Aaron Boone's Doctors Hit a Home Run

"He had wires everywhere -- it was a little more serious than they kind of expected," Bob Boone said. "The surgeon told us it's good he did it now."
He is no longer the 20/20 second baseman you want as a fixture on your baseball team. His memory will be etched into history for the home run off Tim Wakefield in 2003 that sent the Yankees to their 39th World Series, only to be humiliated by my Marlins here in South Florida.

But Aaron Boone, drafted in 24th and 25th rounds this year, if at all, will not be spending his 36th year in a baseball uniform for the Washington Nationals. Looks like Rafael Belliard will get his at bats, and Belliard, though hurt often last year again, does not hurt you. He hits a dozen homers for a second sacker and is probably available in almost any league without lots of depth.

The surgery involved replacing a section of the aorta and fixing his valve -- "just tightened it up really, so it works perfect," according to the elder Boone. "They rebuilt his valve, which they were hoping to do. The alternative was putting a mechanical valve in there. They really didn't want to do that."

Boone said because his son's heart had grown, the aorta stretched, like a balloon. While the procedure to fix the problem is relatively simple, the consequences if not detected are grave. Actor John Ritter died of a similar affliction -- an aortic dissection.

John Ritter loved baseball. We met at a fantasy baseball camp for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He brought life and enthusiasm every nite to the camp, with a marvelous energy and love for the game. Maybe I will post the picture of the two of us together. Aaron Boone's family of baseball players, sons and fathers and grandfathers have brought generations of love to the game of baseball.

The most important home run his family may have seen was not the one hit in 2003 by their son. It may have been the one by the doctors who diagnosed the condition and operated successfully to save his life. I may save a spot for Aaron on my team this season just for the hell of it.