Aaron Judge has become only the fourth player in Major League Baseball history to have a fourth season with 50 or more home runs.
The New York Yankees icon went deep against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night to record his 50th HR of the year, and in turn join the extremely exclusive club.
Until now, only Babe Ruth, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa had managed the achievement, but now Judge has joined them – and with plenty of years to spare.
The 33-year-old signed a nine-year, $360 million contract with the New York Yankees in December 2022 to end speculation over his future, and he has continued to be the face of the franchise since.
This year, he leads baseball in batting average – his .325 ahead of all his rivals, with the Athletics’ Jacob Wilson and Blue Jays’ Bo Bichette behind him.
In terms of home runs, it has been a remarkable season for Seattle Mariners star Cal Raleigh, who leads the league with 58, while Judge is fourth in the list.
Aaron Judge celebrates in the dugout after hitting his 50th home run of the 2025 season
Judge smashed the ball deep into center-field to seal his place among some of the greats
The Yankees have already secured their place in the postseason but are likely to fall short of winning the AL East, with the Blue Jays a game ahead in the standings with a week to play.
On social media, fans were quick to react to Judge’s historic moment, with one claiming: ‘That cements him as the greatest of all-time.’
Another added, ‘Best Player in MLB – CASE DISMISSED’, while a third wrote: ‘The MVP without a shadow of a doubt.’
The Yankees have four games remaining of the regular season, finishing with a three-game set against the Baltimore Orioles in the Bronx.
