Fresno State to retire Aaron Judge, Mike Batesole jerseys at Nov. 18 football game

The Fresno State Bulldogs announced Thursday that they MLB Jerseys will soon retire the jerseys of two key baseball figures on campus, and that the Red Wave will get to honor them both at an upcoming home football game. A jersey retirement ceremony for former player and current MLB superstar Aaron Judge jerseys, along with recent head coach and national championship winner Mike Batesole, will take place in Valley Children's Stadium.

A halftime ceremony will be held for both during halftime of Fresno State’s Nov. 18 home football game versus the New Mexico Lobos - the final home game of the regular season. A formal ceremony will also be held the following day, Sunday, Nov. 19 at 1 p.m. PT, at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.

Due scheduling conflicts for current Yankee outfielder Judge during the Bulldogs’ baseball season, Fresno State will be holding this celebration during the fall.

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Judge and Batesole will become the 12th and 13th Bulldogs to have their baseball jerseys retired at Fresno State. Judge is the 10th player and Batesole is the 3rd coach to receive the honor.

Judge spent three seasons with the MLB Jersey Bulldogs from 2011 to 2013. He was a Freshman All-American, WAC Freshman of the Year, and 2012 College Baseball Home Run Derby winner. He batted a .345 average and hit 18 home runs and 109 RBI in 169 games for the Bulldogs. Since being a first-round MLB Draft pick by the New York Yankees, he has earned awards including Rookie of the Year, Silver Slugger (three times), Hank Aaron Award, and was the 2022 American League MVP.

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"It is an incredible and humbling honor having my number retired at Fresno State," Judge said in a press release. "I'm excited to come back and enjoy the moment with so many coaches, teammates, and alumni that made this possible."

Fresno State Director of Athletics Terry Tumey said, "Aaron Judge epitomizes all that Fresno State Athletics stands for, not only with respect to his remarkably high levels of athletic success, but more importantly in who he is as a person and the impact he makes on his communities. We are blessed to have Aaron Judge representing Fresno State and the Diamond 'Dogs and we look forward to enshrining his name in its rightful place among the all-time greats to come through our baseball program."

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Batesole led the program for 20 seasons highlighted by the 2008 National Championship. He was a two-time National Coach of the Year and had a record of 599–485 at Fresno State. Batesole coached 89 Bulldogs who were selected in the MLB Draft.

Batesole said in a press release, "It's heartwarming to think of the sacrifices made by so many to get #44 honored in this way. Family, community, administration, alumni, boosters, coaches, and players - a piece of every one of them is going up there."

Tumey added, "Mike Batesole's tremendous impact Mike Batesole jerseys on Fresno State baseball will never be forgotten. Winning a national championship was his crowning achievement on the field of play, but the countless lives he positively impacted and the manner in which he led our program for 20 seasons are perhaps even more impressive. His mentorship of other coaches helped develop and define what it takes to be successful here at Fresno State. Bates deserves to see his name forever honored alongside Pete Beiden and Bob Bennett as the legends of our program and as one of the best college baseball coaches of all time."

Batesole was also Judge’s head coach from 2011 to 2013.

"So proud to share the day with Judgey," Batesole said. "The integrity, class and humbleness that makes him a great teammate is the mark he left in our clubhouse - it will never be forgotten."

"Getting to share this moment with Bates is something we will never forget," Judge added. "He is an incredible coach, mentor, and friend who changed Fresno State Baseball forever."