Aaron Judge hit his 358th career home run during the Yankees’ 3-2 loss to the White Sox, tying Yogi Berra for fifth place on the franchise’s all-time home run list. This achievement places Judge among some of the most notable players in team history, including Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, and Joe DiMaggio.
“The way Yogi played the game, what he meant to the pinstripes – you know how much it meant, being a New York Yankee, to him,” Judge said. “I feel the same way. I’m honored to wear this jersey. So it’s pretty cool to be on that list.”
The current top five in Yankees history for home runs are Babe Ruth (659), Mickey Mantle (536), Lou Gehrig (493), Joe DiMaggio (361), and now Aaron Judge and Yogi Berra tied at 358.
During Sunday’s game at Rate Field, former Yankee Mike Tauchman prevented Giancarlo Stanton from hitting a two-run homer with a leaping catch in the third inning. Later, Tim Hill gave up an eighth-inning home run to Lenyn Sosa that became the deciding run and ended New York’s seven-game winning streak.
Those recent wins came against teams at the bottom of their divisions—the Nationals and White Sox—and were by large margins. Over their last eight games, New York outscored opponents 60-22. The starting pitchers have been effective during this stretch with a combined ERA of 1.57 over 46 innings.
Looking ahead, the Yankees will face tougher opponents starting Tuesday in Houston as part of a 12-game stretch against contending teams such as the Blue Jays, Tigers, Red Sox, and Astros.
“It’s coming down to the wire,” Judge said. “We want to play the best teams, especially getting down the stretch here into the postseason. That’s what it’s all about, to see what we’re made of.”
Some Yankees wore cowboy boots and Stetsons for their flight to Texas before beginning this important series.
Judge has recently returned from time off due to a right flexor strain and spent August mainly as designated hitter while regaining his form. He finished August strong with home runs in consecutive games.
In Sunday’s game against White Sox pitcher Martín Pérez, Judge hit his 43rd home run of the season in the first inning. He almost had another homer in his next at-bat but settled for a double after hitting the top of the wall and later added a single.
“He’s definitely getting there. He’ll get there,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He’s going to find his way through and at some point here get really hot.”
Pitcher Luis Gil allowed two runs over 5 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts and two walks while giving up four hits. In one sequence he retired ten straight batters with five strikeouts after focusing more on command than velocity early in his outing.
“Something we’ve been working on is being in the strike zone and attacking the strike one,” Gil said through interpreter Marlon Abreu. “I think that’s something that has been helping me.”
With three more home runs needed to surpass DiMaggio (361) for fourth place on the franchise list, Judge continues moving up among historic company.
“It’s the company he belongs in,” Boone said. “When he came through the dugout, I yelled, ‘Yogi!’ out to him. He’s certainly earned his way into those rarified air names with the career he’s put together so far. He’s as good as we’ve seen in this generation.”
Judge was drafted by New York in 2013 but did not spend much time around Berra himself; however, he heard stories about Berra from veteran teammates.
“He was a special individual,” Judge said. “A lot of the veteran guys talked highly on [how] probably some of their favorite memories was coming to Spring Training and having a chance to talk with him during camp, just to hear some of his stories. They said he just always had a smile on his face.”
Derek Jeter also remembered Berra congratulating him after Jeter won his fifth World Series title with New York; Berra held up both hands—he had ten rings—to show Jeter he was only halfway there.
“Ten World Series. That’s pretty impressive,” Judge said. “That’s what we’re all chasing.”
