The New York Yankees finished the 2017 MLB season second in the American League east with a 91-71 record, clinching the wild card, and losing in seven games to the Houston Astros in the ALCS. At the conclusion of the season, it was undecided if manager Joe Girardi would be back next season. On Oct. 26, the Yankees announced that Girardi would not be returning and that they were seeking a new manager. Their search came to an end when the organization decided on former player and T.V. analyst Aaron Boone, who had a brief stint with the Yankees back in 2003.
It seemed like the right choice in their minds because of Boone's family history in professional baseball.
It runs in the family
The Boone family is well-known around the Major Leagues and each member has had their own success. The first member of the family to play in the big leagues was Boone's grandfather, Ray, who enjoyed a 13 year career as an infielder, playing for six teams between 1948 and 1960, most notably the Detroit Tigers. He was also a two-time all-star. Ray's son Bob followed in his father's footsteps and enjoyed a successful playing career as a catcher from 1972 to 1990 with the Philadelphia Phillies, California Angels, and Kansas City Royals. He was selected to the all-star team four times, won seven gold gloves, and won a world series ring with the Phillies in 1980.
Bob would also go on to briefly manage the Royals and Cincinnati Reds. The next members of the Boone kin were Bob's sons, Brett and Aaron. Brett, like his father, enjoyed a great career as a second baseman and was a three time all-star, winner of four gold gloves and two silver slugger awards with the Seattle Mariners, Reds, Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, and Minnesota Twins between 1992 and 2005.
Aaron, the youngest, started his big league career in 1997 with the Reds as a third baseman and played well leading into 2003, where he was selected to the all-star team as a backup, and on July 31, the trade deadline, he was sent to the Yankees for two pitchers and cash. He played in 54 regular season games with the Yankees, batting .254 with six home runs and 31 RBI's as the team finished with the best record in the American League at 101-61.
After beating the Twins in the division series, the Yankees faced their arch rivals, the Boston Red Sox, in the league championship series. Both teams battled back and forth to force a game seven. The game would go into extra innings as the Yankees rallied back after being down three runs. In the bottom of the 11th inning and with Tim Wakefield on the mound, Boone stepped up to the plate, and clobbered the first pitch he saw into the left field seats to win the game and series, and send the Yankees to the World Series. The Yankees would end up losing to the Florida Marlins in six games, but Boone's walk-off blast cemented him as a hero in Yankees postseason history.
Hero stays in baseball
Boone stayed in the majors for five more seasons before retiring in 2009 and became a baseball analyst for ESPN, working for programs like Baseball Tonight and Monday Night baseball.
This year when the Yankee manager position opened up, it was Boone and five other candidates who were interviewed to see who would be be the right fit for the team. On Wed. December 6, the Yankees announced the hiring of Boone as the 33rd manager in Yankees history in a press conference, in which he was given a three year deal with a club option in 2021.
While many say that this is a great move for the organization, there are those who are skeptical, due to Boone's lack of coaching experience. Despite that, Boone was viewed as someone who could really connect with the players and try his best to bring the Yankees to another World Series. With the 2018 season coming soon, only time will tell.
