Aaron Judge praised wife Samantha Bracksieck on Wednesday after he tied Roger Maris’ Yankees and American League home run record of 61, remarking on her calm demeanor amid the recent media frenzy.
During the postgame press conference, the 30-year-old Yankees star was asked how his loved ones have coped with the media attention throughout his historic home run chase, noting that Bracksieck has remained “as calm as a cucumber.”
“My wife has been with me through it all and she’s calm as a cucumber, that’s for sure,” Judge said of Bracksieck, his high-school sweetheart.
Though it’s unclear if Bracksieck was in Toronto for the three-game series against the Blue Jays, Judge’s mom, Patty, had a front-row seat to her son’s big hit off Tim Mayza at the top of the seventh inning in Wednesday’s 8-3 win. Cameras then captured Patty hugging Maris’ son, Roger Maris Jr., in the stands at the Rogers Centre.
Everything to know about Aaron Judge and his chase for the home run record:
Judge said having Patty present for his special moment “meant the world to him.”
Both Patty and Bracksieck were in attendance for Judge’s 60th home run of the season last week, with Judge photographed hugging his wife following the Yankees’ 9-8 comeback win over the Pirates.
The past 12 months have been quite the whirlwind for Judge, who married Bracksieck in a lavish outdoor ceremony in Hawaii last December. Weeks before his historic night in Toronto, the couple enjoyed a date night in Flushing Meadows, where they took in the 2022 U.S. Open.
The Yankees, who clinched the AL East title on Tuesday, will host the Orioles for a three-game series beginning Friday, when Judge will attempt to move past Maris and hit his 62nd home run.