An unfortunately memorable moment of the 2024 World Series occurred in Game 4 when Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts attempted to catch a fly ball in right-field foul territory at Yankee Stadium during the first inning.
Betts reached over the wall into the first row of seats and made the catch. However, two fans immediately tried to take the ball from Betts’ glove, as if that would somehow have prevented the out. One of the spectators was caught on camera trying to pry Betts’ glove open to get the ball, while the other grabbed the former MVP’s wrist to prevent him from pulling the glove and ball away.
“Well, A for effort.”
Fan interference was called on this play where a Yankee fan tried to take the ball out of Mookie Betts’ glove after an out. pic.twitter.com/iZ6taImncd
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 30, 2024
Umpires called fan interference and awarded Betts the out. The two spectators were then escorted out of the ballpark and later banned from Game 5.
Following the game, Betts said “I’ve never seen anything like that” and kept his thoughts civil.
Two months after the incident and an eventual Dodgers World Series championship, Betts had a far more candid response when asked about the fan interference by comedians Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson on their Peacock “Back That Year Up 2024” special.
“I would really say ‘F*** you guys,'” Betts replied when asked what he would say to those fans now. “I get them trying to get the ball. Cool. But, like, you tried to grab my s***.
“I was in the moment,” he added. “So I thought about throwing a ball at ’em. And then I realized, ‘Mook, you ain’t gonna do s***. Go back to right field.”
Again, Betts caught the ball and got the out. He hit .278 with a .681 OPS in the World Series. And he went on to win the third World Series title of his career. He absolutely got the last laugh. Now, he has the last word as well. And it’s on video to be replayed online.
Mookie Betts has finally responded to the Yankees fans that tried to violate him in the World Series:
“I would really say f**k you guys.”
“I thought about throwing the ball at them & then I realized Mook you ain’t gonna do sh*t, go back to right field!”
Via Hartbeat/TT pic.twitter.com/LKfauBAfnf
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) December 26, 2024
Betts also may not have to deal with such a situation again next season, as the Dodgers plan to move him to the infield to play second base or shortstop. He could again run into foul territory playing either of those positions, of course. But Betts wouldn’t necessarily have to reach high over a wall to get a fly ball.
The remarks continue a surprisingly contentious offseason between the Dodgers and Yankees. Shortly after the World Series, reliever Joe Kelly called the Yankees were “lazy” and a “mismatch” because of their sloppy defensive play. Appearing on Betts’ podcast in mid-November, Chris Taylor said the American League champions “s*** down their leg” during the series.
The Dodgers play the Yankees next season in a three-game series from May 30 to June 1. However, the games will be played at Dodger Stadium.
