Fans Who Interfered with Mookie Betts Allowed Back for Game 5
While there was plenty to smile about from the Yankees 11-4 victory in Game 4 of the 2024 World Series, the moment was almost ruined totally by two dimwitted fans…
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 29: Fans interfere with Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers as he attempts to catch a fly ball in foul territory during the first inning of Game Four of the 2024 World Series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on October 29, 2024 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The play resulted in an out.
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)While there was plenty to smile about from the Yankees 11-4 victory in Game 4 of the 2024 World Series, the moment was almost ruined totally by two dimwitted fans who decided to make themselves the national story when they interfered by grabbing the glove and wrist of Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts, and successfully prying the ball out of his glove.
The moment of course went viral, with most people condemning their actions as both childish and criminal. Many called for the duo to be banned from the Stadium.
Eventually the two were escorted out of the ballpark by security. But by Wednesday morning reports surfaced that the two individuals, Austin Capobianco, 38, and John Peter, will be allowed back into the ballpark for Game 5.
You read that right.
The New York Yankees will allow two guys who grabbed the hands and wrists of a multi-million dollar athlete while he was in mid air, to return to the ballpark.
ESPN's Jesse Rogers grabbed an interview with Capobianco, a Yankees season ticket holder, who told the network, "We always joke about the ball in our area. We're not going to go out of our way to attack. 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."
Of course the reaction to the news that the two individuals will be allowed back in the ballpark did not sit well.
To be fair, when asked about the incident, Betts said it was "irrelevant" and tried to move the subject on to Game 5.
"I'm fine, he's fine. We lost the game, I am trying to turn the page," Betts said.
Capobianco and Peter weren't the only Yankees fans who made news for all the wrong reasons. Apparently during the moment of silence for Stand Up to Cancer, a fan can be heard in the distance screaming "You Suck Freeman," directed at the Dodgers first baseman who has hit four home runs in this World Series.
Let's just say Yankees fans didn't do themselves any solid when it comes to ingratiating themselves to the public. If fans outside New York and New Jersey were already rooting against the Yankees, they have more reason to now.
UPDATE: According to Jesse Rogers of ESPN, Major League Baseball has asked the Yankees to ban both Capobianco and Peter from attending Game 5.
