On Wednesday, December 21, 2022, the New York Yankees and Aaron Judge had a press conference for Aaron Judge’s huge signing of 9-year-$360 million. When entering the conference room, Judge was joined by the general manager of the Yankees Brian Cashman, chairman/co-owner Hal Steinbrenner, manager Aaron Boone, vice president of communications Jason Zillo, chief operating operator Lonn Trost, team president Randy Levine, Aaron Judge’s wife Samantha Judge, Judge’s representative Page Odle, and the most important and surprising of all, 5-time World Series champ Derek Jeter. He was there for the passing of the torch from captain to captain. Jeter says he has gotten to know Judge over the past months and thinks he is well deserving of the title of being the New York Yankees captain for hopefully the next 9 seasons. Former Yankees captain from 1986-1988 Willie Randolph was also in attendance.

Judge is only the 16th captain in team history. The captain of the Yankees is one of the most prestigious honors in sports history. There is a very rich history behind the captain of the Yankees. The best of the best get honored with this and most don’t. The Yankees organization has always prided itself on class and respect, that’s why it doesn’t take only skill to become the captain. It takes hard work, grit, leadership, and being a role model on and off the field.

Former captain from 2003-2014 Derek Jeter embodies every trait that represents what a Yankee captain should be like. Day in and day out Jeter made sure he worked harder than everyone while pushing his teammates to work harder. Jeter grew up and prepared his whole life for a position like the captain of the Yankees. Jeter would hold his teammates accountable for stupid mistakes and childish behavior but also pick them up when down. Jeter would stay out of the media when most can’t while playing in the biggest and one of the most tempting party cities in the world. Former teammate of Jeters, Tino Martinez was interviewed by Bleacher Report and he said, “He led by example. His whole career has been that way. Plays hard, plays to win. Expects the most from his teammates.” When owners and managers want to make a player a captain they will go to his teammates and ask about the player, this is the exact response you want when looking to make a player a captain.

Besides Jeter, there have been many other great captains with impressive leadership skills. Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Don Mattingly are just a few of the other players on the list that Judge will be joining. Judge is definitely ready for the position. In the 2022 season Judge broke the American League record of 61 home runs with 62. His teammates were almost enjoying the process of the record-breaking more than Judge. His team looks up to him and they were all excited for him and that shows a lot about Judge’s personality. Every player on the 40-man roster wanted Judge to break it. Every player respects him as a human and as a player. Hopefully, in 9 years, we will look back at Judge’s career and we can call him “The Captain” just like Derek Jeter. 

List of former New York Yankees captains:

• Clark Griffith 1903-1905
• Kid Elberfeld 1906-1907
• Willie Keeler 1908-1909
• Hal Chase 1910-1912
• Frank Chance 1913
• Roger Peckinpaugh 1914-1921
• Babe Ruth 1922
• Everett Scott 1922-1925
• Lou Gehrig 1935-1939
• Thurman Munson 1976-1979
• Graig Nettles 1982-1984
• Willie Randolph 1986-1988
• Ron Guidry 1986-1989
• Don Mattingly 1991-1995
• Derek Jeter 2003-2014
• Aaron Judge 2023-TBD