Aaron Boone reveals real reason why he wanted Yankees legend Joe Torre in All-Star Game

Four-time World Series champion manager Joe Torre accepted New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone's invitation to join the American League coaching staff for the upcoming 2025 MLB All-Star Game in Atlanta.

Boone has been asking Torre to reengage in MLB activities in some capacity and even convinced him to visit spring camps as a guest instructor. In Tuesday's media availability, Boone opened up on why he wanted Torre to be part of the All-Star game.

"Yeah, um… so obviously Joe has come back to spring training the last couple of years," Boone said (2:28 onwards). "And last year in 2024, in spring training, I think he was excited to come — but a little reluctant to get back in uniform. I got him back in uniform a few hours into being at camp. "Then I got him taking a mound visit a couple of days later, and I think he loved it. I know our guys love being around him. And I know this year he was really looking forward to coming back to spring training—he did, and he was in uniform. He’s just awesome to be around."

This served as a backdrop to the idea of Boone having him in his coaching during the 2025 Midsummer Classic. He revealed that the idea to invite Torre to the All-Star coaching staff came organically.

"I had the idea—'Wow, it’d be pretty cool if Joe Torre came,'" Boone said. "So I actually went to the league and asked, 'Hey, what do you think about Joe coming to the All-Star Game and being in uniform?' And they, of course, loved the idea."

After receiving permission from the league, Aaron Boone contacted Torre to see if he would be interested, to which he received a resounding yes.

"And then I asked him, would he consider coming? And right away he was like, 'Yes.' He seemed really excited about it," Boone added. "He seemed moved by it—which, in my eyes, couldn’t have gone better."

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The 2003 connection between Joe Torre and Aaron Boone

Aaron Boone played his last MLB season in 2003 with the New York Yankees. Guess who was the manager of the pinstripes at the time? Joe Torre. That same year, Boone would crush a home run to defeat the Boston Red Sox for the AL pennant.

Torre led the Yankees to four World Series titles. In 29 seasons as a manager in the MLB, he ranks fifth all-time in terms of wins (2,326). Apart from the Yankees, he also served as manager for the Mets (1977-81), Braves (1982-84), Cardinals (1990-95) and Dodgers (2008-10).

Aaron Boone has also invited Guardians manager Stephen Vogt to serve as an honorary AL coach. Meanwhile, on the National League side, manager Dave Roberts has invited Braves manager Brian Snitker and Marlins manager Clayton McCullough to serve as honorary coaches.

Edited by Dipayan Moitra