Yankees fans who interfered with Mookie Betts in World Series banned from MLB stadiums indefinitely: report
After briefly being hailed as heroes, the New York Yankees fans who pried a ball out of Mookie Betts’ glove after grabbing his wrists won’t see their team, or any other, for a long time.
Austin Capobianco and John P. Hansen were reportedly banned from all MLB stadiums indefinitely because of the incident.
During the bottom of the first inning in Game 4 of the World Series, with the Yanks trailing three games to none, Gleyber Torres hit a pop fly down the right field line that headed toward the stands. Betts leaped for the ball and made the catch, but he was apparently in a danger zone.
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Fans Austin Capobianco (left) and John P. Hansen (right) interfere with Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers as he attempts to catch a fly ball in foul territory during the first inning of Game 4 of the 2024 World Series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium Oct. 29, 2024, in the Bronx borough of New York City. The play resulted in an out. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
A Yankee fan in the front row tried to rip Betts’ glove off of his hand and take the ball out, and another fan held Betts’ wrists as the ball eventually came out.
Fans were escorted out of the stadium but were initially allowed to return the following night before the team reversed course and donated the tickets to a child with cancer and his family.
The Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder didn’t speak much about the ordeal after Game 4, but after Game 5, he let it all out.
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts makes a catch in foul territory as a New York Yankees fan interferes during the first inning in Game 4 of the 2024 World Series at Yankee Stadium in New York Oct. 29, 2024. (Brad Penner/Imagn Images)
“That was wild, man. That was really wild. I’ve never experienced anything like that. I was telling my wife that was like the second time in my life I’ve ever wanted to fight someone,” Betts told FOX after he won his third World Series title. “I get it, man. I get it. I don’t know if he was trying to get the ball, don’t know what he was really trying to do. But he had to do what he had to do, and it is what it is.”
Capobianco defended his actions, saying it was to help the Yankees.
“We always joke about the ball in our area,” Capobianco told ESPN. “We’re not going to go out of our way to attack. If it’s in our area, we’re going to D up.”
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts catches a ball in foul territory against the New York Yankees in the first inning during Game 4 of the 2024 World Series at Yankee Stadium. (Robert Deutsch/Imagn Images)
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The fans were in the seats of a friend who has been a season ticket holder since 1990. That fan is permitted to keep the season tickets.
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