Fresno State Athletics announced on Thursday that it will retire former Diamond ‘Dog and current New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge’s #29 jersey, as well as the #44 jersey of legendary former Head Coach Mike Batesole.
Judge and Batesole will be honored with a jersey retirement celebration during halftime of the Fresno State football game against New Mexico on Nov. 18 at Valley Children’s Stadium.
There will be a formal jersey retirement ceremony the next day, Sunday, Nov. 19, at 1 p.m. at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.
Judge’s and Batesole’s jerseys will be the 12th and 13th retired numbers, respectively, in Fresno State baseball history.
Batesole will join the two stadium namesakes, Beiden and Bennett as head coaches to have their numbers retired.
“His tremendous impact on Fresno State baseball will never be forgotten,” said Director of Athletics, Terry Tumey. “Winning a national championship was his crowning achievement on the field of play, but the countless lives he positively impacted and the manner in which he led our program for 20 seasons are perhaps even more impressive.”
As a Bulldog, Judge was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American in 2011, as well as Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Freshman of the Year as the team’s starting center fielder.
The following year, Judge won the TD Ameritrade College Baseball Home Run Derby, where he launched 16 home runs off of Ryan Overland, who was an assistant coach at Fresno State at the time.
“Somebody [Judge] that was in those cages as long as he was, extra time in the weight room, always here extra working. His work ethic has carried him to what he is today” Overland said.
Judge batted .345 with 18 home runs and 109 runs batted in over 169 games in a Bulldog uniform, until he was drafted by New York in 2013.
“It is an incredible and humbling honor having my number retired at Fresno State,” said Aaron Judge. “I’m excited to come back and enjoy the moment with so many coaches, teammates, and alumni that made this possible.”
Overland said that Judge returns to campus periodically to check in with the team but it’s “hard to hide him” because of his 6-foot-7 frame.
The 2022 American League MVP has made quite an impression since joining the big leagues, having won the Rookie of the Year (2017), Silver Slugger on three occasions, (2017, 2021, 2022) and the Hank Aaron Award (2022).
Judge’s 257 career home runs are also the most in the MLBsince debuting in 2016.
“Aaron epitomizes all that Fresno State Athletics stands for, not only with respect to his remarkably high levels of athletic success, but more importantly in who he is as a person and the impact he makes on his communities,” Tumey said .
According to Overland, the jersey retirement has been in place for around a year now but never came through due to scheduling issues.
The ceremony will be shared by Judge’s former head coach, something the outfielder is really excited about.
“Getting to share this moment with Bates is something we will never forget!” Judge added. “He is an incredible coach, mentor, and friend who changed Fresno State Baseball forever.”
In his 20-year tenure at Fresno State (2003-22), Batesole produced 89 players who were drafted by MLB teams, including five First-Round draft picks (Richie Robnett in 2004, Matt Garza in 2005, Judge in 2013, Taylor Ward in 2015 and Ryan Jensen in 2019).
The two-time National Coach of the Year is most known for taking the ‘Wonderdogs’ to Omaha on the way to leading Fresno State to its first National Championship in program history, but his former player and now successor says leadership was just as vital off the field.
“More importantly for me is the impact he had day-to-day and preparing young men for their lives and what they are doing outside of baseball,” Overland said. “I think that is as much his legacy as any championship.”
“It’s heartwarming to think of the sacrifices made by so many to get #44 honored in this way,” said Mike Batesole on receiving this recognition. “Family, community, administration, alumni, boosters, coaches and players – a piece of every one of them is going up there.”
From 2006-12, his ‘Dogs made six NCAA appearances while winning seven-straight conference championships.
Batesole spoke highly of his former star who was on the team for two of those conference titles.
“The integrity, class and humbleness that makes him a great teammate is the mark he left in our clubhouse. It will never be forgotten,” Batesole said.
Admission to the ceremony on Nov. 19 at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium will be free to fans but seats will be available on a first come first serve basis. Gates will open at noon with the program starting at 1 p.m.
Following the ceremony, the Fresno State baseball team will have a scrimmage.
