History of Aaron Judge in Timeline
Aaron Judge is a prominent American baseball outfielder for the New York Yankees. He is a five-time MLB All-Star and was named the AL Rookie of the Year in 2017. In 2022, he broke Roger Maris' 61-year-old home run record, hitting 62 home runs and winning the AL Most Valuable Player Award. Judge's imposing physique, standing at 6 feet 7 inches and weighing 282 pounds, distinguishes him as one of the largest players in Major League Baseball.
1920: Babe Ruth's 40 Home Run Season
In 1920, Babe Ruth hit 40 home runs for the Yankees, marking a significant milestone for the legendary player, a feat later repeated by other Yankee greats, including Aaron Judge in 2017.
1921: Babe Ruth's Home Run Record at Yankee Stadium
In 1921, Babe Ruth set a single-season record for most home runs hit by a Yankees player at their home ballpark, a record that stood until Aaron Judge broke it in 2017
1927: Lou Gehrig's 40 Home Run Season
In 1927, Lou Gehrig hit 40 home runs for the Yankees, adding to his legacy as one of the game's greatest players. Aaron Judge joined this exclusive group of Yankees in 2017
1937: Joe DiMaggio's 40 Home Run Season
In 1937, Joe DiMaggio hit 40 home runs for the Yankees, cementing his status as a baseball icon, a milestone later reached by Aaron Judge in 2017.
1939: Ted Williams's Walk Record
In 1939, Ted Williams set a record for the most walks by a rookie in a season, a record that stood until Aaron Judge surpassed it in 2017.
1950: Al Rosen's 100 Walk Season
In 1950, Al Rosen became the first AL rookie to record 100 walks in a single season, a milestone later reached by Aaron Judge in 2017.
1953: Jim Gilliam's 100 Walk Season
In 1953, Jim Gilliam became the first player in MLB to record 100 walks in a single season, a milestone later reached by Aaron Judge in 2017.
1956: Mickey Mantle's 40 Home Run Season
In 1956, Mickey Mantle hit 40 home runs for the Yankees at the age of 25, joining an elite group of Yankees to achieve this feat at such a young age, a group Aaron Judge became a part of in 2017.
1980: Joe Lefebvre Homers in First Two Games
In 1980, Joe Lefebvre became the second Yankees player to homer in each of his first two MLB games.
1987: Mark McGwire's 40 Home Run Season
In 1987, Mark McGwire became the first rookie in MLB history to hit 40 home runs in a season, a feat later matched by Aaron Judge in 2017.
1987: Mark McGwire's Rookie Home Run Record
In 1987, Mark McGwire became the first rookie to hit 30 home runs before the All-Star break, a record later matched by Aaron Judge in 2017.
April 26, 1992: Birth of Aaron Judge
Aaron James Judge was born on April 26, 1992.
2007: Alex Rodriguez's 30 Home Runs Before All-Star Break
In 2007, Alex Rodriguez achieved the feat of hitting 30 home runs before the All-Star break as a Yankee, a benchmark later reached by Aaron Judge in 2017.
2010: Drafted by Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics selected Aaron Judge in the 31st round of the 2010 MLB draft.
2010: High School Graduation
Aaron Judge graduated from Linden High in 2010.
2011: WAC Championship and Freshman All-American Honors
In 2011, Aaron Judge was part of a Fresno State team that shared the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) regular season title, won the WAC Tournament, and qualified for the 2011 NCAA Division I baseball tournament. Louisville Slugger named him a Freshman All-American.
July 2012: Fresno State Joins the Mountain West Conference
The Bulldogs joined the Mountain West Conference (MW) in July 2012, between Aaron Judge's sophomore and junior seasons.
2012: Curtis Granderson's Strikeout Record
In 2012, Curtis Granderson set a Yankees record for strikeouts in a season, a record that was broken by Aaron Judge in 2017.
2012: Mike Trout's Rookie of the Month Streak
In 2012, Mike Trout achieved a record-setting streak of four consecutive AL Rookie of the Month awards, a feat that Aaron Judge nearly matched in 2017.
2013: Quadriceps Injury
Aaron Judge tore a quadriceps femoris muscle while participating in a base running drill, which kept him out of the 2013 season.
2013: Drafted by the New York Yankees
The Yankees selected Aaron Judge with the 32nd pick in the first round of the 2013 MLB draft.
2014: Under Armour Endorsement
Aaron Judge began endorsing Under Armour gear in 2014.
2014: Professional Debut with Charleston RiverDogs
Aaron Judge made his professional debut with the Charleston RiverDogs of the Class A South Atlantic League in 2014.
2015: Kris Bryant's Strikeout Record
In 2015, Kris Bryant set a rookie record for strikeouts in a season, a record that was later broken by Aaron Judge in 2017.
