The next captain of the New York Yankees was honored when he was told. There is a time and a place for it.
The man has stood out.
The hulking 6-foot-7, 282-pound New York Yankees outfielder towers over his teammates and opponents on the baseball diamond.
In 2022. never more so.
Judge was voted The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year by a panel of 40 sports writers and editors.
Last year's winner, Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani, was beaten by the outfielder. Stephen Curry was third in the NBA Championship.
Jesse Owens, Muhammad Ali, Wayne Gretzky and Michael Jordan have all been honored. The man who set the previous American League record of 61 homers in 1961, Roger Maris, was one of the former Yankees to win.
It's amazing. Judge said he was amazed by his selection. The other great athletes that impacted the game and their sport, as well as their communities and the culture in the sports world, were all included. It's an honor to be on that list.
Judge hit 16 more homers than any other big league player and the gap was the largest since 1932.
While Barry Bonds holds the major league record of 73 home runs in a season for San Francisco in 2001 during baseball's steroid era, the achievement by Judge had some fans celebrating.
In the National League, Maris' mark had been surpassed six times. Mark McGwire hit 70 homers in 1998 and 65 in 1999. The Chicago Cubs had three 66, 65 and 63 homers by Sammy Sosa.
Bonds and Sosa denied using performance enhancing drugs. In 2004, Major League Baseball began testing for the use of performance enhancing drugs.
Hal Steinbrenner is the owner of the Yankees.
The amazing season was about more than power.
Because of injuries to teammates, the rocket-armed right fielder shifted to center and provided his usual strong defense in both spots. Judge maximized his plate appearances while trying to break Maris' record by batting leadoff at the end of the season.
He stole more bases than before.
"He's everything for us," the manager said. One of the best two-way players in our sport. He's an advocate for the game.
He finished second in the American League with a.300 batting average and missed out on a Triple Crown by a point.
The Yankees won their second American League East title in 10 years with No. 99 in pinstripes playing in 157 games.
He's a gentle giant in his interactions with people and kids, but he's going to rip your heart out between the lines. He plays the game with gusto, but with a coolness and swagger.
In the American League balloting, Judge easily beat out Ohtani to become the tallest Most Valuable Player in Major League Baseball history.
It was one of the best seasons in baseball history. He was playing for a new contract and trying to chase Maris.
Steinbrenner said that there was one person that didn't marvel at that. It's incredible." The home run chase was just one part of the pressure. What's to come was the pressure.
Judge bet big on himself just before opening day after declining New York's offer of $213 million over seven years. He became a free agent in November and signed a $360 million, nine-year contract to stay with the Yankees.
He was appointed the team's 16th captain, and the first since the retirement of the team's all-time hits leader.
"He's a leader and everything about him screams out leader," he said. Everyone agrees on the same thing.
Judge hit a home run in the last game of the season. His only home run in the previous 13 games was when he matched Maris. The game was played against Pittsburgh.
The MLB Network broadcasted live coverage of Judge's at-bats. Fans stood up when he stepped to the plate, going quiet on each pitch while he took pictures and video with his cellphone.
Judge said that it was a strange experience. It's definitely a different scene. I'm happy I got past it. It was a good feeling.
The Yankees were swept in the ALCS by the Astros after Judge went 1-for-16 in the playoffs. The Yankees haven't won a title since 2009, and the four-time All-Star hasn't made the Series.
He said there was a lot of unfinished business here.
Judge hit 52 homers in his first year to set a rookies record.
His encore in 2023 will be watched by all.
You don't know." Judge said that maybe 62 is his floor. Maybe I have more left in the tank.
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