"She’s calm as a cucumber" - When Aaron Judge praised wife Samantha's cool demeanor during intense media spotlight of Yankees star's historic HR chase

Aaron Judge has seen it all: the highs and the lows. From winning the 2016 AL Rookie of the Year to dropping the ball in the 2024 World Series, the Yankees captain's performance has always remained in the spotlight among the media.

The lights turned brightest during Judge's historic home run chase in 2022, where he would break the AL record for most home runs (62) in a season, surpassing former Yankees Roger Maris' tally of 61.

Throughout his career, his wife Samantha Bracksieck has been by his side, something Judge highly appreciates. While it's normal to get into media frenzy, Judge said that his wife has remained "cool as a cucumber," throughout it all.

“My wife has been with me through it all, and she’s calm as a cucumber, that’s for sure,” Judge said of Bracksieck.

This comment came during the Sept. 2022 interview with the New York Post after Judge tied the AL record for 61 home runs. He would end his 2022 season with 62 home runs along with .311/.425/.686 slashline.

He had 28 doubles, 19 intentional walks, 16 stolen bases (in 19 attempts) and 131 RBIs, winning his first AL MVP.

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Samantha Bracksieck's hand in Yankees landing Aaron Judge to a nine-year deal

Aaron Judge's historic 2022 season was followed by a highly anticipated free agency for the slugger, who was on the lookout for a bug paycheck. However, negotiations between Judge and the Yankees took a halt.

During an August 2024 appearance on the Casa de Klub podcast, the Yankees captain recalled how his wife Samantha asked him to directly call owner Hal Steinbrenner since he wanted to stay with the Yankees.

The call went through as Steinbrenner was more than delighted to hear from him upfront, which resulted in him being signed to a nine-year, $360 million deal along with him being named team captain since Derek Jeter vacated the post in 2014.

"Thank you to everybody, my wife, Samantha," Judge said during a press conference in December 2022. "(My wife and I) came to the decision that was in our hearts, which is we belong in New York, we belong in this city."

The decision turned out to be good for both parties, as the Yankees won their first AL pennant in 15 years in 2024, while Aaron Judge's third 50+ home run season should help him on his way to win his second AL MVP title in 2024.