GOOD NEWS – Aaron Judge’s Signed Glove Brings Hope to a Young Cancer Fighter
NEW YORK — Aaron Judge is known for his towering home runs and highlight-reel catches, but on a quiet afternoon away from Yankee Stadium, the Yankees’ captain made his most memorable play of the season.
Judge visited the pediatric oncology ward of a Manhattan hospital this week, bringing smiles, autographs, and a sense of joy to children facing unimaginable challenges. But it was one moment—when he slipped a signed game glove into the hands of an 8-year-old patient named Lucas—that captured hearts far beyond the hospital walls.
“This glove has been with me for a lot of big games,” Judge told Lucas, kneeling beside the boy’s bed. “Every pitch is a chance to keep going. You’ve got more courage than anyone I’ve ever met.”
Witnesses described the room falling silent before breaking into applause. Lucas gripped the glove with a shy smile, his eyes shining. A hospital staffer recorded the exchange on a phone, and within hours the video spread across social media, drawing millions of views and an outpouring of support.
“It was spontaneous,” Judge said later. “Baseball has given me so much. If a small gesture can give someone strength, that’s bigger than any home run.”
The clip quickly inspired action. Donations began flooding into the hospital’s pediatric cancer fund and the “Hope at Bat” program, which provides financial support and special experiences for families navigating childhood cancer. By Thursday morning, the hospital reported a surge of contributions, many accompanied by the hashtag #YankeesCares.
“Sometimes sports are more than a game,” said Dr. Maya Hernandez, who oversees the pediatric unit. “Moments like this remind our patients they’re not fighting alone. Aaron’s visit brought light to a very difficult journey.”
Judge’s charitable work is hardly new. Through his All Rise Foundation, he’s championed youth programs and community projects across the country. But those close to him say the glove giveaway was especially personal. The outfielder lost a family friend to childhood cancer last year and has quietly supported pediatric research ever since.
“Baseball is what he does,” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone. “But the person he is—that’s what sets him apart. He leads with heart.”
The Yankees are in the thick of a playoff race, yet Judge carved out the time to make the visit, arriving without fanfare. His teammates learned of it only after the video went viral. “That’s just Aaron,” said fellow slugger Giancarlo Stanton. “He doesn’t want credit. He just cares.”
As for Lucas, the boy is now the proud owner of a glove that has seen Yankee Stadium under the brightest lights. His mother said he slept with it beside him that night. “It’s more than a glove,” she said. “It’s hope.”
Judge downplayed the attention, but he did issue a simple message to fans: “Every pitch is a chance to keep going. Let’s keep fighting—for these kids and their families.”
For one evening in New York, the biggest swing belonged not to the Yankees’ captain’s bat, but to his heart.
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