Yankees Ban Fans, Give Tickets to Cancer Patient After Fan Interference

The New York Yankees decided to ban two enthusiastic fans, Austin Capobianco and John Peter, from attending Game 5 of the World Series. The ban came after they snatched the ball from Mookie Betts' glove during a pop-out in Game 4. Instead of those fans, the team chose to give the tickets to a pediatric cancer patient and their family, according to MLB. com's Bryan Hoch. The Yankees emphasized the importance of safety and security for players, fans, and stadium staff. They wanted the final home game of the season to be memorable for the right reasons. "Yankee Stadium is known for its energy, but the excitement should never put players at risk, " the team stated. Capobianco, a season-ticket holder, told ESPN's Jesse Rogers that the Yankees refunded the cost of the tickets and warned him of arrest if he tried to attend. He hoped the ban would be short-term to avoid losing their season tickets. The Major League Baseball Players Association is keeping an eye on the situation. Executive Director Tony Clark said, "Player safety is crucial, and we're in contact with league security to ensure proper measures are taken. " Mookie Betts, the outfielder involved, wasn't too bothered by the incident. "It's not a big deal, " he said. "We lost the game, and that's what matters. We need to move on and prepare for the next one. "