Aaron Boone to Have Open Heart Surgery

2003 ALCS hero will go under the knife

Even if you say that open heart surgery is “not an emergency,” it’s definitely serious business.

Steve Ginsburg reports for Reuters that Houston Astros third baseman Aaron Boone, 36, will soon have open heart surgery that could end his career, the veteran infielder announced recently.

In Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series, Boone homered off Boston Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield to send the New York Yankees into the World Series.

Not an emergency situation?

“I have been diagnosed as having a heart condition involving the aorta and aortic valve,” Boone told reporters at the Astros’ spring training complex in Florida.

Boone, who played last season with the Washington Nationals, said it was “not an emergency situation.” In fact, he’s known about this problem since he was in college. So I can understand waiting until he’s had a chance at a Major League career, but if I had been in his shoes, it would have been difficult for me to escape the notion that I may be risking my life. No matter how much of a cash advance I received on a Major League salary, it wouldn’t be worth the money in my opinion. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Aaron Boone to Have Open Heart Surgery"