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New York Giants
New York Yankees
Aug 27, 2025 7:31 PM EDT
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson will play his first NFL game for a New York team on Sept. 7, but it won’t be his first professional sports appearance for the city. The Colorado Rockies’ 2010 fourth-round pick also pinch-hit in a March 2018 spring training game for the New York Yankees.
Wilson subbed in for none other than generational superstar Aaron Judge against Atlanta Braves pitcher Max Fried, who now plays for the Yankees. The dual-sport athlete struck out in five pitches, but he still accomplished his late father’s dream of his son playing for the team one day.
Russell’s dad, Harrison Benjamin Wilson III, played baseball at Dartmouth and raised him to be a Yankees fan. The younger Wilson later developed a relationship with club legend Willie Randolph, who he spoke about after practice on Wednesday.
Former New York Yankees second basemen Willie Randolph
Former New York Yankees second basemen Willie Randolph — Source: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
“I’ve known Willie Randolph for awhile, from going to big-league Spring Training and being with the Yankees and all that,” he said. “Willie and I got to turn a lot of double plays, and he said ‘Man, you can still turn a mean double play. But he was amazing, obviously as a player, but also as a man, as a person.”
“I got to know him over the years…Just a great mentor, understands what success looks like, championship mentality,” he continued. “We were talking about the Yanks, talking about a lot of ball, just being here in New York and the experience of that. I’m excited…Just the bond that we’ve had sitting over lunch and eating breakfast together, and taking grounders and hitting BP together, it’s a lot of fun and a lot of history.”
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Willie Randolph Provides Blueprint for Russell Wilson
Wilson won’t ever get to Randolph’s level on the diamond, as the latter individual is a six-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion. However, Giants fans would be ecstatic if he achieves even an once of the Monument Park honoree’s success in New York.
Randolph won his first title as the Yankees’ second baseman in 1977 before winning as a coach in 1996 and 1998-2000. The Brooklyn native also led the New York Mets to within one game of the World Series as their manager in 2006, and became the first manager in MLB history to have his team’s record improve by at least 12 games in each of his first two seasons.
Meanwhile, Wilson is past his prime at age 36, but he has championship pedigree and 2024 Pro Bowl wide receiver Malik Nabers at his disposal.
About the Author
Josh Valdez
Trending News Writer, Athlon Sports
Josh Valdez is a contributing writer for the Athlon Sports trending and breaking news team.