While much of the Astros cheating scandal concerned the team’s sign-stealing system, new layers to the entire ordeal did emerge ahead of the 2020 season. Notably, it was all about Jose Altuve and buzzers.
When fans dove into the footage of Astros games between 2017 and 2019, many flagged Altuve’s walk-off home run off the Yankees’ Aroldis Chapman that sent Houston to the 2019 World Series.
As Altuve approached home at the time, he reminded his teammates to not rip at his jersey, which sparked unproven allegations that Altuve had some kind of buzzing device under his jersey to steal signs. He’d later say he wanted to keep the jersey on because he was shy.
But fast forward to Sunday’s Astros-Yankees game where Martin Maldonado clearly referenced the buzzer conspiracies after his solo home run off Jameson Taillon. This came after Aaron Judge trolled Altuve about buzzers on Saturday.
Check out Maldonado from third to home. LOL pic.twitter.com/kHsDICHfkQ
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) July 11, 2021
As Maldonado rounded third to trot to home, he pulled down his jersey to show the Yankees that he wasn’t wearing a buzzer. It wasn’t exactly subtle.
Fans definitely noticed.
Martin Maldonado has a message for Aaron Judge & the Yankees… pic.twitter.com/MqZCin8hiO
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) July 11, 2021
Astros catcher Martín Maldonado hits a home run then shows that he's not wearing a buzzer pic.twitter.com/EZlupnYQWE
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) July 11, 2021
Maldonado mocking his own teammate, hate to see it pic.twitter.com/6DzAbaL4Gl
— Emily Nyman (@EmSheDoesIt) July 11, 2021
Martín Maldonado hits a home run and then pulls down his jersey as he crosses home give this man a lifetime contract
— Ross Villarreal (@SportsRV) July 11, 2021
a true king. https://t.co/eUF7lSwkqX
— Barrett Tomek (@BarrettTomek) July 11, 2021
That’s my catcher 😂😂😂 https://t.co/QwTg8W416Y
— Alfonso Fernandez (@Alfonsoo111) July 11, 2021
WHERE IS HIS LIFETIME CONTRACT, CLICK?!?!?!?! https://t.co/P5m80kWL1J
— AggieZach (@AggieZach10) July 11, 2021
If anything, this rivalry keeps getting better.
https://youtu.be/pgHz7vbqMWw