Unstoppable Judge: 50 HR and historic record, Yankees to the top! MLB

Aaron Judge Ties Historic Record with 50 Home Runs

Aaron Judge continues to solidify his place among baseball’s greats, tying a record by reaching 50 home runs in a season for the fourth time in the New York Yankees’ 8-1 victory against the Chicago White Sox. Judge hit his 50th home run with a three-run shot to right-center field, courtesy of pitcher Jonathan Cannon, to give the Yankees a 3-1 lead in the second inning. The slugger added his 51st home run with a solo shot against left-handed pitcher Cam Booser in the eighth, to conclude the victory. With this feat, Judge equals Babe Ruth, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, who also achieved four seasons with at least 50 home runs. In addition, with his two home runs, Judge tied Mickey Mantle for second place on the Yankees’ historical list with his 46th multiple home run game. Only Ruth (68) has recorded more multiple home run games as a Yankee. Earlier this month, Judge surpassed Yogi Berra and Joe DiMaggio for fourth place on the Yankees’ all-time home run list. On Tuesday, he tied Ted Williams for the most intentional walks in a season for an American League player with 34.

If you sit and admire it, you’re going to stop your momentum. A lot of work to do. Hopefully, I’ll have a long career here and we’ll do special things and we can talk about it at the end.

Aaron Judge

The victory, along with Toronto’s loss to the Boston Red Sox, put New York in a tie at the top of the American League East standings with the Blue Jays, with four games remaining. However, the Yankees would have to finish with a better record than the Blue Jays to win the division title, as Toronto has the direct tiebreaker.

If we just take care of what we do, we will be where we want to be. Our goal at the beginning of the season is to go out and win a World Series, go back there, but it starts by winning your division. That is our goal. We just have to keep going.

Aaron Judge

The Yankees, seeking their first World Series since 2009, would need a healthy Judge patrolling right field with enough arm strength to avoid being a disadvantage. They received a positive sign on Wednesday when Judge threw a 85.8 mph throw from right field to second base on Colson Montgomery’s double in the second inning. The launch was Judge’s strongest since he suffered a right flexor strain in late July, an injury that forced him to the injured list and limited him to designated hitter for a month after his return.

That was, by far, the one who has let go the most.

Aaron Boone, Yankees manager

In the plate, Judge is closing out the regular season by punishing pitchers. Since September 11, he’s batting .439 with seven home runs and an OPS of 1.572 in 13 games. The Yankees are 10-3 and have erased the Blue Jays’ three-game lead in the division during that period.

I feel like in the last few weeks he’s really started to hit very well again. And having very good at-bats, night after night, at-bat after at-bat.

Aaron Boone, Yankees manager

The historic production generated a familiar sound on Wednesday. The first “M-V-P” chants appeared in the second inning when Judge ran the bases for the first time. They continued sporadically throughout the night until a final burst spilled over Judge in the ninth inning, minutes after connecting number 51. With four games remaining in the regular season, the race for the American League Most Valuable Player award between Judge and Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh has generated intense debate, but there is no debate about the Yankees captain’s place among the all-time greats.

He is so revered and leads a really strong culture there. Those guys are close because it starts with him, and he makes sure everyone is heard, seen… a part of it.

Aaron Boone, Yankees manager