Aaron Judge bids emotional goodbye to the Coliseum with 55th HR

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Aaron Judge, a native of Northern California, capped off his final appearance at the Oakland Coliseum with a milestone moment, launching his 55th home run of the season as the New York Yankees clinched at least a share of the AL East title with a 7-4 victory over the Athletics on Sunday.

The Athletics struck first with two runs in the opening inning, but the Yankees quickly answered. Jasson Dominguez sparked the rally with a two-run homer, his second of the season, tying the game. Aaron Judge followed up in the third inning, hammering a solo shot to center field that gave the Yankees the lead for good.

Aaron Judge’s blast, which came off A’s starter Joey Estes, traveled 407 feet at a blistering 110.9 mph, according to Statcast.

With this latest home run, his season stats continued to dazzle. He carried a .322 batting average, 138 RBIs, and led all of baseball with a 1.149 OPS, solidifying Aaron Judge’s position as one of the league’s premier hitters.

For Aaron Judge, the game held personal significance. Raised in nearby Stockton, California, about 90 minutes from the Coliseum, he grew up attending A’s games with his family. In 2010, the Athletics selected him in the 31st round of the draft out of high school, but the slugger chose to play at Fresno State, eventually becoming a first-round pick for the Yankees in 2013.

This marked the end of an era for Judge and the Yankees at the Coliseum, as the A’s are slated to move to Sacramento next year. The bittersweet moment added another layer of nostalgia to Aaron Judge’s memorable day in a ballpark that had once been part of his childhood.

Aaron Judge finds it hard to say goodbye to the Coliseum

Aaron Judge, the New York Yankees star and Northern California native, recently reflected on the Oakland Athletics’ planned relocation from Oakland to West Sacramento, and eventually Las Vegas, expressing mixed emotions about the move.

The Yankees slugger, who grew up in Linden, California, about 84 miles from the Oakland Coliseum, shared a blend of nostalgia and disappointment over the departure of a stadium that holds personal significance. He recalled attending games at the Coliseum as a child, acknowledging its history and the iconic players who left their mark on the field.

“It’s exciting, sad, all mixed together, man,” he told NBC Sports. “There are a lot of great memories here, I know for the Oakland A’s organization. A lot of legends played here. So, it’s pretty cool, you know, getting a chance to come here as a kid to some of these games; It’s always fun. So, [it’s] kind of bittersweet, but they got something exciting, I think, coming up in the future for them.”

Though optimistic about the A’s future in new cities, Aaron Judge couldn’t hide his sadness about the team leaving Oakland. He recognized the business side of the sport, but his deep roots in Northern California made the loss of playing in Oakland feel more personal. For him, West Coast games have always felt like a homecoming.

“It stinks, you know, definitely,” he explained. “I always love coming out here on the West Coast and playing out here. So to see [the A’s] leave Oakland — I know we’ll be in Sacramento next year until they get that new [Las Vegas] stadium built — but it’s tough, man. It’s tough, but it’s part of the game.”

Speaking about the A’s move to Sacramento, Aaron Judge voiced his regret over the team’s departure, noting that the upcoming transition is bittersweet. However, he acknowledged that such changes are a part of baseball’s evolution.

Aaron Judge’s sentiments echo those of many who have watched the Athletics relocation unfold. As Oakland gears up for its final home game, his words serve as a reminder that while the team may move, the memories and legacy of the Coliseum will endure.

Aaron Judge recently opened up about his personal connection to the Oakland Coliseum, sharing fond memories that stretch beyond his career in the big leagues. The Yankees star reminisced about attending games there as a young fan, with one particular visit standing out—a memorable date with his now-wife.

He recalled taking Samantha, his then-girlfriend, to a Yankees-A’s game at the Coliseum. Thanks to family connections, Aaron Judge managed to snag prime seats along the third baseline, making it a special outing. The anecdote highlighted how the Coliseum became a meaningful backdrop in his life before his rise to stardom.

“I brought my girlfriend at the time, who’s now my wife, to a Yankees-A’s game,” Aron Judge reflected. “Back in the day, we had some family friends; I had some tickets right on the third baseline. So I was able to ask for those, do a couple of favors and take her on a little date here back in my day. It’s pretty cool to kind of come full circle.”

The six-time MLB All-Star and Samantha, his high school sweetheart from Linden High School, have been married since 2021. Reflecting on the experience, Aaron Judge marveled at how his relationship with the stadium has come full circle—from sitting in the stands as a fan to playing on the field as a professional.

Interestingly, Aaron Judge’s ties to Oakland run deeper than just attending games. The A’s drafted him in 2010 as an 18-year-old, selecting him 935th overall. However, he chose to play college baseball at Fresno State, leading to his eventual first-round draft selection by the Yankees in 2013.

Despite never playing for the A’s, Aaron Judge has made his mark at the Coliseum. In 16 career games there, he has posted a .288 batting average with 17 hits, 16 RBIs, seven runs, and five home runs.

As the Athletics prepare for their temporary move to Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park before their eventual relocation to Las Vegas, Aaron Judge shared his empathy for fans and others invested in Oakland’s baseball history. He acknowledged the emotional weight of the move, echoing the nostalgic sentiments many feel as the A’s prepare to leave behind their longtime home.

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