By Dave Andrusko
As the New York Yankees star outfielder, Aaron Judge knows baseball history. He knew Roger Maris held the single season American League record for homeruns—61—and once he tied the record, it took him 6 days pressure packed days to hit #62.
Tuesday night he crushed one high and deep to leftfield and entered the ranks of baseball immortals. Not bad for a 30 year old, a Christian, who just got married, and who was adopted at birth by his loving parents, Wayne and Patty Judge.
After the game, “Judge told reporters that his family was at the front of his mind as he ran around the bases,” Randy Miller writes.
“’I was thinking of my wife, my family, my teammates, the fans’ he said. ‘All that was running through my head, just the constant support I’ve had through this whole process.’”
But there’s much more there, according to Nancy Rosenhaus of Adoption with Love:
Talented and respectful, the Yankees’ VP of scouting calls Judge the “super package.” And Aaron Judge truly is, giving most of the credit to his parents, Wayne and Patty Judge, two retired physical education teachers from California. While they did not exactly give him his 6-foot-7, 275-lb stature, they did teach Aaron how to be a devoted, hardworking, respectful man from day one.
Judge professed to the New York Post, “My parents are amazing, they’ve taught me so many lessons. I honestly can’t thank them enough for what they’ve done for me.” Of his bond with his mom and dad, he proudly stated, “I’m blessed.” …
“I know I wouldn’t be a New York Yankee if it wasn’t for my mom. The guidance she gave me as a kid growing up, knowing the difference from right and wrong, how to treat people and how to go the extra mile and put in extra work, all that kind of stuff. She’s molded me into the person that I am today.”
Judge was born April 26, 1992, in Linden, California, about 85 miles from Oakland, “and was adopted the following day,” according to Newsday’s Steven Marcus.
“Mention his adoptive parents, Wayne and Patty, and Judge smiles,” Marcus writes. “Some kids grow in their mom’s stomach; I grew in my mom’s heart,’’ Judge said. “She’s always showed me love and compassion ever since I was a little baby. I’ve never needed to think differently or wonder about anything.’’