Aaron Judge
Credit: MLB.com

Aaron Judge, the face of the New York Yankees, has had a subpar season this year. Being the reigning AL-MVP, the slugger failed to live up to expectations as injuries marred his valuable game time. While Judge compromised his health for the sake of the team, he hasn’t been able to deliver up to expectations.

Having said that, Captain Judge still continues to be a gigantic name in the field of baseball. His stature as a powerful hitter has not diminished despite the ongoing struggle. Amid this, Judge signed a massive brand deal with a leading sporting sneaker brand. Moreover, the brand unveiled the Yankees captain’s first player edition shoes, which didn’t receive much praise.

   

Aaron Judge’s First Player Edition Nike Air Jordan Shoes’ First Look Revealed

Aaron Judge
Credits: Twitter

New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge recently signed a multi-million dollar deal with Jordan Brand. He became only the fifth MLB player to be associated with the brand. Shortly after the deal announcement, Jordan dropped the first look of Judge’s customized player edition Nike Air shoes. It’s named “Double Gum” Air Jordan 1 Low, and the first look of the same was dropped on social media. The shoes are bright pink in color with a patch of “Double Gum” stitched at the back and the front. The captain even wore the pink gear during the series finale vs. Red Sox on Sunday. It’s apparently dedicated to Judge’s unique pre-game ritual.

To those unversed, Aaron Judge has a bizarre pre-game ritual wherein he chews bubble gum prior to taking the field before every game. At first, he intakes two gum pieces and replaces that gum only when he strikes out. However, the whole point behind the design of the shoes didn’t sit well with the fans, as they were left highly impressed. Some even resorted to trolling and referred to Judge as “Barbie.” Having said that, it’s important to note that sneaker design is a subjective art form. What resonates with one person may not resonate with another. Custom collaborations are an opportunity for athletes to express their individuality, and the resulting designs may not always align with everyone’s preferences.

SNY Analyst’s Take On Yankees Captain’s Competency Is Nothing Short Of Idiotic

There are a million things wrong with New York Yankees right now, but Aaron Judge isn’t one of them. Sal Licata of SNY claimed that Judge deserves some blame for not being able to carry the team to World Series since 2018. Moreover, according to Sal, Judge is not “injury prone.” While the Yanks captain has not been at his best in the postseason, he has done everything in his power to at least ensure a playoff berth.

Yankees
New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge watches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Monday, July 3, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Coming back to this season, Aaron Judge was leading the AL home run charts before crashing into the Dodgers stadium. By the way, he still leads the Yankees’ offensive charts despite being on IL for more than two months. There is also denying the fact that Judge is the most potent hitter when healthy. Hence, the blame for the team’s disastrous run should collectively fall on the entire roster and front office. Aaron Judge is definitely not the scapegoat the analysts are looking for.