New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge finally got what he wanted: to become the single-season home run king in the Bronx and the American League.
Roger Maris had both marks after his wonderful 61-homer season in 1961, but after a few games with less-than-ideal swing decisions, pressure, and gossip from the stands, Judge was able to drive a Jesus Tinoco 88-mph slider to left field for the historic 62nd blast of the year.
His teammates waited for him at home plate to show him love in the form of hugs, handshakes, and congratulations; and of course the crowd in Texas (the Yankees were playing the Rangers on the road) also recognized his excellent achievement.
Judge absorbed all the tokens of appreciation and enjoyed moments he will never forget.
After the game, he went to Twitter to comment on his historic achievement.
“What a night. Such a blessing from God to share that moment with so many special people! Thank you @RogerMarisJr, the Yankees, my teammates, my family and all the Yankee fans for such an incredible day!” he tweeted.
What a night. Such a blessing from God to share that moment with so many special people! Thank you @RogerMarisJr, the Yankees, my teammates, my family and all the Yankee fans for such an incredible day! pic.twitter.com/soiC52sOth
— Aaron Judge (@TheJudge44) October 5, 2022
Leading By Example
You will rarely hear Judge say the wrong thing: he is always concise and assertive with what he says, which is a sign of maturity and leadership.
Teammates love, respect, and look up to Judge, so you can firmly and confidently say he is one of the clubhouse leaders.
As former captain Derek Jeter once did, Judge leads by example: he works hard, is determined, and is a great teammate.
Will Judge be named captain at some point in his Yankees tenure?
It will entirely depend on whether he extends that tenure or not.
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