Aaron Judge had a fairly bold take on the atmosphere at the World Baseball Classic following Sunday night’s game.
Judge and Team USA held off the Dominican Republic 2-1 at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Fla. on Sunday to advance to the final. The atmosphere of the game was a raucous one, as many Dominican fans made their way to Miami to cheer for their team.
Judge went as far as to say the atmosphere he experienced was better than it had been when he played in the World Series.
“It’s been bigger (than) the World Series I was in. The crowd here, the crowd we had when we played Mexico, it’s bigger and better than the World Series,” Judge told reporters. “The passion these fans have representing their country, representing some of their favorite players, there’s nothing like it. That’s what you dream of as a kid.”
Aaron Judge says the WBC crowds are "bigger & better" than the World Series:
— Doug McKain (@DMAC_LA) March 16, 2026
"It's been bigger. The World Series I was in. The crowd here, the crowd we had when we played Mexico. It's bigger & better than the World Series. The passion these fans have. There's nothing like it." pic.twitter.com/4WRBP7Xvt8
Judge played for the Yankees in the World Series in 2024. The Yankees lost that series in five to the Los Angeles Dodgers, so the Yankee Stadium atmosphere was not exactly at its best in that series. He was, however, on the wrong end of the Freddie Freeman walk-off grand slam in Game 1 at Dodger Stadium.
While Judge’s comments may sound strange to American fans, he has a point. It’s easy to see and hear how crazy things can get when certain teams are doing well.
Judge will get to experience what will hopefully be another excellent atmosphere in the final in Miami, where Team USA will face the winner of Monday’s game between Venezuela and Italy.
