(New York) Aaron Judge was named captain of the New York Yankees on Wednesday, his first since Derek Jeter retired at the end of the 2014 season.
The American’s 2022 MVP, Judge agreed to a nine-year, $360 million contract to stay in the Bronx’s striped uniform.
“It’s a great honor that I don’t take lightly,” Judge told a news conference at Yankee Stadium, just yards from Jeter.
As the judge chased Roger Marris’ home run record, which he would surpass with 62 home runs, some teammates began to push his candidacy to become club captain, including first baseman Anthony Rizzo and pitcher Nestor Cortes.
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The Yankees have had six captains since the Steinbrenner family owned the team: Thurman Munson (1976-79), Craig Nettles (1982-84), Willie Randolph (1986-88), Ron Guidry (1986-89), Don Mattingly ( 1991-95) and Jeter (2003-14). Randolph was also present on Wednesday.
“He’s a great Yankee, on and off the field,” praised owner Hal Steinbrenner.
The judge sat between his wife, Samantha, and Steinbrenner. They were joined by Jeter, Judge’s agent Page Odle, club president Randy Levine, general manager Brian Cashman, manager Aaron Boone and director of operations Lonn Trost.
In his first time at bat for the Yankees, in 2016, the referee fired, consolidating the legend of the 1.80 meter colossus in the Bronx. He was named All-A-Rookie of the Year in 2017 and has helped the Yankees make the playoffs each of the past six seasons.
A four-time All-Star selection, he batted . 311 this season and finished top of the Majors with 131 RBIs.
Other captains of the venerable franchise were Clark Griffith (1903-05), Kid Eberfeld (1906-08), Willie Keeler (1909), Hal Chase (1910-11), Frank Chance (1913), Rollie Zelder (1913), Roger Peckinpaugh (1914-21), Babe Ruth (1922) and Lou Gehrig (1935-39).
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