Aaron Judge made baseball history, breaking a record that has stood for more than six decades.

The New York Yankees outfielder set the single-season home run record in the American League at the end of September 2022 with his 61st home run against the Toronto Blue Jays. This record, set by Yankees legend Roger Maris in 1961, stood for 61 years.

Fans eagerly waited to see if and when Judge would hit another home run, and on October 4, 2022, the outfielder hit his history-making 62nd home run at the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field, setting a new record.

One fan who particularly closely watched Judge’s historic home run chase was his wife, Samantha Bracksieck.

“My wife has been with me the whole time and she’s absolutely calm, that’s for sure,” Judge said New York Post after tying Maris’ long-standing record.

In December 2022, Judge signed a nine-year, $360 million contract with the Yankees. He was also named the team’s new captain.

“Thank you everyone, my wife Samantha,” Judge said during a press conference where Bracksieck was on stage with him. “(My wife and I) made the decision that was close to our hearts: We belong in New York, we belong in this city.”

Bracksieck played an important role in negotiating that contract, Judge said in an August 2024 appearance Casa de Club Podcast. When the conversations seemed to be going nowhere, it was his wife who encouraged him to call the owner, Hal Steinbrenner. The call went well and Bracksieck listened as Steinbrenner told him that he would also be made captain.

“I was more speechless about that than hearing about a nine-year contract. “Sam hit me like, ‘You have to say something.’ It was special,” he said.

Next, Judge and the Yankees travel to the 2024 World Series – the team’s first championship appearance in 15 years – after winning Game 5 of the ALCS. After the game, Bracksieck celebrated with her husband on the field while wearing a custom jacket with photos of Judge.

So who is the woman supporting the MLB player on his way into the baseball history books? Here’s everything you need to know about Aaron Judge’s wife, Samantha Bracksieck.

She met Judge in high school

Bracksieck and Judge attended Linden High School in Linden, California. There, Judge played three sports (football, basketball and baseball) before graduating in 2010.

After high school, both Bracksieck and Judge attended Fresno State University in California.

She studied kinesiology

While studying at Fresno State University, Bracksieck was recognized in 2017 for an outstanding master’s thesis in kinesiology. Her award-winning project, “Posterior Elbow Angle During the Movement Phase of Throwing in Relation to the Susceptibility of UCL Injury in Major League Baseball Players,” examined elbow ligament injuries in Major League Baseball.

She and Judge have been together since at least 2014

Although Bracksieck and Judge keep their relationship primarily outside of social media, Bracksieck first appeared on Judge’s Instagram account in November 2014. The photo collage showed the couple, along with Judge’s parents, taking part in a Thanksgiving Day 5K run together.

“Happy Thanksgiving everyone and always be grateful for what you have! #GodBless #5k,” Judge captioned the post.

Aside from this 2014 post, Bracksieck is almost entirely absent from Judge’s social media. The only other time she appeared on his Instagram page was in July 2022, when the two visited Los Angeles during the MLB All-Star break.

“What a time we had in LA at the All-Star break! I can’t thank the Yankee fans and all the fans out there for their support in making this one of the best years ever! Time to get started in the second half!⭐️.” ⭐️⭐️⭐️,” the baseball player wrote in the photo series.

She and Judge married in 2021

Richter and Bracksieck married in a private ceremony in Maui, Hawaii on December 13, 2021, according to the newspaper Daily Mail. Photos obtained by the publication showed the couple exchanging vows under a stunning arch of flowers and greenery at the Montage Kapalua Bay Resort. Bracksieck wore a bodycon dress with an illusion neckline, detailed back and long veil, while Judge wore a classic black tuxedo.

The couple, who never officially announced their engagement, married in front of a small crowd that included several Judge’s New York Yankees teammates. Photos continue Twitter showed Yankees players Gary Sanchez, Luis Cessa and Gleyber Torres getting married in Hawaii.

She and Judge love sports – not just baseball

Although Judge and Bracksieck keep their relationship mostly secret, they are often seen enjoying sporting events together.

In November 2019, the couple stood on the sidelines during a football game at their alma mater, Fresno State. A few years later, they were spotted courtside (next to Trevor Noah) as the Brooklyn Nets took on the Boston Celtics in the NBA playoffs.

Judge and Bracksieck are also big tennis fans. They competed in the US Open in 2022 and 2023.

In October 2023, the couple sat courtside at the New York Knicks game against the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden.

She and Judge are charitable

Richter and Bracksieck are working together to give something back. According to ABC 30, the couple returned to the Fresno area in November 2019 to visit young cancer patients at Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera County, California.

The hospital visit was part of Judge’s work with his ALL RISE foundation. The mission of Judge’s organization — which he founded in 2018 — is to inspire children and youth to be responsible citizens through leadership programs, grants, baseball camps and more.

She has run the New York City Marathon several times

In November 2022, Bracksieck ran the New York City Marathon – and Judge was there to cheer her on. The couple was seen hugging after crossing the finish line.

When Bracksieck returned a year later for another round in 2023, Judge was again waiting at the finish line to congratulate her with a hug and a smile.

Judge’s teammate Anthony Rizzo was also there to support be Ms. Emily, who told it New York Post that she had asked Bracksieck for tips before the marathon.

“I went to her throughout the whole process and asked her tons of questions about what the day was like, what I should wear, what headphones, what her workout was like,” she said in October 2023. “We also ran together , and she really supported me and gave me a lot of good tips from experience.”