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Yankees Interview Aaron Boone For Managerial Opening

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The Yankees on Friday interviewed one of the franchise's past postseason heroes for its managerial opening.

Aaron Boone became the fourth candidate to interview for the position.

The former infielder played 12 seasons in the majors and hit .263 with 126 home runs and 555 RBIs. He was acquired prior to the trade deadline by the Yankees in 2003 and went on to hit .254 with six homers and 31 RBIs in 54 games.

Boone is best remembered in New York for his walk-off home run against the Red Sox in Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series. He also played for the Reds, Yankees, Indians, Marlins, Nationals and Astros.

Aaron Boone
Aaron Boone celebrates after hitting the game-winning home run in the bottom of the 11th inning against the Boston Red Sox during Game 7 of the American League Championship Series on October 16, 2003 at Yankee Stadium. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Boone, who has worked as an analyst for ESPN since retiring following the 2009 season, is the only candidate among the four who have interviewed so far who lacks any managerial or coaching experience.

"I would say in a way I've been preparing for this job for the last 44 years," Boone told reporters in a conference call.

When asked about the possibility of Alex Rodriguez being a candidate this week, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said such inexperience was a concern for him.

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"Presidential candidates normally are senators or governors," Steinbrenner said. "They've got some political experience in that arena to move in. Regardless of whether it was Alex or someone else, that would be a concern of mine. It might be less of a concern for (general manager Brian Cashman)."

Boone, however, doesn't see a hurdle.

"Obviously experience is very valuable and should be a check mark for somebody," he said. "I've been going to the ballpark since I was 3 and 4 years old, and in a way managing the game from a very young age. And then growing up where my dad was in the big leagues from the time I was born to the time I was in a senior in high school and being around great teams, great players, I've kind of lived this game as a kid."

Last week, the Yankees interviewed bench coach Rob Thomson and former Indians and Mariners manager Eric Wedge. On Thursday, they met with Giants bench coach Hensley Meulens, also a former Yankee.

The Yankees are searching for a new manager after choosing not to offer Joe Girardi a new contract following last season, which ended with the Bombers falling one win short of the World Series.

(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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