NEW YORK — In an already tense game, Aaron Boone unexpectedly became the center of affection for Yankee Stadium fans when he was ejected for “playing ball” for captain Aaron Judge — and received a standing ovation afterward.
On Saturday afternoon, in the Yankees’ 6–1 home win over the Orioles, Boone was ejected by umpire Ramon De Jesus in the fifth inning after a heated argument over strikeout decisions around home plate. Earlier, when Judge entered the game with the bases loaded and one out, two infield balls that should have been “out” were called strikes, leaving him in a 1–2 bind. Convinced something was amiss, Boone jumped in to argue — and was ejected.
Fans were not silent. The stadium, packed with 46,085 fans, stood up to cheer Boone as he left the field, the cheers drowning out the yelling — a rare event for a manager being ejected from a game. According to Boone, it was his seventh ejection this season, tying the record with Cardinals manager Oli Marmol.
“I didn’t get mad. There’s no reason I should have been ejected. But it was De Jesus’ emotional reaction,” Boone said after the game. “There were a couple of decisions earlier today, and then he pulled the trigger really quickly. Luckily, it didn’t affect the outcome, and we were still able to add to the lead.”
Judge later expressed gratitude:
“I didn’t hear Boone much at the time, so it was a surprise he got ejected. But it was a crucial moment to end the game. I didn’t agree with the decisions before, but it was just a timely hit. I always appreciate Boone being on our side.”
The Orioles were down 3-0 when Boone entered the contest, and Judge responded with a two-run home run over center field that effectively sealed the deal.
The incident gave many Yankees fans—who have repeatedly criticized Boone for his lack of “toughness”—a different perspective. The captain was a hero to the crowd that night, at least for a brief moment of feeling his team was being protected.
Before the game ended, Giancarlo Stanton hit a home run in the second inning, moving him past Carl Yastrzemski on the all-time home run list with 453.
For the team, Boone said they might consider moving J.C. Escarra to the starting roster if they needed more flexibility in the postseason—a decision that could shape how the Yankees approach the high-stakes phase.
There’s still a lot to be said: Will Boone continue to speak out forcefully if a similar situation arises? Will MLB discipline come to De Jesus or Boone himself? And will the crowd’s support for the ejected manager set a new precedent for how fans cheer for those who “protect” their team from controversial decisions?
One thing is certain: Boone wasn’t just ejected that night—he was celebrated amid the roar of the Yankees crowd. And in baseball, it was a moment that ignited identity, belief, and emotion.
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