What can I possibly say that hasn’t been said about Aaron Judge? What he’s doing this season is incredible and there are seven games left in the regular season so he has more time to do more incredible things.
Yesterday, Judge needed two home runs to pass Mark McGwire’s rookie record of 49 home runs which was set 30 years ago. It didn’t take long for Judge to tie the record. He hit an opposite-field home run in the third to put the Yankees up 3-0.
Starter Jakob Junis threw Judge a slider, a sinker, and four fastballs. It was the last fastball, up in the zone, that Judge hit into the right-field seats for home run number 49.
Courtesy of Brooks Baseball
In the seventh inning, reliever Trevor Cahill started off the at-bat with two curveballs—Judge swung at one and let one go by for a ball—then went to his fastball and Judge didn’t bite. On the fourth pitch, Cahill threw a changeup that was a little in but Judge swung at it like he knew it was coming and he hit into the left-field seats for number 50.
Courtesy of Brooks Baseball
Judge rounded the bases and reluctantly took a curtain call.
After the game, Judge sat in front of reporters and timidly answered questions from the gathered press. He was shy and uncomfortable talking about himself like he has been all season. And when the possibility of the MVP award was broached Judge said, “I haven’t really thought about it. Just like the [home run] record. I don’t try to think about that, especially with what this team’s got going on with this playoff push and trying to win a division. That’s more important to me right now. I’d rather be in a good position in the playoffs and holding up a World Series trophy than an AL MVP trophy at this moment.”
Thanks to his second two home run game in as many days, Judge now has 13 home runs in September and six in five games. He has four multihomer games this month.
Oh, and just in case you were wondering, Judge got both baseballs back and he will be giving them to his parents.
Here are all 50 of his home runs:
Photo Credit: Gregory J. Fisher / USA TODAY Sports