The Yankee Clipper has been eclipsed. Aaron Judge’s unforgettable season landed in the record books Friday night, when the 25-year-old slugger set a Yankees…
The Yankee Clipper has been eclipsed.
Aaron Judge’s unforgettable season landed in the record books Friday night, when the 25-year-old slugger set a Yankees single-season rookie record with his 30th home run of the season, passing Joe DiMaggio’s mark of 29 set in 1936.
For eight decades, DiMaggio’s record remained safe from Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Don Mattingly and many other stars, but Judge needed just 82 games to knock the icon from the top of the list. DiMaggio needed 138 games to hit his 29 home runs.
“It’s quite an honor, ” Judge said after the 9-4 loss to the Brewers . “It’s been a fun first half so far. I’ m blessed to be in this position.”
Judge became the third Yankee to hit at least 30 home runs prior to the All-Star break — Roger Maris hit 33 in 1961, and Alex Rodriguez hit 30 in 2007 — and just the second rookie to hit at least 30 home runs in that time, joining Mark McGwire, whose single-season rookie record of 49 home runs for the Athletics in 1987 could be next to fall.
“That’s a pretty special name he passed, ” manager Joe Girardi said. “That’s really incredible what he’s done in the first half of this season.”
With the Yankees leading 3-2 in the fifth inning, Judge destroyed a 1-0 pitch from Josh Hader to straightaway center field for his third straight game with a homer, a feat he has accomplished three times this season. The home run, which traveled 432 feet, was Judge’s MLB-best 12th home run this season to travel at least 430 feet. No other player in baseball has more than eight such shots.
Though Judge homered in his first game last year, the Northern California native hit just four home runs in 95 at-bats, leaving no clue to the onslaught that would be unleashed this year.
Now, the All-Star Game starter and AL MVP front-runner already has as many home runs this season as Lou Gehrig and Derek Jeter combined to hit as rookies.
With so much of the season remaining, it’s easy to imagine how many more homers Judge might hit, but he said he does not see this as a reason to reflect on what he already has accomplished — not yet, anyway.
“Probably when my career is over, to be honest, because this game will humble you quick, ” said Judge, who has reached base in 37 straight games he has started, not including the game he went 0-for-1 as a pinch hitter. “I got it in my notes, I look at it every day — .179 — it’s what I hit last year. It’s just a reminder that this game will humble you quick.”
