Aaron Boone is going from former New York Yankees postseason hero to New York Yankees manager.
The news came down on Friday night that the longtime third baseman will become the next Yankees manager for the 2018 season; succeeding Joe Girardi, who parted ways with the team after 10 years in the Bronx.
While Boone is a long-time former player, he’s stepping onto the bench for the first time as a coach in any kind of capacity; he’s spent the last several years as a broadcaster for ESPN, working the Sunday Night Baseball games.
The 44-year-old Boone is certainly no stranger to the Yankee fan base, as he hit one of the most memorable home runs in postseason history. In Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, Boone broke a 5-5 tie in the bottom of the 11th inning and cracked a solo home run to left field off Tim Wakefield and helped send the Yankees to the World Series by beating the Boston Red Sox.
Boone’s time with the Yankees as a player wasn’t very long; he broke his leg playing a pickup game of basketball; an injury that led to the trade of Alex Rodriguez in February of 2004. But his impact from hitting a memorable postseason home run was forever made. When you get a major hit or home run as a member of the Yankees in the playoffs, that creates a legacy that lasts forever and is remembered for a long time.
Fast forward to 14 years later and Boone will be once again donning the Yankee pinstripes as the manager and will be taking over a team loaded with talent.
Two months ago, the Yankees were one game away from reaching the World Series. The Yankees, who in spring training, were picked to finish in fourth place and were considered a rebuilding team, ended up winning 91 games, knocked off the American League Champion Cleveland Indians and then took the eventual World Series Champion Houston Astros to a seventh game.
It’s one thing for a first time manager to get a rebuilding team to get their feet wet. But Aaron Boone is getting the New York Yankees managing job as his first time job. It’s a heck of a job to land as your first time managing in any role.
Boone has baseball in his blood; his father was Bob Boone, who was also a former player and manager, and his brother was Bret Boone, a former All Star infielder. He’s been around the game his whole life, so even if it is his first managing, he’s not some unknown just waltzing into New York.
He has a legacy; even if it’s a small one. Just like Joe Girardi, Aaron Boone is another former Yankee player to become a manager. And he’s been able to thrive in the spotlight before; just like Girardi did.
Given the Yankees roster and their being set up for long-term success, Aaron Boone should continue the trend of winning baseball in the Bronx. And for the Yankees sake, he’s the next manager to bring a championship back to New York.
Since 1996, the Yankees have only had two managers. Both had incredible success. Brian Cashman is banking on a former player turned manager to become the next in line to have that same kind of success.
Aaron Boone should be a fine manager with the Yankees. He’s walking into an incredible job that has him set up for success.