Aaron Judge couldn’t stop smiling as he recounted how his wife, Samantha Bracksieck, played a pivotal role in encouraging him to secure a new deal with the Yankees.
This push came before they agreed on a nine-year, $360 million contract in December 2022.
During a recent appearance on the “Casa De Klub” podcast, Judge explained that Bracksieck suggested he directly contact Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner when contract negotiations hit a stalemate.
“I didn’t hear a whisper of it, not a word leading up to it [his being announced as captain],” Judge said when asked if he was informed about becoming the Yankees’ captain before the official announcement. “It’s pretty surreal. For me, I never played the game to be that … to be the next captain. I just play to play. I play for my city, I play for the fans, I play for my family, I play for my teammates.”
Judge recalled a specific moment when they were in California, about to head to Hawaii to celebrate their wedding anniversary. With an early morning flight ahead, the couple stayed up late, discussing various offers from different teams.
“We’re going back and forth about different offers from different teams. What do you want to do? And I’m telling her, ‘I want to stay in New York. I don’t want to go anywhere else.’ The conversations with New York really weren’t going anywhere. She was like, ‘Call Hal, just call him up. Tell him how you’re feeling. Tell him what you think.’”
Taking her advice, Judge sent Steinbrenner a message. Despite being on vacation overseas, Steinbrenner responded and suggested they talk.
“So we call him, and I’m just kind of laying it out there, like, ‘Hey, I don’t want to go anywhere. This is where I want to be if you can just add one more year to the deal. I’m set. I’m not looking for anything more, I just want one more year. I want to play this game for a long time.’ And he’s like, ‘That’s it?’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah’ — and he’s like, ‘Alright, sounds good.’”
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Judge shared that he and Bracksieck had the call on speakerphone and were thrilled with the outcome.
“And then all of a sudden he’s like, ‘Oh by the way, we’re also going to make you the next Yankees captain,’” Judge recalled. Steinbrenner compared Judge to former Yankees captains Thurman Munson and Derek Jeter, saying he fit right in with their legacy.
“I was more speechless about that than hearing about a nine-year deal. Sam was hitting me like, ‘You gotta be saying something,’” Judge said, laughing. “It was special.”
In November, Judge showed his support for Bracksieck when she completed the New York City Marathon. Photos captured the couple sharing a hug after the race, reflecting their supportive relationship.
Judge and Bracksieck married in Hawaii in December 2021. Though they keep their relationship relatively private, it is known that they have been together since high school. Their enduring bond and mutual support have been a constant throughout Judge’s career and personal life.
