Judge, Aaron Judge, New York Yankees

Yankees announce official re-signing of Aaron Judge, named 16th captain in team history

The Yankees announced the official re-signing of 2022 American League MVP, Aaron Judge, earlier today. The news of the 9-year $360 million deal comes after Judge set the all-time American League home run record at 62 home runs and nearly secured the Triple Crown during his historical 2022 season batting .311/.425/.686. Judge also won the AL Hank Aaron Award and was named a Silver Slugger Award winner for the third time in his career. He was named a member of the All-MLB First Team and Player of the Year by Baseball America, the Sporting News and the MLB Players Association.

The Yankees front office staff shuffled in for the press conference at Yankee Stadium this morning followed by Judge who was accompanied by his wife, Samantha. Seated in the front row were his parents, Patty and Wayne. Also in attendance was former Yankees captain Willie Randolph. What viewers couldn’t see on their TV screens was the surprise guest to the left of Judge’s wife Samantha. The Yankees most recent and longest-tenured team captain and Hall of Famer, Derek Jeter was present for the event. With Derek Jeter on stage, fans tuning in from around the world knew what was to come next.

“It is my great pleasure, thankfully, despite a brief absence technically speaking, to welcome Aaron back not only back to the Bronx, but to welcome Aaron back to the Bronx as the 16th captain of this great organization, the New York Yankees. An honor and a position which he greatly deserves.”  —Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner

Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner announced that not only will Judge be returning to the Yankees for the next nine years, but he will also be the team captain.

In the early 1900’s, baseball rules required teams to nominate a captain, who would assume the roles of today’s manager. Those roles included managing pitching moves, placing fielders, and liaising with umpires. At some point in the 1910’s, team’s hired managers and the captain role became that of an honorary position.

The following list is a list of all-time team captains provided to the Jersey Sporting News by the New York Yankees Communications and Media Relations team. This list is based on the “best available records and a review of historical newspaper accounts”:

  1. Clark Griffith:   1903-05
  2. Norman “Kid” Elberfeld:  1906-08
  3. Willie Keeler:  1909
  4. Hal Chase:  1910-11
  5. Frank Chance:  start 1913 - midseason
  6. Rollie Zeider:  midseason 1913 - end of season
  7. Roger Peckinpaugh:  1914-21
  8. Babe Ruth:  3/13/1922-5/25/1922*
  9. Lou Gehrig:  4/12/1935-1939
  10. Thurman Munson:  4/17/1976-8/2/1979
  11. Graig Nettles:  1/29/1982-3/30/1984
  12. Willie Randolph:  3/4/1986-10/2/1988
  13. Ron Guidry:  3/4/1986-7/12/1989
  14. Don Mattingly:  2/28/1991-1995
  15. Derek Jeter:  6/3/2003-2014
  16. Aaron Judge: 12/21/2022-present

Judge is a native of Linden, California. He was selected by the New York Yankees in the first round (32nd overall) of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of Fresno State. Over parts of seven seasons with the Yankees (2016-22), he has batted .284/.394/.583 (748-for-2,638) with 535R, 121 doubles, 4 triples, 220HR, 497RBI, 472BB and 40SB in 729 games. Judge is now not only a homegrown Yankee, he’s a lifetime Yankee.

“Getting the chance to continue something the Yankees are so big on which is legacy, getting a chance to continue my legacy here in pinstripes in the best city in the world, the best baseball city, in front of the best fans, this is an incredible honor.” —Aaron Judge

Jonna M. Perlinger