History of Aaron Judge in Timeline

Aaron Judge is a prominent American professional baseball outfielder currently playing for the New York Yankees in MLB. Recognized as a seven-time MLB All-Star and two-time AL MVP, Judge is renowned for his exceptional power hitting. Standing at 6'7" and weighing 282 pounds, his stature makes him one of MLB's largest players. He holds the American League record for single-season home runs with 62. Widely regarded as one of the best power hitters and right-handed batters in baseball history, Judge's accomplishments have solidified his status as a superstar.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1920: Babe Ruth's 40 Home Run Season

In 1920, Babe Ruth became one of the only Yankees to hit 40 home runs in a season at age 25 or younger.

1921: Joining an Exclusive Club with Babe Ruth

In 1921, Babe Ruth accomplished a similar feat to Aaron Judge's 2022 season of hitting at least 55 home runs and stealing at least 15 bases.

1921: Babe Ruth's Yankee Stadium Record

In 1921, Babe Ruth set the single-season record for the most home runs hit by a Yankees player at his home ballpark.

1927: Lou Gehrig's 40 Home Run Season

In 1927, Lou Gehrig became one of the only Yankees to hit 40 home runs in a season at age 25 or younger.

1932: Tying Jimmie Foxx's Home Run Record

In 1932, Jimmie Foxx held the AL single season record for most home runs by a right handed batter, which Aaron Judge tied during the 2022 season.

1937: Joe DiMaggio's 40 Home Run Season

In 1937, Joe DiMaggio became one of the only Yankees to hit 40 home runs in a season at age 25 or younger.

1938: Equaling Hank Greenberg's Home Run Record

In 1938, Hank Greenberg set the record for 11 multiple home run games in an MLB season, which Aaron Judge equaled during the 2022 season.

1939: Ted Williams' Walks Record

In 1939, Ted Williams set the record for the most walks by a rookie in a season.

1950: Al Rosen's 100 Walks

In 1950, Al Rosen was the first AL rookie to reach 100 walks in a season.

1953: Jim Gilliam's 100 Walks

In 1953, Jim Gilliam was the first rookie in MLB to have 100 walks in a season.

1956: Mickey Mantle's 40 Home Run Season

In 1956, Mickey Mantle became one of the only Yankees to hit 40 home runs in a season at age 25 or younger.

1956: Mickey Mantle's Unanimous MVP Award

In 1956, Mickey Mantle was the first Yankee player to win the AL MVP Award unanimously, a feat later matched by Aaron Judge.

1957: Ted William's intentional walk record

In 1957, Ted Williams set the American League single-season record with 34 intentional walks, before Aaron Judge broke this record in 2025.

1980: Joe Lefebvre hits a home run in each of his first two MLB games

In 1980, Joe Lefebvre hit a home run in each of his first two MLB games.

1987: Mark McGwire's Rookie Season

In 1987, Mark McGwire became the second rookie to hit 30 home runs before the All-Star break.

1987: McGwire's Rookie Home Run Record

In 1987, Mark McGwire hit 40 home runs becoming only the second rookie in MLB history to do so.

April 26, 1992: Aaron Judge's Birth

On April 26, 1992, Aaron James Judge, who would become a professional baseball outfielder for the New York Yankees, was born.

Others born on this day/year

1997: Joining an Exclusive Club with Ken Griffey Jr.

In 1997, Ken Griffey Jr. accomplished a similar feat to Aaron Judge's 2022 season of hitting at least 55 home runs and stealing at least 15 bases.

1998: Joining an Exclusive Club with Sammy Sosa

In 1998, Sammy Sosa accomplished a similar feat to Aaron Judge's 2022 season of hitting at least 55 home runs and stealing at least 15 bases.

2001: Alex Rodriguez's First Inning Home Run Record

In 2001, Alex Rodriguez held the record for most first-inning home runs in a season, which Aaron Judge broke in a later season.

