The off-season has already begun for 26 major league baseball teams. The off-season is filled with trades, signings, firings, hirings, and sadly retirements. The New York Yankees have not started their off-season yet, and they don't want to until they're holding up a World Series trophy at a parade in New York.
But there are three other teams left in the postseason that also want to hold up a World Series trophy in the end.
The Yankees are currently preparing for a very tough series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Their focus as well as many of the fans' focus is on the game. But recently a Yankee hero has announced that he is leaning towards retiring from baseball.
The Yankee hero referred to is Aaron Boone, who was able to capture the hearts of many Yankee fans with one swing of a bat on a cold night at Yankee Stadium, exactly six years ago.
It was the bottom of the 11th inning at Yankee Stadium in 2003. The game was against the Red Sox, so the win was very near and dear to the hearts of all Yankee fans across the globe.
Aaron Boone was called on to pinch-hit against Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield. Wakefield gets the sign from Red Sox captain, Jason Varitek. He calls for Wakefield's signature knuckleball. Suddenly, with one swing of a bat, Boone leaves his mark on Yankees history.
Boone crushes that pitch into the left-field and sends the Yankees into the 2003 World Series. At the same time he crushes the hopes of Red Sox Nation for one more year. On that cold night in October, Aaron Boone made himself a Yankee hero.
Fast-forward to 2009. Aaron Boone made a remarkable comeback to the major leagues after undergoing bypass surgery. Boone chose to accept the fact that he might have to call his career quits. Doctors said otherwise and cleared him to play.
Boone's comeback was tracked by people all over the baseball world. Everyone was rooting for Aaron Boone, even some Red Sox fans.
Boone was able to join the Houston Astros in September as a call-up. He made 17 plate appearances and was always cheered on by fans. On October 16th, 2009, Aaron Boone has reportedly decided to retire from baseball and move on in his life.
During Boone's return to the majors, several Yankee fans were hoping the Yankees would sign Boone this off-season as a utility man that can just come off the bench at certain times. Coming off the bench and coming through in the clutch is what Boone does best.
On the anniversary of the homerun that made him a legend, he announced that he is contemplating retirement.
What a sight it would be to see him one more time in a Yankees uniform and end his career with the team that he became famous for. But it is most likely that Boone is serious about his retirement.
But baseball will never be far from Aaron Boone's life. Bob Boone and Bret Boone, his father and his brother, have played in the majors. When Yankee fans think about the 2003 post-season, they think Aaron Boone.
And that is how the presence of Aaron Boone will be kept alive in baseball.
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