Yankees tap Boone as manager

Retired player was working as broadcaster

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Friday night because the decision had not been announced by the team.

Now 44, Boone has never been a manager or even a coach at any level since retiring as a player after the 2009 season. His 11th-inning home run off Boston’s Tim Wakefield won Game 7 of the AL Championship Series for the Yankees against Boston.

Boone was a big league third baseman from 1997-2009 and an All- Star in 2003, when New York acquired him from the Reds at the trade deadline.

Boone was among six people interviewed for the job and won out over Yankees bench coach Rob Thomson, former Cleveland and Seattle manager Eric Wedge, San Francisco bench coach Hensley Meulens, Los Angeles Dodgers third base coach Chris Woodward and former Yankees outfielder Carlos Beltran, who retired as a player after winning his first World Series this year with Houston.

New York’s choice of Boone was first reported by former Daily News columnist Bill Madden.

After missing out on the Yankees’ job, Thomson told the Phillies he is accepting an offer to become their bench coach, a person familiar that decision said. That person also spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision was not announced.

Five days after New York lost to Houston in Game 7 of the AL Championship Series, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman announced Oct. 26 that Girardi was not being offered a new contract after 10 seasons, the team’s 27th

BILL KOSTROUN — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE In this Oct. 16, 2003photo, New York Yankees’ Aaron Boone celebrates his game-winning home run off Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield during the 11th inning of Game 7of the American League Championship Series in New York.