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Aaron Judge is a rarity in baseball. At 6’7″, not many can boast his bigger-than-average stature or his fantastic skills. For his efforts in the 2022 season, the outfielder earned the prestigious AL MVP title and even became the 16th captain of the New York Yankees. But as his parents once revealed, Judge had been a singularity since birth.

When Patty and Wayne Judge adopted a two-day-old baby and named him Aaron, they could probably never have predicted the trajectory his life would take. A rather tall baby, the parents once revealed a strange condition that All-Rise developed as a child.

Aaron Judge and His Confounding Medical Mystery

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As a young player, Aaron Judge was already a famous name in baseball. Soon after his MLB debut in 2016, notable sports writer David Fischer decided to dedicate a book to his personal story of success. He called it Aaron Judge: The Incredible Story of the New York Yankees’ Home Run–Hitting Phenom. And in addition to detailing Judge’s rise to fame, Fischer also opened up about some of his childhood stories.

On page 16, a section called ‘Medical Mystery’ describes how a baby Judge developed strange symmetrical rings of creased skin folds on his arms and legs. According to the writer, “Most likely, Aaron was born with a rare pediatric skin condition. The term Michelin Tire Baby Syndrome, named for the cartoon mascot of the Michelin Tire Company, is often used to describe the disease.”

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Fischer goes on to assure the reader that it does not have a lifelong effect and the creases usually disappear, just like they did with Judge. However, the cause remains unknown even if some doctors believe it may be genetic. As the writer points out, “But since Aaron is adopted, his family medical history is unknown.

Judge’s Parents Called Him the Michelin Tyre Baby

It wasn’t simply the rings that earned him the nickname; it was more Baby Judge’s size. According to PEOPLE, Wayne Judge found some hilarity in the situation. “We kind of joked that he looked like the Michelin Tire baby. It wasn’t long before the 4 ounces of formula was just the appetizer and it had to be the formula with the oatmeal to pacify him.”

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It must have certainly been a strange sight for the parents! But both have always tirelessly supported their son in his endeavors, who still thank them to this day.

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