In a better world, the reaction coming out of the Yankees’ Game 4 victory in the 2024 World Series on Tuesday would have focused on New York staving off elimination with a sparkling offensive performance.
Instead, all the air has been sucked out of the room thanks to a pair of doofus Yankees fans who grabbed Dodgers’ star Mookie Betts while the outfielder was going up for a foul ball. The fans were ejected for their actions, but seemingly showed no remorse for the whole affair when asked after the fact. Even though the memes coming out of the moment are funny, the whole thing is incredibly embarrassing amidst an overall a poor showing from Yankees fans during the game.
In the fallout from it all, there were questions as to if the two Yankees fans would be allowed back in the building for Game 5. While it was first reported they would be, the New York Post and ESPN both confirmed the pair are banned from Wednesday’s game and will have their tickets refunded.
News: MLB has asked the Yankees to ban the two fans who interfered in Game 4 from tonight’s game. They will be refunded for their tickets, per a source.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) October 30, 2024
All in all, this is the right move. Putting your hands on a player — or honestly, anyone — like that is dangerous behavior. Collisions between players and fans can happen in any sport, just ask photographers on NFL sidelines, but the actions by these two Yankees fans crossed the line into unacceptable territory.
MORE: 5 infamous fan interference moments in MLB history from Jeffrey Maier to the Mookie Betts incident.
Even the Yankees put out a statement on Wednesday calling the actions “egregious and unacceptable”.
Statement from the Yankees on the guys who grabbed Betts: pic.twitter.com/bVjkXY3i6k
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) October 30, 2024
In all honesty, MLB should ban these two fans for life, as a dismissal in the final Yankees home game of the season — and a refund of their tickets — feels like a slap on the wrist here. Actions like these should have consequences but, at the very least, the pair will have to find someplace else to watch Game 5 than Yankee Stadium.
