Yankees' Judge shares candid moments about fame and focus
Yankees' Judge shares candid moments about fame and focus originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
It had been a few months since I'd last seen Aaron Judge, my last day on the Yankees beat, in the Yankees clubhouse at Yankee Stadium. It was about 1:30 in the morning after the Yankees had just lost the 2022 American League Championship Series to the Astros. Judge — then a free agent — was shaking hands and saying goodbye to a long line of people.
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Fast-forward four months. Early one morning on the street, I spotted a tall figure at the edge of a crowd. His hoodie pulled low, and I didn't recognize him at first. Then I did a double take. The way he moved, the height—something clicked. When he turned my way, I realized it was Judge. He did a double take, too. Judge smiled and then looked around to see if his cover was blown.
New York Yankees right fielder Aaron JudgeCary Edmondson-Imagn Images
I understood he was trying to quietly support his wife at an event without drawing attention. I smiled back, nodded, and looked away.
But the buzz around me was growing. 'Is that…?' 'He's in town, looks like…' 'IT'S AARON JUDGE!'
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Within minutes, pictures of Judge were going viral on social media, tipping off fans around him. He left quietly to find another spot to wait. It was awkward and uncomfortable, maybe even a little scary.
That's the reality for a guy like Judge. Speaking recently to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, Judge dove into it a little bit. He explained what his life is like on the road.
'I think if I was a little shorter, if you just give me 6-foot-1, 6-2,' Judge said, 'I could blend in a little bit. Throw on a Yankee cap and we can go. It's the height. The first thing they think when they see me, they think basketball player. And then they put two-and-two together.'
Playing for the Yankees means people recognize him and cheer him on wherever he goes.
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'That's why I don't leave the hotel for the most part. I got a job to do on the road. I try not to explore too much. I can do that when I retire and check out these cities.'
So now, Judge gets to go back home to New York City. The Yankees wrapped up their West Coast road trip Sunday night. He's back to the city where he can walk his dogs in peace and get out to the places where the people knew him before he became the face of the franchise.
Related: Yankees Face Tough Rotation Decisions After $2 Million Veteran's Impressive Start
Related: Yankees Win Overshadowed by Concerning Injury Update from Manager
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
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