Aaron Judge, originally from Linden, California, always has had a soft spot in the Bay Area. Growing up, he sure was a San Francisco Giants fan, but even that couldn’t stop him from going to the Oakland Coliseum, where he created many core memories – from going on dates with his then-girlfriend and now-wife, Samantha, to watching the Yankees play before he wore the pinstripes. What’s more interesting is that the New York Yankees had actually invited their future captain for batting practice at the Coliseum after they drafted him in 2013—a full-circle moment!

Fast forward to now, Aaron Judge just played his final game at the same stadium. The crowd went into a frenzy when he stepped on the mound and finished off the game with a bang. He hit his 55th homer run and helped the Yanks clinch a 7-4 victory against the Oakland Athletics. But while the win got Judge closer to his home run goals, and the team to the AL East title, it was a bittersweet moment for him, which he expressed after the game.

Aaron Judge’s emotional goodbye to the Coliseum

The Oakland Athletics stadium might be battered, but it’s plastered into the memories of thousands of people who visited the stands. They are moving temporarily to Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park and then, finally moving to Las Vegas. Aaron Judge, who grew up just 90 minutes away from the Coliseum, has always held the place close to his heart. He highlighted how it’s going to be ‘different’ not playing there after scoring the game with the Oakland A’s.

Aaron Judge said, “It will be a little different. But I can’t wait to tell my kids. This will probably be one of those retro stadiums, and I’ll tell them I played here. That will be pretty cool.” His connection to the stadium is personal in every way. After all, he was drafted by the Oakland A’s at first in 2010. The Yanks captain even acknowledged the crowds’ cheers and support for him. “They’ve got a great fan base, and the community always comes out and supports. I’m definitely going to miss it. But it is what it is,” said Aaron Judge. 

Now, Judge never played for the Athletics, but he did leave a mark at the Coliseum. In just 16 games, his stats are standing at a whopping .288 batting average with 17 hits and five home runs. But while his professional connection is strong with the stadium, his personal connection is even sweeter.

Aaron Judge’s dates at the Coliseum

In a past interview, Aaron Judge said, “It stinks, you know, definitely,” at the closure of the Coliseum. But there is a reason, for him it was more than a ballpark, it was a place where he created some of his memories with his wife Samantha. The story starts when Judge was not wearing the pinstripes; he was just a fan. One memory that stands out for him was a date he had with Samantha at the stadium. They were dating then and thankfully, because of Judge’s family connections, he could snag in some amazing game tickets for the New York Yankees A-game.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 05: Samantha Bracksieck and Aaron Judge are seen attending the 2022 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 4, 2022 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)

Walking down the memory lane, Judge noted, “I brought my girlfriend at the time, who’s now my wife, to a Yankees-A’s game. It’s pretty cool to kind of come full circle.” Samantha and Judge have been married since 2021, but they started as high school sweethearts and shared a beautiful bond in the stadium. Although he understands he can’t really help it, Judge emphasized, “It’s tough, man. It’s tough, but it’s part of the game.” Well, he sure did bid goodbye to the stadium in style, with his 55th home run.

Moreover, the day has been fruitful for the team – they are not just set to be at the playoffs, but also need one win against the Baltimore Orioles to clinch the division title. Do you think the Yankees will win the next game? Let us know below.