2007: Alex Rodriguez's Home Run Streak

In 2007, Alex Rodriguez had a home run streak that lasted from September 4-9.

2007: Alex Rodriguez Hits 30 Home Runs Before All-Star Break

In 2007, Alex Rodriguez was the first Yankee to hit 30 home runs before the All-Star break.

2010: Graduation from Linden High School

In 2010, Aaron Judge graduated from Linden High School, where he was a three-sport star in baseball, football, and basketball.

2010: Oakland Athletics Draft

In 2010, Aaron Judge was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 31st round of the MLB draft but chose to attend college instead.

2011: Fresno State Success

In 2011, Fresno State shared the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) regular season title, won the WAC Tournament, and qualified for the NCAA Division I baseball tournament. Louisville Slugger named Judge a Freshman All-American.

July 2012: Joins Mountain West Conference

In July 2012, The Bulldogs joined the Mountain West Conference (MW) before Judge's junior season.

2012: Curtis Granderson's Strikeout Record

In 2012, Curtis Granderson set the Yankees' record for strikeouts.

2012: Mike Trout's Rookie of the Month streak

In 2012, Mike Trout won four consecutive AL Rookie of the Month awards.

2013: Signed with Yankees and Injury

In 2013, Aaron Judge signed with the New York Yankees, receiving a $1.8 million signing bonus, but he tore a quadriceps femoris muscle, keeping him out of the season.

2013: Drafted by the Yankees

In 2013, Aaron Judge was selected by the New York Yankees in the first round of the MLB draft.

2014: Endorses Under Armour gear

From 2014, Judge endorsed Under Armour gear until the 2018 season.

2014: Professional Debut

In 2014, Aaron Judge made his professional debut with the Charleston RiverDogs and was later promoted to the Tampa Yankees.

2015: Spring Training and All-Star Futures Game

In 2015, Aaron Judge was invited to spring training with the Yankees and played in the All-Star Futures Game.

2015: Kris Bryant's Rookie Strikeout Record

In 2015, Kris Bryant set the rookie record for strikeouts.

2015: Adoption of Statcast

In 2015, Statcast was adopted.

August 13, 2016: MLB Debut Home Run

On August 13, 2016, Aaron Judge made his MLB debut and hit a home run in his first at-bat.

September 13, 2016: Season-ending Injury

On September 13, 2016, Aaron Judge's season ended prematurely due to a grade two right oblique strain.

2016: Past Batting Average

In 2016, Aaron Judge had a .179 batting average, which he used as a source of daily motivation in 2017.

2016: MLB Debut

In 2016, Aaron Judge made his Major League Baseball debut with the New York Yankees.

2016: International League All-Star Team

In 2016, Aaron Judge was named to the International League All-Star Team, but an injury prevented him from playing.

2016: Yankees Miss Playoffs

In 2016, The Yankees made the playoffs, before missing the playoffs in 2023.

2016: Choice of Jersey Number

In 2016, during spring training, Aaron Judge was given the number 99, an unusual uniform number. Judge had preferred No. 44 or No. 35, but they were not available.

May 15, 2017: Appears on Cover of Sports Illustrated and The Tonight Show

On May 15, 2017, Aaron Judge appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated with the title "All Rise". That same day, Judge was on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, posing undercover in Bryant Park to ask Yankee fans questions about himself.

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November 6, 2017: Named Cover Athlete for MLB The Show 18

On November 6, 2017, Aaron Judge was named the cover athlete for MLB The Show 18.

2017: Signs endorsement deal with Pepsi

After his 2017 rookie season, Judge signed a multi-year endorsement deal with Pepsi.

2017: Motivation from Past Batting Average

During his 2017 rookie season, Aaron Judge used his .179 batting average from the 2016 season as a source of daily motivation.

2017: Regular Season Performance

In 2017, Aaron Judge appeared in 155 games and led the AL in home runs, runs scored, and walks while also striking out an MLB-leading 208 times.

