Aaron Boone Returns As New York Yankee Manager

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

New York Yankees manager, Aaron Boone, copped to the plea that the return to Cincinnati and Great American Ball Park brought out emotions.

"There are the familiar faces. It is the organization that drafted me and brought me to the big leagues. This is an important place to me in my life," Boone said. "I had my best years here. I owned my first home here. There are a lot of people, I became very close with. Some of those people I will bump into when I'm back here. I love the city. It is always very nostalgic and even emotional. I don't get back here that much obviously, but I love it."

Boone was chosen in the third round of the 1994 draft out of the University of Southern California.

He played his first big league game on July 20, 1997 with a single, RBI and stolen base in three at bats against St. Louis.

Boone played for Ray Knight and Jack McKeon that first season. His father, Bob Boone, became the Reds' manager in 2001. His brother Brett was a Red from 1994 through 1997 and was Aaron's teammate for half a season.

His grandfather, Ray Boone, played in the Major Leagues from 1948-1960 and was an opponent of Terry Francona's father, Tito. He is one of the two three generations families involved with the Reds. Gus Bell, Buddy Bell, Mike Bell all played for the Reds. David Bell was the Reds manager from 2018 through 2024.

In seven years in Cincinnati, Aaron Boone, hit .271 with 141 doubles, 14 triples. 86 home runs, 362 RBI and 83 stolen bases in 668 games. He hit .294 in 103 games in 2001. He hit .241 with a carrer-high 38 doubles, two triples, a career-high 26 home runs, a career-high 32 stolen bases in 162 games.

Boone was traded to the Yankees at the trade deadline, three months after the Reds fired Bob Boone and General Manager Jim Bowden. The Reds got LHP Brandon Claussen and RHP Charlie Manning. 

Boone combined with the Reds and Yankees in 2003, set career-highs with 92 runs scored and 96 RBI. He hit a walk off home run to beat the Boston Red Sox that sent the Yankees to the World Series.