Veteran basketball coach Rick Pitino made a special appearance at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before the Yankees faced off against the Cleveland Guardians. But it wasn’t just his pitch that caught attention; it was what he said about Yankees captain Aaron Judge.
When asked about Judge and his legacy, Pitino remarked that he believes the Yankees’ captain could have the same legacy as Baby Ruth and Lou Gehrig had.
“I’m not sure that Aaron Judge is not gonna have the type of legacy Ruth and Gehrig have had. He’s quite special,” Pitino said. “I don’t buy into anything about the postseason. He’ll have great postseasons as well, and I hope it’s this year.”
"I'm not sure that Aaron Judge is not gonna have the type of legacy Ruth and Gehrig have had. He's quite special. I don't buy into anything about the postseason. He'll have great postseasons as well, and I hope it's this year"
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) June 4, 2025
– Rick Pitino on Aaron Judge pic.twitter.com/wpk1RovPve
The conversation took a light-hearted turn when Pitino was asked to share his thoughts on how Judge would fare on the basketball court.
“He’s not quick enough laterally,” Pitino laughed. “No, he’d be great. He plays some good basketball, certainly. He’d be awesome for us.”
Aaron Judge’s Stellar 2025 Season
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Pitino’s remarks come at a time when Aaron Judge is in the middle of a scorching season. Through early June, the Yankees slugger is batting .389 with 21 home runs and 50 RBIs, putting himself firmly in the MVP conversation and lifting the Bronx Bombers to the top of the AL standings.
While postseason criticism has followed Judge in the past, Pitino’s comments echo the sentiments of many who believe it’s only a matter of time before the 33-year-old delivers in October.
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