SAN FRANCISCO – Aaron Judge remembers childhood afternoons spent in the seats at what is now known as Oracle Park, where he would seek autographs from players like infielder Rich Aurilia, whom he identifies as his favorite giant from this period. His major league dreams were painted orange and black, frequently imagining what it would be like to round those beautiful bases.
It wasn’t until the Yankees’ series opener in San Francisco on Friday, when Judge played his first career game at China Basin, that he got to live out that first fantasy — twice. Judge hit a three-run homer in the third inning and a solo shot in the sixth against San Francisco right-hander Jordan Hicks, putting the finishing touches on a monster May in a 6-2 Yankees victory.
“You dream about it in the backyard, playing a little bit,” Judge said. “As I went around the bases, I looked toward left field, being in those bleachers a few times. It just brought back some memories for me. it’s a special place. I grew up a Giants fan and loved going to the games here. It’s pretty cool to be on the other side of the field.
The Yankees won 14 of 18 games, becoming the first American League team to reach 40 wins this season. With his 35th career multi-homer game, Judge claimed and extended his lead in Major League home runs with 20, including 14 in May.
During a 27-game on-base streak, Judge also became the first player in Yankees history to hit at least 14 home runs and 12 doubles in a single calendar month, surpassing Lou Gehrig, who had 12 home runs and 12 doubles. in July 1930.
Judge’s 38 extra-base hits in 59 games are also the most all-time by a Yankee through May, breaking Gehrig’s previous record of 36 (in 43 games in 1927).
“What Judge is doing is amazing right now,” said Marcus Stroman, who pitched 7 1/3 innings in a winning effort. “His preparation is locked. It’s amazing to see what he can do, because it’s a pretty historic race. I think we take that for granted sometimes.
Added Anthony Rizzo: “It’s special every day to play with him and see him work behind the scenes as an individual and as a teammate. We must appreciate it, because we are in the midst of greatness. It’s fun to watch.
Judge, of course, could played at Oracle Park much earlier.
After his 62-homer performance in 2022, breaking Roger Maris’ 61-year-old American League record, the Giants offered Judge a nine-year contract worth $360 million in free agency. Growing up about 100 miles away in bucolic Linden, California, Judge seriously considered the offer, even going so far as to tour the stadium and have dinner with club officials. Even Judge’s parents, Patty and Wayne, were ready for the ride home.
There was the infamous “Arson Judge” tweet during that year’s Winter Meetings, the one that sent panic into the Yankees front office. Coming out of a shower in his San Diego hotel room, manager Aaron Boone had shakily rang general manager Brian Cashman’s cell phone to ask, “Did we lose him?”
“I’ve said it for the last few years — it was a while ago, but it was pretty close,” Judge said.
After much deliberation, Judge and his wife Samantha decided their place was in New York, eager for another chance at a league title after the club was eliminated from this year’s American League Championship Series. -there. Rizzo, one of Judge’s closest friends in sports, had a ringside seat.
“He stays so level-headed, but he was close to home,” Rizzo said. “It was an important decision.”
It took a sequence of late-night text messages and phone calls with Yankees general managing partner Hal Steinbrenner to close the deal, with Steinbrenner agreeing to match San Francisco’s offer. As a bonus, Steinbrenner told Judge, he wanted to name him the club’s first captain since Derek Jeter.
“At the end of the day, everything worked out,” Boone said before Friday’s game. “Aaron is, in my opinion, where I think he should be.”
Judge was booed before his first at-bat Friday night, but cheers were heard after his home run, a drive Hicks barely turned to witness. There was a large contingent of Yankees fans on hand, many of whom accompanied Judge, who provided tickets for many friends and family members to be a part of this upcoming weekend series.
“I didn’t hit any home runs at BP, so I was a little nervous,” Judge said. “Barry (Bonds) and a lot of those guys at the time made it seem pretty small sometimes. Once you get between the lines and dig in, you have to lock it down and treat it like a baseball game. Once there, it was time to leave.
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