In just a few hours, Yankees legends Mariano Rivera and Mike Mussina will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame up in Cooperstown.
And current Yankee Aaron Judge couldn't think of a better way to recognize the careers that these pitchers had.
Speaking at Pepsi Zero Sugar's "Coach Judge" Softball Game, Judge discussed "what an honor" it is for both Mussina and Rivera -- two players he looked up to growing up.
"I watched Moose growing up and just how consistent he was. He was always so locked in," Judge told SNY. "I remember watching as a kid how locked in and determined he was every single pitch.
"Mariano, man, the best closer in the game. Unanimous. What an honor I get the chance to be around him for a couple years and see him and speak with him and same thing -- he was such a competitor out there. Didn't matter who it was, who they were facing, the situation, [or] how big the game was he came out and competed and you just loved that. That's why he was so successful."
Mo and Moose will be the 24th and 25th Yankees to enter the Hall, but there could be another pretty soon on this year's roster. CC Sabathia is playing his final season of his long, successful career, and he has a strong case to make it into the Hall.
For Judge, it's a easy choice for the voters to choose Sabathia once his name gets on the ballot.
"Oh, no doubt," Judge answered quickly when asked if Sabathia will make it one day. "Once we get him another ring. The career that he's put up, everybody knows [he's] one of the best lefties in the game. I think he's only the third or second lefty to have 3,000 strikeouts (Sabathia was the second with Randy Johnson also completing the feat). That's quite an accomplishment right there, plus the 250 wins so what an honor for him.
"It's been a privilege playing with him the past couple years, just seeing his leadership and how he controls the clubhouse, controls the pitching staff, and keeps it light-hearted at times too. It's something special."
At the pace he's going at the moment, Judge may also find himself in the running for his own plaque one day. He has quickly become one of the best power hitters in the game as well as one of the bright, young faces of the MLB. If he continues to produce the way he has consistently over his career, the former Rookie of the Year will have a strong case to be enshrined when he decides to hang his cleats up.
For now, though, he'll continue to look up to and emulate these great Yankees from the past and today.