2015: Statcast Adopted by MLB
In 2015, MLB adopted the Statcast system, which allowed for the measurement of exit velocities for batted balls, leading to the tracking of records like the one Aaron Judge set for fastest exit velocity.
2015: Spring Training and Promotion to Trenton Thunder
The Yankees invited Judge to spring training as a non-roster player in 2015. Judge began the 2015 season with the Trenton Thunder of the Class AA Eastern League.
August 13, 2016: Historic Back-to-Back Home Runs on Debut
On August 13, 2016, Judge made his MLB debut, starting in right field against the Tampa Bay Rays. In his first MLB at-bat, Judge hit a home run off Matt Andriese; the previous batter, Tyler Austin, also making his MLB debut, had done the same. This marked the first time that two teammates had hit home runs in their first MLB career at-bats in the same game.
September 13, 2016: Season-Ending Oblique Strain
Judge's debut season ended prematurely when he was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a grade two right oblique strain on September 13, 2016.
2016: International League All-Star Team
Aaron Judge was named to the International League All-Star Team in 2016 but did not play in the 2016 Triple-A All-Star Game after he spent a month on the disabled list due to a knee sprain.
2016: Judge's Motivation and Faith
In 2016, Aaron Judge, a Methodist Christian, used his batting average of .179 with the Yankees as a source of motivation. He kept a note with this number on his phone and looked at it daily.
2016: Yankees Miss Playoffs
The Yankees finished the 2016 season without making the playoffs.
2016: Uniform Number 99
Aaron Judge was assigned the unusual uniform number 99 during 2016 spring training. Higher numbers are typically given to young players who are not expected to make the final regular-season roster. Although he would have preferred No. 44 (retired by the Yankees in honor of Reggie Jackson) or No. 35, he wasn't sure if he would switch if those numbers became available.
2016: MLB Debut and First Home Run
Aaron Judge made his MLB debut in 2016 and hit a home run in his first major league at bat.
May 15, 2017: Media Appearances and Endorsements
On May 15, 2017, Aaron Judge appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated and as a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
May 22, 2017: "The Judge's Chambers" Debuts
On May 22, 2017, the Yankees debuted a special cheering section at Yankee Stadium called "The Judge's Chambers" in honor of Aaron Judge's popularity.
November 6, 2017: MLB The Show 18 Cover Athlete
On November 6, 2017, Aaron Judge was revealed as the cover athlete for the video game MLB The Show 18.
2017: Aaron Judge's Dominating June
Throughout June 2017, Aaron Judge showcased his exceptional skills, leading the American League in all Triple Crown categories and earning numerous accolades, including AL Player of the Month.
2017: AL Rookie of the Year and MVP Runner-Up
In 2017, Aaron Judge was unanimously selected as the American League (AL) Rookie of the Year and finished second in voting for the AL Most Valuable Player Award.
2017: Aaron Judge's Postseason Performance
In the 2017 postseason, Aaron Judge continued to make key plays, including home runs and impressive defensive plays, though he also set a record for strikeouts in an ALDS.
2017: Aaron Judge's Record-Breaking Season
In 2017, Aaron Judge had a record-breaking season, leading the American League in various categories and setting new benchmarks for strikeouts and walks.
2017: Players Weekend Nickname "All Rise"
From August 25-27, 2017, MLB and the MLB Players Association held Players Weekend, allowing players to express themselves and connect with their youth baseball experiences. Players wore alternate jerseys inspired by youth league designs and had the option to replace their last names with nicknames. Judge chose "All Rise", a nickname given to him by former teammate Todd Frazier.
2017: Aaron Judge Wins Home Run Derby
Aaron Judge won the 2017 Home Run Derby, becoming the first rookie to achieve this feat, further solidifying his status as a rising star in baseball.
2017: Record-breaking Rookie Season
Aaron Judge had a record-breaking rookie season in 2017, hitting 52 home runs, breaking Mark McGwire's MLB rookie record of 49 and Joe DiMaggio's Yankee full-season rookie record of 29.
August 9, 2018: Giancarlo Stanton Hits Record Home Run
On August 9, 2018, Aaron Judge's teammate Giancarlo Stanton broke his record for the fastest exit velocity for a home run, launching a ball at 121.7 miles per hour.
2018: Adidas Endorsement
Aaron Judge signed an endorsement deal with Adidas in 2018, ending his partnership with Under Armour.
2018: Players Weekend: Last Name on Jersey
For the 2018 Players Weekend, Aaron Judge opted to wear his last name on the back of his jersey.
2019: Players Weekend Nickname "BAJ"
During the 2019 Players Weekend, Aaron Judge chose to use the nickname "BAJ", an abbreviation for "Big Aaron Judge", on his jersey.
2019: Pete Alonso Breaks Rookie Home Run Record
Judge's rookie home run record stood for two years, until Pete Alonso hit 53 home runs in 2019.
December 2021: Marriage to Samantha Bracksieck
Aaron Judge married Samantha Bracksieck in December 2021.
