Inside The Pinstripes

Most Valuable Dogs on Display for Yankees Superstar Slugger

Only dogs can outshine a superstar dad who also happens to be the captain of the New York Yankees.
Joseph Randazzo|
Oct 7, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (99) flips his bat after hitting a three-run home run in the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during game three of the ALDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Oct 7, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (99) flips his bat after hitting a three-run home run in the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during game three of the ALDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

In this story:

New York Yankees

Aaron Judge further cemented himself as the best player on the planet after locking in his third MVP, but, depending on who you talk to, the captain for the New York Yankees may not have been the only star that night. His dogs, Gus and Penny, also need some praise.

The two precious dachshunds sat beside their towering six-foot-seven dad, happy to share their space with him and likely unaware of his ability to hit .400, launch 50 homers, and lead one of the most storied franchises in American sports.

When Don Mattingly, who also shared some camera time with his pet cat, announced that Judge won, the Judge family and Tyler Wade erupted, and so too did his dog Gus. Joining in on the annual family MVP celebration, Gus barked a few times, probably wondering why everybody was being loud. The tiny dachshund then jumped onto Judge's lap, staring up at dad, then looking over to mom, Samantha.

In the corner was Judge's other dog, Penny. Penny was not as loud as their sibling. The tiny dachshund went into a corner on the couch, rolled up in a ball, then let out a pronounced yawn. Penny did eventually move from her position after jumping on the top of the couch, and hiding behind dad's head.

Judge and Mattingly weren't the only ones to proudly share the spotlight with their dogs. So too did Shohei Ohtani. The superstar for the Los Angeles Dodgers sat with his dog Decoy and wife, Mamiko.

Decoy sitting front and center with Ohtani has become a staple of the two-time World Series winner and four-time MVP's acceptance speeches. His lovely dog made their debut in 2023, following the announcement by MLB Network.

In that instance, Ohtani showered his pet with treats. Decoy was a little more antsy in 2024 and 2025, though. In back-to-back years, Decoy jumped off the couch mid-interview. That could have been either a display of athleticism, showing dad he could move his legs, too, or the dog having had enough of everybody being so loud in his home.

It's reassuring to know that superstar athletes are just like us. There is always one person on the work Zoom call who will have their dog sniffing at the camera. In the middle of a meeting or presentation, a snout will take over a screen. Either that or the person half paying is sitting at a desk with their furry companion, petting them as they lay their head on their chair's armrest, forgetting that their microphone is on while they shower their best friend with loving affirmations of "good boy" or "good girl."

In the case of Ohtani and Judge, the call was about winning MVP, but point still stands. It's the dogs who stand out most.

Make sure to bookmark Yankees On SI to get all your daily New York Yankees news, interviews, breakdowns and more!

Published
Joseph Randazzo
JOSEPH RANDAZZO

Joe Randazzo is a reference librarian who lives on Long Island. When he’s not behind a desk offering assistance to his patrons, he writes about the Yankees for Yankees On SI. Follow him as @YankeeLibrarian on X and Instagram.

Home/News