Aaron Judge has worn number 21 as a special one-day tribute to Roberto Clemente on Roberto Clemente Day, not as a permanent number change.

Quick Scoop: Why is Aaron Judge wearing 21?

On September 15, MLB celebrates Roberto Clemente Day every year, honoring the Hall of Famer’s legacy as both a star outfielder and a humanitarian. On this day, select players across the league are allowed to wear Clemente’s iconic number 21 instead of their usual jersey number.

For the Yankees, Aaron Judge has been one of the players who chose to wear 21 on Clemente Day. He and several teammates — including Juan Soto, Giancarlo Stanton, Anthony Rizzo, Jose Trevino, and Marcus Stroman — all took the field in 21 as a unified tribute.

The meaning behind it

  • Number 21 is most closely associated with Roberto Clemente, the Pittsburgh Pirates legend and one of the most important Latino and Caribbean figures in baseball history.
  • MLB formally recognizes September 15 as Roberto Clemente Day, with special patches and optional use of jersey number 21 for eligible players or those who request it.
  • Aaron Judge has an extra connection to the tribute: he won the Roberto Clemente Award in 2023, which honors a player’s humanitarian and community work.

Is Judge switching numbers?

No — Aaron Judge’s regular jersey number is still 99 for the New York Yankees. When you see him wearing 21, it’s almost certainly:

  1. Roberto Clemente Day (September 15).
  1. A one-game tribute approved by MLB and the Yankees to honor Clemente’s legacy.

So if you caught a highlight, photo, or forum clip of Judge in 21, you were seeing a special tribute moment, not a permanent number change.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.