Aaron Boone was sensationally ejected with just one batter in the Yankees vs. Oakland Athletics game on Monday when umpire Hunter Wendelstedt mistakenly thought the crowd abuse was coming from the New York manager.
In astonishing scenes at Yankee Stadium, Wendesltedt first confronted Boone over a strike decision seconds before his mistake, and could be heard on television yelling, “If you have anything else to say, you’re out.”
Boone remained silent and gave the referee the go-ahead to accept his warning, but when Wendelstedt turned around, he heard something from the fan, sitting above the New York dugout, who he thought was Boone.
It was two strikes and the Yankees manager was thrown out, when Wendelstedt responded: “Aaron, you’re gone.”
Boone, who has a history of angry confrontations with MLB umpires, was understandably stunned and pointed toward the Yankee Stadium stands before running toward Wendelstedt to make his case.
“I don’t care who said it. You’re gone!”
That’s not usually how it works, but at least we had an awesome hot mic situation thanks to this Aaron Boone ejection. pic.twitter.com/EX2xUsjtKA
— Talking Yankees (@TalkinYanks) April 22, 2024
Referee Hunter Wendelstedt, although the abuse from the fan in blue (center) was from Aaron Boone
Boone angrily declared his innocence, but was thrown out just one batter into the game.
Television replays clearly showed that Boone said nothing and the comment came from a fan sitting directly above the Yankees dugout, wearing a blue sweater.
Boone yelled, ‘I didn’t say a word, it was the crowd!’ Bulls***! I didn’t say anything, hunter! I didn’t say a damn word!’
As Boone continued desperately to plead his innocence, Wendelstedt said, “I don’t care who said it, you’re gone.”
YES Network, the broadcaster of Monday afternoon’s game, shared footage of Boone in silence for several seconds before Wendelstedt mistakenly ejected him.
The fan in question then took off his blue sweater, although it was probably more for the sunlight than an attempt to remain incognito.
Fans watching were stunned by the incident, with one writing on Twitter: “A Yankee fan yelling at the umpire and the umpire mistook him for Aaron Boone and threw him is unbelievable.”
Another responded to the clip and joked: “Me sending my oldest son to his room when it was actually my youngest son who responded to me.”