On Sunday, Aaron Judge hit his 36th home run of the season against the Atlanta Braves, securing a key 4-2 win for the New York Yankees. This notable homer marked Judge’s 351st career home run as a Yankee, tying the franchise record held by Alex Rodriguez.
This achievement places Judge alongside Rodriguez, who amassed 351 home runs over 12 seasons in New York. The milestone highlights Judge’s rising legacy within the storied history of the team and strengthens his place among the club’s all-time great sluggers.
Alex Rodriguez’s Supportive Message for Judge’s Achievement
<pFollowing the announcement of Judge matching his home run total, Alex Rodriguez extended a heartfelt message of encouragement. His words expressed admiration for Judge’s accomplishments and urged him to keep aiming high with each at-bat.
While Rodriguez earned a World Series ring in 2009, Judge has yet to secure that ultimate team success despite coming close in 2024. The home run milestone marks a key personal moment as Judge also looks forward to potentially equaling Rodriguez’s championship accomplishment.
Judge Reflects on Joining Yankees Legends Like Rodriguez, Berra, and DiMaggio
Having tied Rodriguez’s home run record, Aaron Judge inches closer to surpassing icons such as Yogi Berra, who holds 358 homers as a Yankee, and Joe DiMaggio with 361. When speaking to Ian O’Connor of The Athletic, Judge described how meaningful it was to be mentioned among these legendary figures.
“To get near those guys, wow,” Judge said. “That’s a special trio right there. It’s kind of crazy to judge a career against somebody who did it for 20 years and had such a great career, so maybe when I’m done playing, I can look back and see the things that I’ve done. Any sentence with those three guys (Rodriguez, Berra and DiMaggio) is special.”
—Aaron Judge, New York Yankees slugger
Judge’s current form suggests he could surpass those homer totals before the season ends, continuing to establish himself as one of the greatest hitters in Yankees history. His blend of power and consistency makes it likely that he will leave this legendary trio behind over the course of his ongoing career.
The Significance of Judge’s Milestone for Yankees and Baseball Fans
Aaron Judge tying the Yankees home run record is a landmark moment in both the player’s career and the franchise’s history. It reinforces his role as a central figure in the team’s pursuit of future success and adds a sense of optimism for Yankees fans eager for more championship runs.
This milestone not only celebrates individual achievement but also raises expectations for the team as Judge aims to combine personal records with collective victories in upcoming seasons. With Alex Rodriguez’s encouragement and his own steady performance, Judge remains a beacon of hope and inspiration for the New York Yankees’ continuing legacy.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why is Aaron Judge so special?
A. Aaron Judge is famous for hitting home runs. He is one of only five players ever to have three seasons with 50 or more homers.
Q. How old was Aaron Judge adopted?
A. Aaron Judge was adopted right after he was born in 1992 by a couple of teachers from California. He began to understand he was adopted when he was about 10 years old, after noticing that he looked different from his parents.
Q. Could Aaron Judge hit 400?
A. With a .395 average before Wednesday’s game in Anaheim, it’s unlikely he will hit .400, a rare feat in today’s baseball. However, being this close late in the season shows the challenges opposing teams face when Judge bats.
Q. Is Aaron Judge biological?
A. Patty and Wayne adopted Aaron the day after he was born in Sacramento, California. Since Aaron’s adoption was closed, he hasn’t met his birth parents, and their names remain undisclosed.