NEW YORK – In one of the wildest moments in recent World Series history, a New York Yankees fan grabbed the glove of Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts, pried it open and ripped the baseball from his 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 on Tuesday.

When The Athletics Reached via text message, Capobianco declined 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.

“Well, A for effort.”

There was fan interference on this play with a Yankee fan trying to get the ball out of Mookie Betts’ glove after an out. pic.twitter.com/iZ6taImncd

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 30, 2024

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

When Betts grabbed the ball with his glove above 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 referees ruled the game 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 see the ball, I don’t want to say go for the grab, if that makes sense,” Darren Capobianco said. “And then Mookie cursed at us. Not good.”

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

Immediately, security guards walked over to Austin Capobianco, who tried to argue with them that Betts’ glove had entered foul territory, according to a video obtained by The Athletics. Ana Flamengo, a Yankees fan from Connecticut, said she was standing in the concourse when stadium security escorted Austin Capobianco from the stands.

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

A league spokesperson confirmed that two fans had been ejected.

“That was one of the most aggressive ‘fan ripping the ball out of his glove (incidents)’ I have ever seen,” said former MLB umpire Dale Scott.

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

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(Photo: Robert Deutsch / Imagn Images)