Judge's advice to Little Leaguers: 'Enjoy these moments'
CHICAGO -- Aaron Judge’s first big league home run was hit at Yankee Stadium, a monstrous blast that struck the facing above a center-field restaurant before dropping onto the netting that covers Monument Park.
Long before Judge visited the legends on that memorable 2016 afternoon, there were the ballfields located off East Front Street in Linden, Calif., just behind the elementary school. You never forget your first over-the-fence homer, and in Judge’s case, that one was hit in the Linden Little League.
“We had four fields -- East and West were the main ones,” Judge said. “It was on the East field. I remember my dad [Wayne] was down the line, watching the game. I’ve still got the ball in my childhood bedroom.”
As the Yankees prepare to visit Williamsport, Pa., to face the Tigers in Sunday's Little League Classic on ESPN at 7:10 p.m. ET, Judge reflected on his youth in California’s San Joaquin Valley, where he first enjoyed success on the ballfield by wearing uniforms of clubs like the Rockies, Astros, Mariners and Pirates (though, strangely, never the Yankees).
“I’m excited,” Judge said. “I’ve watched that for so many years now, and I was hoping at some point we’d get a chance to play there. I’ve talked to [Anthony] Rizzo and some other guys who got a chance to play there, and they’ve said it’s a blast, getting time to spend with the kids.
“You’re playing in a game where most of the audience is Little League kids, and they’re pretty excited. I think it’s going to be a fun show for all of us.”
Even as a Little Leaguer, Judge hungered to win, but his favorite memories didn’t always occur between the white lines.
“I think it’s just playing with your buddies, playing with your friends,” Judge said. “Getting a hot dog and a Pepsi after the game, it was a good time. Our concession stand was right there, and everyone was running, even if we lost the game. Kids were running over there to get the hot dog. We just had a lot of fun. I used to love sliding practice and all the fun things we would do.
“It was pretty competitive. We had some pretty good teams back then, so it definitely got me ready for the big leagues.”
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If you could set your time machine for the year 2000 and grab a sunny spot in the Linden bleachers, you’d likely identify an 8-year-old Judge without much issue. He was already the largest player on his teams, frequently mimicking the crouched batting stance of Giants infielder Rich Aurilia, then his favorite player.
“I played first base; I enjoyed it,” Judge said. “I mostly played first because I was the biggest kid, plus my dad was playing first base in all his softball games, so I was trying to be like him. I think I played outfield once or twice in All-Stars because we had another pretty good first baseman, so I said, ‘All right, I’m going to try to catch some balls in left field.’
“I pitched and played a little shortstop, too. Wherever they needed me. I was just looking to put the ball in the middle of the field. I definitely would’ve been hurt by the shift where they put somebody behind second base. That’s what I was taught back then, hit it up the middle. I just tried to do that every time.”
After his Little League days, Judge went on to play three sports at Linden High, where he starred in baseball, football and basketball. Recruited to continue at the collegiate level, Judge said he loved the “chess match” of a batter facing a pitcher most, which prompted him to pursue baseball at Fresno State University.
As his path continued from that college campus toward a life in professional ball, now standing tall as one of the game’s most recognizable stars and a perennial MVP candidate, Judge said that the experiences of those Linden diamonds continue to serve him well. He hopes the Little Leaguers in Williamsport can absorb some of those same lessons this weekend.
“Honestly, just have fun and keep working,” Judge said. “Enjoy these moments, they’re going to go by quick. It feels like just yesterday I was back there playing Little League, but that’s over 20 years ago. Soak up every moment, hang out with your friends and keep working hard. You might be in the Little League World Series now, but you might be in the World Series in 20 years, who knows?”