NEW YORK — Mookie Betts made the catch in Game 4 of the World Series last October. And this week, Major League Baseball ruled the New York Yankees fans who tried interfering with him out, for good.
Three months after Betts had his glove and arm grabbed by two spectators at Yankee Stadium during last year’s Fall Classic, MLB has decided to ban the fans indefinitely from all games.
The fans, Austin Capobianco and John P. Hansen, were informed of the decision in a letter from the league that was obtained by The Times, which read in part:
“Your conduct posed a serious risk to the health and safety of the player and went far over the line of acceptable fan behavior. Based on your conduct, Major League Baseball is banning you indefinitely from all MLB stadiums, offices, and other facilities. You are also hereby banned indefinitely from attending any events sponsored by or associated with MLB.”
The ban, which was first reported by the New York Post on Friday, brings closure to one of the more unusual subplots from last year’s World Series, one that left Betts and his Dodgers teammates fuming after the fans made a deliberate attempt to try and pry the ball loose from Betts’ glove in the first inning of Game 4 — in a potentially dangerous moment with Betts leaping at the wall in foul territory.
Betts managed to complete the catch, even as one fan dug into his glove while the other grasped his throwing arm. Betts reacted angrily toward the pair, who were quickly ejected from the game and barred from attending the Dodgers’ title-clinching win in Game 5 the next night.
According to MLB’s letter, neither fan will now be allowed entrance into any future MLB games, with the league warning them that “if you are discovered at any MLB property or event, you will be removed from the premises and subject to arrest for trespass.”
Immediately after the incident, Capobianco told ESPN that the fans had planned to interfere with play if a fly ball came to their area, in the first row of seats down the right field foul line.
“We always joke about the ball in our area,” he told ESPN the night of the game. “If it’s in our area, we’re going to ‘D’ up. Someone defends, someone knocks the ball. We talk about it. We’re willing to do this.”
The next day, Capobianco showed more remorse in comments to the Times, acknowledging that “I’m a way too passionate fan that probably crossed the line last night.”
“He so damn good and that play he made was impressive,” Capobianco added then. “World Series juices and desperation kicked in and that was the result.”
Now, he nor Hansen will have the opportunity to interfere in such a way again.
