Yankees fans busted for prying open Mookie Betts’ glove at World Series: ‘Mookie cursed’

On By Littum

NEW YORK — In one of the wildest moments in recent World Series history, a New York Yankees fan grabbed Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts’ glove, opened it and tore the baseball out of the 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.

When Athletics reached Capobianco via text, he declined to 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.

In the bottom of the first inning, leadoff hitter Gleyber Torres lofted a high pop into right field foul territory, with the Yankees down 2–0.

As Betts snagged the ball with his glove over the padded wall, Capobianco grabbed Betts’ glove with both hands, opened it, reached in with his right hand and knocked the ball back onto the field. The judges The game was ruled 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 catch Torres’ hit.

“I just kind of see the ball — I’m not going to say (go) to the shot if that makes sense,” Darren Capobianco said. “And then Mookie cursed at us. Not good.”

Austin Capobianco is a season ticket holder at Yankee Stadium, his brother said.

Immediately, safeties went over to Austin Capobianco, who tried to argue with them that Betts’ glove had reached foul territory, according to a video obtained by Athletics. Ana Flamengo, a Yankees fan from Connecticut, said she was standing on the field as stadium security escorted Austin Capobianco from the stands.

“I saw him being taken out,” Flamengo said. “I told him he was my hero for trying to save the Yankees. It’s the championship game.”

A league spokesman confirmed two fans were ejected.

“It was one of the most aggressive ‘fan rips the ball out of the glove (incidents)’ that I’ve ever seen,” said longtime former MLB umpire Dale Scott.

AthleticsEvan Drellich, Rustin Dodd and Sam Blum contributed to this story.

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(Photo: Robert Deutsch / Imagn Images)