Aaron Judge’s Pursuit of Yankees Greatness Tied to October Success
The narrative surrounding Aaron Judge’s legacy is evolving. What began as a discussion about his prowess as the New York Yankees’ best active player is now transitioning toward a more ambitious consideration: can he become one of the franchise’s all-time legends? His ascent on the Yankees’ all-time home run leaderboard has sparked these conversations, especially as he recently surpassed iconic figures like Yogi Berra and Joe DiMaggio. On September 9, Judge hit his 359th career home run, placing him fifth in the franchise’s history. Just days later, he launched his 362nd, moving past DiMaggio into fourth place. This leaves only Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and Lou Gehrig ahead of him.
The Championship Factor
Despite these impressive milestones, the discussion about Judge’s legacy is not solely about numbers. According to New York Post columnist Joel Sherman, Judge’s place among Yankees immortals hinges significantly on one critical factor: championships. The Yankees, with a storied history of 27 World Series titles—far more than any other MLB franchise—hold winning in October in the highest regard. However, they are currently grappling with one of their most extended championship droughts, having last claimed the Commissioner’s Trophy in 2009.
Sherman emphasizes that Judge’s inability to secure postseason victories with the Yankees is what sets him apart from the franchise greats. “We talk about the Yankee Mount Rushmore or how high Judge could go on any list. Was he a better player than Bernie Williams? Yeah, okay, he was a better player than Bernie Williams. I’d rather have Bernie Williams’ career seven times a week, twice on Sunday. Championships matter,” Sherman remarked during a September 16 appearance on the “Pinstripe Post” podcast.
The luminaries of Yankees history—Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Derek Jeter, Whitey Ford, and Mariano Rivera—not only won championships but also shined in October. “Judge has not done that yet,” Sherman pointed out.
Postseason Performance Under Scrutiny
Though Judge has experienced the postseason seven times in his career, his performance has not matched the high bar set during the regular season. Through 58 playoff games, from the AL Wild Card round to the World Series, Judge boasts a batting average of just .205, alongside 16 home runs, 34 RBIs, and a .752 OPS. Such statistics raise questions about his ability to perform under the October spotlight that has defined the legacies of so many Yankees greats.
Yet, a stellar postseason performance this year could significantly enhance Judge’s standing among the franchise’s legends. “He’s a Hall of Famer, and he’s a historically great Yankee. He has a pretty good chance to win a third AL MVP, which Yogi did, which Mantle did, which DiMaggio did. But they did it all with championships tied to it,” Sherman noted. He added a reminder of the shifting landscape of postseason baseball, stating, “By the way, easier championships because it’s one round, fewer teams. The pitching is ridiculous now—the velocity, the movement, the specified scouting reports on every hitter. But Judge needs an October to get over the top.”
As Judge navigates the final stretch of the season, the pressure mounts. With his eye on October and the promise of postseason glory, the question remains: can he rise to the occasion and etch his name alongside the legends of the Yankees? The answer may well determine his legacy in the storied annals of baseball history.
