All Rise For The Captain
Aaron Judge, who signed a nine-year, $360 million deal this offseason to return to the New York Yankees, officially became the 16th captain in the long history of the team on Wednesday. This great player who hit 62 Home Runs besting Ruth and Maris - AL RECORD for Homers in a Season.
CAPTAIN YEARS
Clark Griffith1903-05
Norman Elberfeld1906-08
Willie Keeler1909
Hal Chase1910-11
Frank Chance1913*
Rollie Zeider1913*
Roger Peckinpaugh1914-21
Babe Ruth1922
Lou Gehrig1935-39
Thurman Munson1976-79
Graig Nettles1982-84
Willie Randolph1986-88
Ron Guidry1986-89
Don Mattingly1991-95
Derek Jeter2003-14
Aaron Judge2023-*
Steinbrenner asked Judge to be the captain of the Yankees after the two sides agreed to the contract he better be the captain. Judge said the offer shocked him into silence.
"I was taken aback. You look at this list of individuals who have this title, it's such an honor," Judge said.
The slugger signed the largest deal in Yankees history after hitting a record-breaking 62 home runs in 2022. Despite receiving competitive offers from the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres, Judge ultimately decided to return to the franchise that drafted him in the first round of the 2013 draft.
Judge said he needed to consider other teams in free agency but he did not want to leave New York.
"In my heart, I knew where I wanted to be, but this process was a valuable lesson," Judge said. "It helped me come to a clear answer that I belong in New York."