2017: AL Player of the Week and Month

In 2017, Aaron Judge was named AL Player of the Week on June 12 and AL Player of the Month for June.

2017: AL Rookie of the Year

In 2017, Aaron Judge won the American League Rookie of the Year award and finished second in AL MVP voting after hitting an AL-leading 52 home runs.

2017: Players Weekend Nickname "All Rise"

In 2017, during MLB's Players Weekend, Aaron Judge chose the nickname "All Rise" for his jersey nameplate.

2017: Postseason Run

In the 2017 postseason, the Yankees clinched a Wild Card, and Aaron Judge contributed with home runs and defensive plays, but the team ultimately lost to the Houston Astros in the ALCS.

August 9, 2018: Giancarlo Stanton breaks exit velocity record

On August 9, 2018, Giancarlo Stanton broke the Statcast exit velocity record with a home run that had an exit velocity of 121.7 miles per hour.

2018: Players Weekend Jersey

During the 2018 Players Weekend, Aaron Judge chose to just have his last name on the back of his jersey.

2018: Signs endorsement deal with Adidas

In the 2018 season, Judge signed an endorsement deal with Adidas, which expired in 2022.

2019: Players Weekend Nickname "BAJ"

During the 2019 Players Weekend event, Aaron Judge chose his own nickname, "BAJ", an abbreviation of "Big Aaron Judge".

2019: Home Run Over Green Monster

In 2019, Aaron Judge hit a home run over Fenway Park's Green Monster, setting a new franchise record for team home runs in a season for the Yankees.

2019: Defensive Player of the Year

In 2019, Aaron Judge won the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award for his position in right field, while also leading the league in defensive runs saved.

2020: Home Run Streak and Injury

In 2020, Aaron Judge began the season with a five-game home run streak, but he was later placed on the injured list with a right calf strain, impacting his season.

November 23, 2021: All-MLB Team Selection

On November 23, 2021, Aaron Judge was named to the First Team of the All-MLB Team as an outfielder, recognizing his outstanding performance. He also finished fourth in the AL MVP voting.

December 2021: Marries Samantha Bracksieck

In December 2021, Aaron Judge married Samantha Bracksieck in a private ceremony in Maui. They met at Linden High School and both attended Fresno State University.

2021: Shohei Ohtani's AP Male Athlete of the Year Award

In 2021, Shohei Ohtani won the Associated Press (AP) "Male Athlete of the Year" award, before Aaron Judge won the award in 2022.

December 2022: Free Agency and Contract Negotiations

In December 2022, Aaron Judge entered free agency and was pursued by multiple teams, including the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants. He ultimately signed a nine-year, $360 million deal with the Yankees after negotiations with owner Hal Steinbrenner.

December 20, 2022: Signing with the Yankees and Captaincy

On December 20, 2022, Aaron Judge signed a nine-year, $360 million deal with the Yankees, breaking the record for the largest free agent deal in MLB history. The following day, he was named the 16th captain of the Yankees, the first since Derek Jeter's retirement.

December 30, 2022: AP Male Athlete of the Year

On December 30, 2022, Aaron Judge was voted The Associated Press (AP) "Male Athlete of the Year", edging out Shohei Ohtani. Judge was also selected as the Time Magazine Athlete of the Year, capping off what is considered one of the best offensive seasons in major league history.

2022: Re-signed with Yankees and named team captain

Following the 2022 season, Aaron Judge re-signed with the Yankees on a nine-year, $360-million contract and was named the team's captain.

2022: Contract Negotiations and Agreement

In 2022, Aaron Judge and the Yankees initially failed to negotiate a long-term contract, with the team offering a seven-year extension worth $213.5 million. Judge avoided salary arbitration and signed a one-year, $19 million contract on June 24, with MVP and World Series MVP Award bonuses.

2022: Appears on Logic's Album Vinyl Days

In 2022, Aaron Judge appeared on a 23-second skit named after himself on rapper Logic's album Vinyl Days.

