With a smile full of sarcasm, Derek Jeter gave himself credit for Aaron Judge’s rise to superstardom. Levity is often the go-to in Major League Baseball clubhouses. And when you add history to the mix, it reveals a lot about how a locker room works.
In a room with 26 players, humor can actually help bond a team. Teammates don’t need to be best friends to play well together, but when lasting friendships do form, humor and respect usually go hand in hand. For the Yankees, the best player of the last generation gave a wink to his successor.
Derek Jeter Passed the Captaincy to Aaron Judge in Amusing Fashion
When the Yankees name a captain, it means something. Only 16 players in franchise history have worn the title. And surprisingly, some of the most iconic names never did.
Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Phil Rizzuto, Yogi Berra, Mariano Rivera, and Jorge Posada were never named captain. So when Aaron Judge got the nod, it wasn’t just about his numbers — it reflected the organization’s belief in their former first-round pick finally reaching his potential.
Back in 2021, Jeter — the last Yankee captain — spoke highly of Judge, while also jokingly giving himself credit for spotting his talent in this article.
“Look, I’m a Yankees historian. So, this is historic. People will be talking about it 20, 30, 40 years from now. There’s only a short list of Yankees captains. I thought it was important for me, because they thought it was important for me to be here. You talk to his teammates, his coaches, his manager — that tells you all you need to know.”
Beyond the humor, Jeter’s words hit the mark. Judge now carries the expectations of a city and a fan base. With all the home runs, base hits, Silver Slugger awards, and All-Star appearances, he also brings the intangibles that make a true leader.
Judge represents what the Yankees want in a captain: a larger-than-life star who demands attention every time he steps up. He may not have Jeter’s humor or Rivera’s mystique, but he fits the role.
The one thing left for Judge? A World Series ring.
With the captaincy comes the pressure to win it all. Don Mattingly was beloved and one of the best pure hitters of his time, but many fans believe his lack of a championship kept him from the Hall of Fame. If Judge wants to reach true Yankees legend status, he’ll need to bring a title back to the Bronx.