Staten Island’s No. 11: The Story of Michael Cammarata’s Retired Jersey

Michael Cammarata belted a solo home run to lead South Shore American to a 3-1 win over Haverstraw before his number 11 was retired in Williamsport.

Michael Cammarata led the South Shore American All-Star team to a 3-1 victory over Haverstraw, New York, by hitting a solo home run and adding an insurance run with a leadoff blast over the left-center fence in the fourth inning. During the 1991 postseason, the right fielder recorded two home runs while helping his Staten Island-based squad secure the East Region title in Bristol, Connecticut. The team eventually finished second in the United States and third in the world after defeating the Central Region representative from Ohio and falling to the West Region team from California in the U.S. Championship game. Today, Cammarata’s number 11 remains the only retired jersey in the history of the Little League World Series at Howard J. Lamade Stadium.

From Staten Island to Williamsport

In late August 1991, the 12-year-old right fielder stood on the hills of Williamsport, citing New York Yankees first baseman Don Mattingly as his primary role model. The South Shore American team reached the world stage by winning titles at the Staten Island, New York City, and New York State levels. Michael was noted by teammate Mike Wissel for his consistency at the plate and his tenacity, which included diving for balls and hustling between bases. His brother, Joe, watched from the stands as their father, Joseph Sr., drove the family to Pennsylvania in a 1988 Jeep Cherokee.

Following his youth baseball career, Michael transitioned to ice hockey, becoming the first defenseman to win a scoring title for the New York Ice Hockey Association. He later played club hockey at Wagner College while preparing for a career with the Fire Department of New York. During the FDNY entrance process, Michael earned a perfect score on both the physical and written exams. A single-question difference on the written test separated him from his brother Joe by nearly 1,000 spots on the eligibility list, leading Michael to be sworn in first as a probationary firefighter in May 2001.

The Events of September 11

Assigned to Engine 28/Ladder 11 on the Lower East Side, Michael was nine weeks into his 14-week probationary period on the morning of September 11, 2001. He skipped a tryout for the FDNY hockey team that morning to prioritize his duties at the firehouse. At approximately 9:00 a.m., he left a voicemail for his father stating that a plane had hit the World Trade Center and he was being dispatched to the scene. Investigations later revealed he was assisting individuals at 3 World Trade Center, the Marriott Hotel located between the twin towers.

At age 22, Michael was the youngest of the 343 FDNY members who died during the attacks. His brother Joe, then a New York City police officer, searched the debris near 7 World Trade Center until its collapse at 5:20 p.m. Although Michael’s body was never recovered, his family obtained his remains in 2003 via a vial of bone marrow he had donated to the National Marrow Donor Program. These remains were placed in a casket alongside his Little League World Series glove, hockey sticks, and FDNY dress uniform.

A Permanent Tribute at Lamade Stadium

Little League Baseball former president and CEO Steve Keener initiated the retirement of Michael’s jersey after reviewing the 1991 scorebook to confirm he wore number 11 while playing right field. In 2002, the organization posthumously inducted him into the Little League Hall of Excellence during the U.S. Championship game. Four years later, a permanent number 11 decal was installed on the right-field wall at Lamade Stadium to commemorate his sacrifice.

Michael’s legacy is further preserved through a letter found in his nightstand, which instructed his family to make his spirit live on and not to mourn his career choice. Joe honored this request by joining the FDNY in January 2002, wearing Michael’s badge number, 1138. Additionally, the street Kingdom Avenue on Staten Island now bears the secondary name Firefighter Michael Cammarata Place. Joe, who now serves as an attorney for Rudy Giuliani, named his 14-year-old son Michael to ensure the name continues within the family.