Footage of a Yankee’s fan trying to steal the ball from a Dodger’s player in the baseball World Series has left people outraged.
The popular US sport is full of drama at the best of times, so when you’re adding a spectator from the crowd getting involved, then it’s an entirely different ball game in itself.
In perhaps one of the most bizarre and craziest moments in World Series history, a New York Yankees supporter was seen grabbing the glove of Los Angeles Dodgers player Mookie Betts, before opening it and ripping the baseball out of his glove.
Two New York Yankees supporters were seen trying to snatch the ball from Mookie Betts (Al Bello/Getty Images)
The incident happened after Betts leaped at the wall to catch a ball that was heading in his direction, but he was left shocked after a fan grabbed the ball out of his hand.
Speaking to press after the match, Betts said: “When it comes to the person in play, it doesn’t matter. We lost. It’s irrelevant. I’m fine. He’s fine. Everything’s cool. We lost the game and that’s what I’m kind of focused on. We got to turn the page and get ready for tomorrow.”
ESPN and The Athletic have since identified the fan as 38-year-old Yankees season-ticket holder Austin Capobianco, from Connecticut.
“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
It was Capobianco’s friend John Peter who grabbed Betts’ non-glove hand to ensure his pal could get his hands on the ball.
Capobianco spoke to ESPN following the incident, which saw both him and his mate evicted from the stadium.
He told the network that he and Peter both discussed taking part in such an extreme activity should push come to shove.
“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.
“Someone defends, someone knocks the ball. We talk about it. We’re willing to do this.”
The footage has gone viral on social media (Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Footage of the incident has quickly circulated on social media, with one person penning on Twitter: “This is actually unbelievable.”
Meanwhile, ESPN journalist Kevin Negandhi wrote: “The fact that these two Yankee fans acted like they didn’t do anything wrong… one held Mookie’s glove.. other one grabs Mookie’s hand and won’t let go. If this was done in Philly, social media would’ve melted down.”
Finally, a third person on the social media site remarked: “Clowns. What an embarrassment for the entire region.”