December 2022: Pursuit by Multiple Teams in Free Agency
During December 2022, Aaron Judge was pursued by several teams in free agency, including the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants, with both teams offering him over $400 million.
December 20, 2022: Record-breaking Contract and Captaincy
During free agency, Aaron Judge received offers from the San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, and the Yankees. By early December 2022, the Padres and Giants had offered him over $400 million. Initially, the Yankees offered $320 million over eight years, but in a direct phone call with Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner, a new deal was reached. Steinbrenner proposed a ninth year and an additional $40 million guaranteed. This led to a nine-year, $360 million agreement signed on December 20, 2022, breaking the record for the largest free-agent deal in MLB history. The next day, at a press conference, Steinbrenner named Judge the 16th captain of the Yankees, marking the first captaincy since Derek Jeter's retirement eight years prior.
December 30, 2022: AP Male Athlete of the Year and Time Magazine Athlete of the Year
On December 30, 2022, Aaron Judge was voted The Associated Press (AP) "Male Athlete of the Year" by a panel of 40 sports writers and editors, narrowly edging out Shohei Ohtani. Judge was also chosen as Time Magazine's Athlete of the Year.
2022: Re-signs with the Yankees and Becomes Captain
After the 2022 season, Aaron Judge re-signed with the Yankees on a nine-year, $360 million contract and was subsequently named the team's captain.
2022: AL Home Run Record and MVP Award
In 2022, Aaron Judge set the AL record for most home runs in a season with 62, breaking the 61-year-old record held by Roger Maris, and won the AL Most Valuable Player Award.
2022: Postseason Appearance with the Yankees
The Yankees qualified for the 2022 postseason, facing the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Division Series. Judge's performance included a .200/.238/.500 slash line with two home runs as they defeated the Guardians in five games. However, in the AL Championship Series, Judge struggled, hitting only .063/.118/.063 with one hit and a walk, resulting in the Yankees being swept by the eventual World Series champions, the Houston Astros.
2022: Free Agency
After the 2022 season, Aaron Judge became a free agent. The Yankees offered him a qualifying offer, which he declined.
2022: American League MVP Award
Aaron Judge won the 2022 American League MVP Award for his performance during the 2022 regular season, receiving 28 out of 30 first-place votes. He was also selected for the 2022 All-MLB Team.
May 2023: American League Player of the Week and Month Awards
Despite missing the first week of May, Aaron Judge won both the American League Player of the Week Award for May 15-21 and the American League Player of the Month Award for May 2023. He excelled with a .342/.474/.882 slash line, hitting 12 home runs in 21 games.
2023: Roberto Clemente Award and All-MLB Second Team Selection
Before Game 3 of the 2023 World Series at Chase Field, Judge was presented with the Roberto Clemente Award, recognizing his outstanding character and charitable contributions. The award highlighted his dedication to promoting responsible youth and civic citizenship in New York and California through his ALL RISE foundation. Additionally, Judge was selected to the All-MLB Second Team for the third consecutive year.
2023: Season Performance and Yankees' Playoff Absence
Despite missing 56 games in 2023, Aaron Judge hit 37 home runs, putting him on pace for 55 home runs over a full season. He finished the season with a .267/.406/.613 slash line, marking his second consecutive year with an on-base plus slugging percentage over 1.000 and his third overall. His stats included 98 hits, 16 doubles, 75 RBI, 88 walks, nine intentional walks, and three stolen bases (caught stealing once). The Yankees finished fourth in the AL East, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
2023: Jordan Brand Endorsement and "The 99 Burger"
In 2023, Aaron Judge signed with the Jordan Brand. Additionally, Legends Hospitality, the concessions company at Yankee Stadium, introduced "The 99 Burger", named after Judge's uniform number.
2023: First Regular Season Appearance as Yankees' Captain and Opening Day Home Run
On 2023 MLB Opening Day at Yankee Stadium, Judge made his first regular-season appearance as the Yankees' captain. He marked the occasion by hitting a home run off San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb on his first swing, sending the ball into Monument Park.
2023: Three-Home Run Games and Second AL Player of the Week Award
On August 23, Judge hit three home runs, including a grand slam, against the Washington Nationals at Yankee Stadium. He repeated this feat against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Yankee Stadium on September 22, becoming the first Yankee to hit three home runs in a game twice in a single season. Consequently, Judge earned his second AL Player of the Week Award of 2023 on September 24.
2023: Injury and All-Star Selection
On June 3, Aaron Judge sustained a toe sprain after crashing through a closed gate in the outfield wall at Dodger Stadium while making a spectacular catch. The injury sidelined him for 42 games, during which the Yankees went 19-23. Despite this setback, Judge was elected to the 2023 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, but he was unable to participate due to his injury, and Texas Rangers' Adolis Garcia replaced him in the lineup. Judge returned to action on July 28 against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.