Department, New York Police Department, and other first responders.
Before the first pitch, the Yankees played a seven-minute tribute video on the outfield scoreboard featuring members of the 2001 team. Former stars including Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, Paul O’Neill, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada, Tino Martinez, Scott Brosius, and manager Joe Torre walked onto the field to roaring applause.
“It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years,”
Derek Jeter
Jeter added that the event changed the world forever, according to The Post.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone emphasized the emotional weight of the anniversary fixture, noting that the crosstown matchup carried unique significance for the city as a quarter century elapsed since the tragedy.
“We understand the weight of today. The 25th anniversary, two New York teams playing. It feels like an honor to go out there. There’s gonna be a lot of different emotions out there. We don’t take it lightly.”
Aaron Boone, Yankees manager
On-Field Action and Final Score
When athletic competition resumed, Cody Bellinger powered the Yankees’ offense. Bellinger hit a three-run home run off rookie pitcher Nolan McLean in the second inning after catching a ceremonial first pitch thrown by Brielle Saracini. Saracini and her husband, Sean McGuire—both of whom lost their fathers on September 11, 2001 when they were 10 years old—delivered the joint first pitches near the mound.
Carlos Rodón pitched 6.3 strong innings, striking out eight batters and allowing just two runs and three hits as the Yankees secured a 6-4 victory.
The win improved the Yankees’ record to 85-62, lifting the club a season-high 23 games above .500 as they sit three games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East standings.
