NEW YORK — In one of the wildest moments in recent World Series history, a New York Yankees fan grabbed the glove of Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts, pried it open and ripped the baseball out of his glove.
The fan — Austin Capobianco, 38, of Connecticut — and another fan sitting next to him were immediately ejected from Game 4 at Yankee Stadium during the first inning Tuesday.
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When The Athletic reached Capobianco via text message, he declined comment.
“I just want to watch the game,” he wrote not long before Anthony Volpe’s grand slam brought the stadium to life in the third inning.
The scene was enough to make Jeffrey Maier blush.
“Well, A for effort.”
Fan interference was called on this play where a Yankee fan tried to take the ball out of Mookie Betts’ glove after an out. pic.twitter.com/iZ6taImncd
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 30, 2024
In the bottom of the first inning, leadoff hitter Gleyber Torres lifted a high pop into right field foul territory with the Yankees losing 2-0.
When Betts snagged the ball with his glove above the padded wall, Capobianco gripped Betts’ glove with both hands, opened it, reached inside with his right hand and knocked the ball back onto the field. The umpires ruled the play fan interference and Torres was out.
Capobianco’s brother, Darren, 29, said he saw Betts’ glove go over the concrete wall as he tried to make a catch on Torres’ hit.
“I just see the ball kind of — I don’t want to say (go) up for grabs, if that makes sense,” Darren Capobianco said. “And then Mookie was swearing at us. Not good.”
Austin Capobianco is a Yankee Stadium season-ticket holder, his brother said.
Immediately, security guards walked over to Austin Capobianco, who tried to argue with them that Betts’ glove had reached into foul territory, according to a video obtained by The Athletic. Ana Flamengo, a Yankees fan from Connecticut, said she was standing on the concourse when stadium security escorted Austin Capobianco from the stands.
“I saw him being walked out,” Flamengo said. “I told him he was my hero for trying to save the Yankees. It’s the championship game.”
A league spokesperson confirmed that two fans were ejected.
“That was one of the most aggressive ‘fan ripping the ball out of his glove (incidents)’ that I’ve ever seen,” longtime former MLB umpire Dale Scott said.
The Athletic‘s Evan Drellich, Rustin Dodd and Sam Blum contributed to this story.
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