A few Major League Baseball players ruffled some feathers during the World Baseball Classic when they claimed the WBC was a bigger deal than the World Series.
New York Yankees star outfield Aaron Judge was among those players making those claims, which rubbed a lot of fans the wrong way.
“I’ll say, [the WBC has] been bigger [than the World Series],” Judge told reporters before the final. “The World Series I was in versus the crowd here and the one we had against Mexico, it’s bigger and better than the World Series… The passion that these fans have representing their country, representing some of their favorite players, there’s nothing like it.”
Those comments drew the ire of many fans on social media, who flooded X with comments taking shots at the three-time AL MVP. But Judge’s remarks also caught the attention of one Yankees legend.
Derek Jeter Takes Exception With Judge’s WBC Comments
GettyNew York Yankees OF Aaron Judge
Jeter’s name is synonymous with Yankees history.
A 14-time All-Star, five-time World Series champion, five-time Gold Glove winner, a five-time Silver Slugger, and World Series MVP, Jeter has the kind of resume that makes people stop and pay attention when he speaks.
So when he seemingly threw some subtle shade Judge’s way for what he said about the World Series, it really stuck with plenty of fans.
“I think the people that say (the World Baseball Classic is) bigger than the World Series never played in a World Series,” Jeter snarked during the FS1 pregame show prior to Venezuela’s WBC championship win over Team USA.
“I think people are always trying to compare what’s bigger. It’s completely different.”
Of course, it didn’t help Judge’s case when he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in USA’s 3-2 loss to Venezuela in the WBC final.
The only two runs the Americans scores came courtesy of a Bryce Harper two-run home run in the eighth inning.
Jeter Says Yankees’ World Series Wins More Impressive Than WBC
Derek Jeter speaks after announcing that the 2014 season will be his last on February 19, 2014 in Tampa, Florida. (Getty)
While Judge was likely trying to point out the WBC has more global appeal compared to the World Series, which carries much more national appeal within the U.S., many took what he said to be a slight at MLB.
Jeter even went as far as to make the case that winning a World Series, which he did five times (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2009), is much more difficult to do than winning one World Baseball Classic.
“When you retire, they ask, “How many championships did you win?’ for a reason,” Jeter added. “Playing in a World Series, going through a 162-game schedule plus the postseason, is difficult to do.
“It doesn’t take anything away from the WBC. It is an absolute honor, I’ve done it a couple of times, it’s an honor to wear the USA across your chest. How this tournament has grown over the last 20 years is impressive.”
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