New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge was unable to attend the BBWAA awards dinner on January 25, but he had a great reason. Filling in for Judge at the ceremony was Bronx native, actor, and comedian Tracy Morgan, who accepted Judge’s 2024 American League MVP award on his behalf.
Judge, who also won the AL MVP in 2022, expressed his gratitude and apologies through a video message. “I’m truly humbled to be accepting the 2024 MVP award,” Judge said. “I want to start by apologizing for missing the award there this evening. However, my wife, Samantha, and I are expecting our first child any day, and unfortunately, could not make it.”
He thanked God, his family, teammates, coaches, trainers, and the Yankees organization for their unwavering support throughout the season, as well as the fans for their passion and energy. Judge described the journey through spring training, the long season, and the postseason as an honor to share with his team and supporters.
Tracy Morgan, a Bronx native and former Yankee Stadium souvenir salesman, brought humor to the event as Judge’s stand-in. Morgan, known for his work on Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock, reminisced about his time growing up near Yankee Stadium and meeting players like Mickey Rivers. “I thought life couldn’t get better than that,” Morgan joked, “and then I became a star—and yeah, life got better,” earning laughs from the audience.
Judge’s heartfelt message and Morgan’s comedic touch made the evening memorable, even in the captain’s absence.