More than three months after Austin Capobianco’s infamous moment during Game 4 of the World Series, the backlash continues.
Sitting in the front row down the right-field line at Yankee Stadium, Capobianco had been cheering for his beloved Bronx Bombers against the Los Angeles Dodgers – until a single impulsive move changed everything.
As Mookie Betts reached into the stands to snag a foul ball, Capobianco grabbed at the outfielder’s glove in an attempt to pry it open.
The fallout from the interference was swift.
Major League Baseball banned Capobianco from all 30 ballparks, as well as any MLB-affiliated events and minor league games.
However, according to Capobianco, the outrage from rival fans was far worse.
“All the stuff my family has had to deal with because of me. The nonstop phone calls. The people sending me pictures of their ugly looking penises. The packages,” Capobianco told The Athletic.
One package, in particular, stood out.
When it arrived at his parents’ home, Capobianco hesitated to open it. A quick Google search of the return address revealed that the sender specialized in delivering one very specific and unpleasant surprise.
“It was poop,” he revealed.
The harassment has extended beyond prank packages.
Capobianco shared multiple voicemails he’s received from anonymous numbers, many with Southern California area codes. The messages are filled with profanity and threats.
“F*ck you, you piece of sh*t. You’ve got karma coming to you. Watch your back, b*tch,” one voicemail said.
“You’re a f*cking idiot and a joke, fatass,” another stated.
“Have fun watching Game 5 from home, ass hat,” a more friendlier one said.
The relentless criticism has driven Capobianco to avoid social media altogether. Instead, he focuses on his job at his family’s business and enjoys traveling.
Despite everything, Capobianco acknowledges that his punishment from MLB was warranted.
“I want nothing to do with that memory,” he admitted, adding that he changes the channel whenever footage of the incident appears on TV.
Looking back, he regrets the entire situation and hopes to move on.
“I’m a hero in Yankees land. I’m a villain in America,” he said. “I don’t really care. I just want to be forgotten about. That’s it. I want people to forget about me.”
Now, if we’re being honest, I think 99% of the world has already forgotten about our Capobianco friend.
Of course, the play was a huge deal when it happened. While he had plenty of haters, there were also a large amount of supporters who admired his “win-at-all-costs” mentality.
Regardless, he was well on his way to getting his wish of being “forgotten” until he decided to give this interview.
What are your thoughts on his comments and the situation as a whole???