2022: Dominating Performance in Major Leagues

In 2022, Aaron Judge led the major leagues in several categories, including 62 home runs, 133 runs scored, 131 RBI, and 111 walks. He batted .311/.425/.686 and stole 16 bases. He was only denied the American League triple crown due to Luis Arráez's higher batting average.

2022: First MVP Award and AL Home Run Record

In 2022, Aaron Judge won his first MVP award after setting the American League single-season home run record.

2022: Adidas endorsement deal expires

In 2022, Judge's endorsement deal with Adidas expired.

August 2023: Signs Shoe Deal with Nike-owned Jordan Brand

In August 2023, Aaron Judge signed a shoe deal with Nike's Jordan Brand, becoming the fifth active MLB player to do so.

September 2023: AL Player of the Month Award

In September 2023, Judge claimed his third AL Player of the Month Award, showcasing his exceptional performance with a .417/.565/.869 batting line.

2023: Focus on Yankees Season

In 2023, Aaron Judge chose not to compete in the World Baseball Classic, focusing instead on preparing for his season with the Yankees.

2023: Season Performance and Playoff Miss

In 2023, despite missing 56 games, Aaron Judge hit 37 home runs. The Yankees, however, missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016, finishing fourth in the AL East.

2023: Opening Day Home Run and Injury

On 2023 MLB Opening Day, Aaron Judge hit his first home run of the year. He later went on the injured list with a hip strain suffered on April 26 but returned on May 9.

January 2024: "All-Star Evening" Gala

In January 2024, Aaron Judge's ALL RISE Foundation hosted an "All-Star Evening" gala on Wall Street, raising nearly $800,000 for youth programs in New York City.

March 2024: Named Face of Ralph Lauren Fragrance

In March 2024, Aaron Judge was named the face of Ralph Lauren's new fragrance, "Polo Est. 67 Eau de Toilette" and its "Design Your Dreams" ad campaign.

RALPH LAUREN FRAGRANCES Polo 67 - Eau de Toilette - Cologne for Men - Woody & Solar Scent - With Pineapple, Bergamot, & Vetiver - 2.5 Fl Oz

Check it on Amazon

April 2024: Endorses Energy Drink Prime

In April 2024, Aaron Judge agreed to endorse the energy drink Prime.

2024: Guest Stars on Rubble & Crew

In 2024, Aaron Judge and his two pet dachshunds guest starred on an episode of Rubble & Crew, a PAW Patrol spin-off. His wife voiced their dog Penny.

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2024: Slow Start and Position Change

In 2024, Aaron Judge had a slow start, hitting .180 through the first three weeks of April. He played center field and made his first major league appearance in left field.

2024: Tying his own First Inning Home Run Record

In 2024, Aaron Judge had previously set the record for most first-inning home runs in a season, which he later surpassed.

2024: AL Player of the Week and Month Awards

In 2024, Aaron Judge received his second AL Player of the Week award. By the end of June, he led the majors in home runs (31), RBI (82), and OPS (1.144). He also won the AL Player of the Month Award for June.

2024: Second MVP Award

In 2024, Aaron Judge won his second MVP award by unanimous vote and led MLB in home runs and OPS.

January 2025: Birth of First Child

In January 2025, Aaron Judge and his wife Samantha Bracksieck welcomed their first child, a daughter.

April 14, 2025: Named Captain of Team USA

On April 14, 2025, Aaron Judge was named captain of Team USA ahead of the 2026 World Baseball Classic. He expressed his excitement about representing the country.

May 2025: AL Player of the Month Again

In May 2025, Aaron Judge was named the AL Player of the Month again, after slashing .364/.453/.798, with 11 home runs on the month. His 11th career monthly award is the most in AL history, surpassing Alex Rodriguez.

2025: First Batting Title and League Leader

Aaron Judge finished the 2025 regular season with a .331 batting average, leading the major leagues and winning his first career batting title. At 6 feet 7 inches, he became the tallest batting champion in MLB history.