Aaron Boone to Undergo Heart Surgery

Aaron Boone, who will always be remembered for one of the most dramatic homers in baseball history, now faces something more serious than a Tim Wakefield knuckleball: open-heart surgery.

At a news conference this morning, the Astros revealed that Boone, 36, needs his aortic valve replaced.

"It's not an emergency situation. I don't have to rush to the table. It is something I have to schedule this week but hopefully we'll get done in the near future.

"... Will I play baseball again? I don't know at this time."

It's another strange turn in a strange career: traded midseason 2003 to the Yankees, the ALCS-winning homer, causing the Yankees to trade for Alex Rodriguez by tearing up his knee playing basketball, then bouncing to Cleveland, Florida, Washington and Houston.

By all accounts, Boone is one of the nicer guys in the game -- he was upstanding in admitting how he hurt his knee, allowing the Yankees to nullify his contract.

So here's hoping Boone makes a full recovery, even if he can't play again.