The man responsible for the last moment of euphoria (above) at Yankee Stadium is expected to undergo open-heart surgery in the next few weeks. Aaron Boone replaced Bucky Dent as the most despised Yankee in New England with a heart-stopping (excuse the pun) walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS. The Yankees eventually lost to the the Florida Marlins (ugh) but coming back from a 4-0 deficit to beat the Red Sox in a game 7 -- back before the 'Sawx' went on to win 2 World Series titles and finally shed their cursed status -- was sweet, sweet consolation.
Boone made the mistake of wrecking his knee in an off-season game of pickup basketball the following winter, thus necessitating the arrival of Tabloid Rodriguez in 2004 and Boone being traded to Cleveland. He was looking forward to platooning at third with the Astros this season but now, at only 36, seems unlikely to play again after such serious surgery. His name will always be synonymous with unadulterated joy to Yankees fans, however, and he'll forever be a deity in the Bronx.
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