Aaron Judge Climbs Yankees’ Home Run Ladder, Surpassing Yogi Berra
In a powerful display of his slugging prowess, New York Yankees star Aaron Judge made franchise history on Tuesday night against the Detroit Tigers. With one mighty swing in the first inning, Judge launched his 359th career home run, moving past Yankees legend Yogi Berra for fifth place on the team’s all-time home run list. The milestone blast wasn’t just a statistical achievement—it represented another chapter in Judge’s remarkable journey with the storied franchise and further cemented his place among Yankees royalty.
The home run itself was quintessential Judge: a full-count splitter from Tigers pitcher Casey Mize that Judge drove to right-center field with authority. The ball exploded off his bat at 110.6 mph and traveled an impressive 412 feet, giving the Yankees an early 1-0 lead. This marked Judge’s 44th homer of the current season, continuing his incredible power production. The significance wasn’t lost on fans who witnessed Judge tie Berra just days earlier on August 31, when he connected for a solo shot against Chicago White Sox pitcher Martín Pérez in what ended as a 3-2 Yankees loss.
Looking at the Yankees’ career home run leaderboard provides context for Judge’s achievement and the legendary company he now keeps. Ahead of him stand only the most revered names in baseball history: Babe Ruth with his towering 659 homers, Mickey Mantle’s 536, Lou Gehrig’s 493, and Joe DiMaggio’s 361. Judge now sits just two home runs shy of tying DiMaggio, another milestone that seems inevitable given his current pace. Each step up this prestigious ladder connects Judge to the Yankees’ unparalleled legacy, bridging generations of power hitters who have worn the pinstripes.
Judge’s journey to this point makes his achievement all the more meaningful. Selected by the Yankees in the first round of the 2013 amateur draft, he announced his arrival with characteristic flair by homering in his very first major league at-bat on August 13, 2016. Since then, his career has been defined by towering home runs, MVP-caliber performances, and a growing legend within Yankees lore. The man he passed, Yogi Berra, represents the essence of Yankees tradition—a beloved Hall of Famer known for his playing excellence, memorable personality, and famous “Yogi-isms.” Berra, who passed away in 2015 at age 90, won 10 World Series championships as a player, the most in MLB history.
What makes Judge’s accomplishment particularly impressive is the relatively short time it took him to reach this milestone. While Berra played 18 seasons with the Yankees, Judge has surpassed his home run total in significantly less time, showcasing his extraordinary power. The current Yankees captain has transformed himself from promising prospect to franchise cornerstone, becoming the face of baseball’s most storied organization. His 2022 American League record-setting 62 home runs further solidified his place in baseball history, and now he continues to climb the Yankees’ internal leaderboards.
As Judge continues his assault on the Yankees record books, fans and teammates alike recognize they’re witnessing something special. Each home run now moves him closer to DiMaggio, with the other Yankees legends’ totals looming as potential long-term targets. While baseball has changed dramatically since the days of Ruth, Gehrig, and Mantle, Judge’s power transcends eras, giving modern fans a connection to the Yankees’ glorious past. His consistent production and leadership have made him not just a statistical marvel but a worthy heir to the legacy of the players whose records he now chases—a rare combination of talent and character that both honors Yankees tradition and creates new history with every swing.
